WHITE PLAINS, NY – Dr. Gilbert J. Botvin, internationally known expert in the field of prevention, delivered the keynote address at Utah Fall Substance Abuse conference on September 20th, in St. George. Dr. Botvin is the developer of the highly acclaimed LifeSkills Training (LST) evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program. More than 1,200 psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, substance abuse / mental health professionals, law enforcement, and educational staff gathered for the educational and networking event in the Mountain West sponsored by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

Dr. Botvin‘s keynote address described advances in prevention science over the past 35 years and the development of effective prevention approaches, with a focus on the LST approach. The main goals of the LST program are to teach students prevention-related information, promote anti-drug norms, teach drug refusal skills, and foster the development of personal self-management skills and general social skills. Dr. Botvin described LST and the theory supporting it, as well as evidence from over 35 peer-reviewed publications documenting its effectiveness. The program has been proven to cut tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use in half and shown to produce prevention effects that can last 12 years or more. It can also prevent aggression and violence, delinquency, risky driving, and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. In addition, independent researchers have demonstrated the LST can also shield adolescents from the misuse of opioid and other prescription drugs.

According to Dr. Botvin, “The opioid crisis has created a new sense of urgency in the prevention field. To help combat this epidemic, under two federally funded studies we are testing novel prevention approaches that include online e-learning programs for middle school and high school students that are designed to further strengthen the impact of LST on the prevention of opioid and prescription drug misuse.”

Dr. Botvin is also the founder and president of National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA) and Professor Emeritus at Cornell University’s Weill Medical College. He noted that a breadth of research has led to the development of LST and a growing number of prevention approaches that have been tested and proven effective in combating a variety of behavioral health problems. Yet despite the availability of effective prevention programs, many schools still turn to the ineffective or untested programs that use scare tactics or “just say no” messages. Dr. Botvin urged conference attendees to work to replace ineffective programs with ones proven to work.

“Thirty-five years of research have given us effective prevention approaches,” Dr. Botvin said. “We have the tools to prevent substance abuse and other behavioral health problems. We just have to use them.”

About Botvin LifeSkills Training      

Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) is an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program. LST has been extensively tested and proven to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by as much as 80%. Long-term follow-up studies show that it produces prevention effects that are durable and long-lasting. Visit www.lifeskillstraining.com for more information.

Contact:

Paulina Kalaj

Director, Communications & Media Relations

1-800-293-4969 ext. 214 | pkalaj@nhpamail.com