RD435 - Virginia Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (VOSAP) 2014 Annual Report


Executive Summary:
This year, the Virginia Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (VOSAP), in collaboration with the VOSAP Collaborative, is pleased to report on the ongoing prevention efforts in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VOSAP representation spans four Secretariats including: Education, Health and Human Resources, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Transportation. External to state government, VOSAP partners with community coalitions and numerous other organizations to reduce risk factors related to substance abuse, increase protective factors, and promote healthy choices and wellness.

The VOSAP Office, as well as the VOSAP Collaborative, will continue to promote data-driven prevention planning, evidence-based prevention programming and formal data-driven evaluation. During quarterly meetings of the VOSAP Collaborative, agency representatives reported on individual and joint projects related to prevention, and identified ways to further support their shared mission to promote health and safety in the Commonwealth. In 2014 particular attention was paid to: prescription drug abuse, the upward trend of marijuana use, and increasing sale/use of “other tobacco products” including e-cigarettes, hookah and flavored products.

The VOSAP Office and VOSAP Collaborative approach 2015 with strengthened relationships and infrastructure poised to: conduct the VOSAP Schools and Communities Recognition Program, enhance collection of epidemiological data related to substance abuse prevention, and undertake ad hoc projects that contribute to the VOSAP mission.