Prevention services help South Carolinians of all ages avoid or recover from the dangers of using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Available in communities throughout South Carolina, these services are based on sound research and evidence-based practices.
In coordination with those services, prevention professionals work to identify and reduce factors that place an individual, family or a community at risk of experiencing problems, while strengthening the factors that can help protect individuals, families and communities from negative outcomes.
Community-based Prevention
DAODAS supports local prevention services provided by the state’s county alcohol and drug abuse authorities. The county authorities collect and organize data about their communities and collaborate with other organizations to address each community’s needs through programs and strategies that provide a positive impact. For more information about these services, contact your county authority.
Prescription Drug Misuse
Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed. This includes taking someone else’s prescription, even if for a legitimate medical complaint such as pain, or, taking a medication to get high. The three classes of medication most commonly misused are:
- Opioids (usually prescribed to treat pain).
- Central nervous system depressants (used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders).
- Stimulants (most often prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Patients can take steps to ensure they use prescription medications appropriately by:
- Following the directions as explained on the label or by their pharmacist.
- Being aware of potential interactions with other drugs, as well as alcohol.
- Never stopping or changing a dosing routine without first discussing it with their doctor.
- Never using another person’s prescription and never giving one’s prescription medications to others.
- Storing prescription drugs safely.
If you have any old prescription drugs, the safest course of action is to remove them from your home altogether. A preferred option is to drop off any unwanted or unused pills, liquids or other medications at a local drug disposal site.
For a map of prescription drug disposal sites
Infectious Disease Prevention
Recognizing the increased health risks for tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases among people who use alcohol and other drugs, DAODAS works extensively with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for services to address these problems. Specifically, people who receive services from county alcohol and drug abuse authorities – and screen positive for TB – are referred to county health departments for further evaluation and treatment. DAODAS also works with DHEC to provide various HIV, early-intervention services for people in treatment, including HIV counseling, testing, referral and supportive services. In addition, DAODAS funds HIV early-intervention services.
