Minnesota Institute of Public Health

Clearly, prevention is at a new level of maturity, and expectations. In this day of precious limited prevention resources, it is incumbent on each of us to do more and with accountability; with expectations of results. It’s not about how “busy” we are; it’s about impact and outcomes. Gone is that day when we simply count how many brochures we distributed, and how many people with whom we’ve spoken.

It has been a long haul for prevention. Next to the technology of interventions and treatment, prevention had long been the weaker cousin – fun and games. For a long time we lacked focus, and almost everything that was remotely directed toward improving the human condition was called “prevention.”

K+S+SE

Knowledge from accurate and current information. What do I need to know…about pharmacology of what various substances do to harm the human body and psyche? I need to separate what science permits us to understand, from sensationalized overstatement or understatement. I need to be as grounded in truth as science permits me.

Skills about what do I need to be able to do? How do I talked with my friends and family about standards, guidelines, risk, protective factors, and taking better care of myself in a world in love with intoxication? Training and other technical assistance are essential here.

A supportive environment – what are the written and unwritten rules about what’s OK to do, what’s not OK, and who communicates and enforces those policies? Where do I find support and encouragement in making healthy choices? Environmental change strategies have evolved toward more sensible and thoughtful public and private policy, shaping change with wonderful results: drinking and driving reduction, tobacco use and prevention, and more. We should all take pride in this evolution. And we know, of course, so much more needs to be done.

Today we have an opportunity to advance prevention best practices from ‘promising exceptions’ from a ‘new normal’ in our society. We can leverage the best of our prevention history and avoid the mistakes. We do not need to re-invent the wheel, but we surely do not need to re-invent the flat tire. This moment in prevention history is about using knowledge from research, and wisdom from experience. It’s keeping focus, and welcoming accountability.

If it were up to me, I’d say K+S+SE. Prevention people out there, what do YOU say?

--JJ