Prevention Services
Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health provides administrative oversight of substance abuse prevention activities to at-risk populations, conducts Needs Assessments for substance abuse prevention services, provides training and technical assistance in research-based curricula, and coordinates and monitors the state’s Synar activities.
Synar is an amendment that is attached to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant legislation. The Synar amendment requires states:
- to have a law in effect that prohibits the sale and distribution of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18;
- and, to enforce such laws. States are required to demonstrate at least an 80% compliance rate.
As the Single State Agency in Delaware for Substance Abuse services, DSAMH has the responsibility to design, implement, fund and oversee a network of prevention programs for Delaware residents 18 years of age and older. Currently DSAMH contracts with three community providers to provide prevention services to individuals 18-25 years in all three counties of the state. These programs provide multi-cultural comprehensive services for young adults. Session topics are targeted at specific risk and intervention factors. The Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) has provides Substance Abuse prevention services to those under the age of 18.
