Allamakee among Iowa counties selected for Substance Abuse Prevention Grant through IDPH

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has selected 23 counties to participate in a $10.5 million federal grant to reduce binge drinking and underage drinking, and the problems associated with both. In February, 2011, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) approved Iowa’s plan for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG), allowing IDPH to implement a county selection process.
The counties that have been identified as “highest need” in regards to underage alcohol use, and youth and adult binge drinking include Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Buena Vista, Clinton, Delaware, Dickinson, Dubuque, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lee, Monona, Plymouth, Ringgold, Sac and Woodbury.

“Alcohol is the substance most frequently used by adults and youth in Iowa and across the nation,” said Julie Hibben, the project director for the Iowa SPF SIG. “The counties chosen to participate in this initiative will serve at least 30,000 Iowans and the state as a whole will benefit from the increased health and safety of all Iowans.”
According to data from IDPH, nearly 28 percent of Iowans 12 years of age and older had consumed more than five drinks of alcohol in one sitting during the past month. This is significantly higher than the national rate of 23 percent. In addition, 36 percent of Iowans felt that five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice a week was a great risk. The Iowa risk perception rate was 6.5 percent lower than the national rate of 42 percent, suggesting that alcohol use is not deemed to be as high of a risk by Iowans as it is by other Americans.
For more information on the Iowa Strategic Plan for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/spfsig/. For more information about Iowa’s substance abuse programs, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/bh/substance_abuse.asp.