SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 7
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regarding this health need, visit page 62; for information outlining SVMC’s implementation strategies,
visit page 77.
4. Substance Use Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Recovery Resources
Substance use has had a wide-ranging impact on the health of SVMC’s service area and was frequently
cited as a concern in community forums, community health survey responses, and secondary data.
Individuals aged 13 to 24 years old more commonly indicated a personal struggle with substance use
disorder than other age groups, and the reverberations of its impact on SVMC’s service area can be
measured throughout all age groups, and in the overall psychological and economic health of the region.
Use of tobacco, particularly electronic vaping among youth, is alarmingly prevalent, as is binge drinking.
Opioid use is resulting in an increasing number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses.
No single intervention can alleviate the suffering and mortality caused by substance use. Communitywide support is critical for success in this domain, as is a suite of interventions that include prevention,
harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports. Prevention efforts, in tandem with campaigns led by
community partners, will primarily center upon the youth population. Harm reduction programming,
evidence-based and rooted in best practices, will seek to provide health supports for individuals
currently struggling with substance use disorder who are not yet able to take steps towards treatment
and recovery. Availability of treatment resources, whether through medication, counseling, or other
means, is critical for encouraging and supporting individuals in recovery. Finally, long-term resources are
crucial for sustained recovery, including housing, support groups, and employment.
For more data regarding this health need, visit page 56; for information outlining SVMC’s
implementation strategies, visit page 78.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021