Kansas Multi-Cultural Substance Abuse Prevention Model

Abstract

Alcoholism and other drug abuse have been identified as the number one problem in the African American communities in the United States. The African American communities in Kansas are no exception to this national trend. The large numbers of African American individuals and families who suffer alcohol and other drug addiction, as well as the sociological and economic conditions that invite or support addictive behavior. create a heavy burden on communities already beset by racism, poverty and unequal access to resources. Current efforts on prevention which have been based on the dominant culture models have not been effective in the African American communities. Thus the need for culturally specific prevention models is imperative if we are to create a drug free society in Kansas and in the United States. Consequently. the purpose of his project is to conduct needs assessment and to develop a multi-cultural prevention model that can be replicated in Kansas.