Indiana University Bloomington
News Room
» Back to staff directory
Home > News Room > Talking Points

Talking Points

Gassman, Ruth []

Gassman, Ruth, Ph.D., C.P.P.

IPRC Executive Director and Associate Professor

Expertise in drug and alcohol health services research, secondary prevention, evaluation, and education of health care professionals.

1. Information relevant to my work

    The strategic direction of the IPRC is to:

  • Continue focus on alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) prevention
  • Expand focus to ATOD treatment
  • Expand the Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention, the research arm of the IPRC

    Findings from the alcohol health services literature on screening and brief intervention

  • Epidemiological surveys have shown that approximately 17 percent of adults seen in primary care meet the criteria for at-risk drinking or problem drinking, compared to only 5 percent who meet the criteria for alcohol dependence.
  • Screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems has been demonstrated to reduce alcohol consumption, hospital stays, sick days, mortality, the number of injuries that require emergency department treatment, health care utilization and produce overall cost savings.
  • For both alcohol and drug problems, health and human service providers tend to think only of severe dysfunctions and rely on objective evidence to identify such problems. As a result, these problems may be under-identified and valuable opportunities to intervene are lost
  • Existing models of alcohol education emphasize a tertiary focus and do not address secondary prevention sufficiently to provide health care professionals with the knowledge and skills to practice screening and brief intervention.

2. Areas of expertise

  • alcohol and drug health services research
  • alcohol and drug prevention
  • alcohol and drug treatment
  • program evaluation
  • grant writing

3. Recent activities

  • Submitted a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant application to establish a comprehensive peer support program for Indiana University, Bloomington students in recovery
  • Paper accepted on practitioner-level predictors of alcohol problem detection and management activities
  • IPRC has partnered with the Indiana Department of Education and the State Department of Health to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey in 2009
  • Work on the Governor’s Advisory Council Evaluation Workgroup for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant
  • Evaluator for Logansport Community School Corporation’s Department of Education Grant to Reduce Alcohol Abuse
Seitz de Martinez, Barbara J []

Seitz de Martinez, Barbara J., Ph.D., M.L.S., C.P.P.

Deputy Director
Project Director, GIS in Prevention
Project Director, Hispanic Latino Projects
Head Librarian
RADAR Network Coordinator

Expertise in cultural studies, Spanish language, Geographic Information Systems and web design.

1. Information relevant to my work

  • The primary objective of an organization’s library is to advance the organizational mission, in this case, to strengthen prevention efforts through education, resources and research. The IPRC library is a collection of materials on prevention and treatment of substance abuse and problem gambling and related topics.
  • In recent years increasing attention has been focused on the benefits of using data to inform prevention processes, specifically to support the steps of the Strategic Prevention Framework approach to prevention. Data is critical to effective community assessment, including advancement of community readiness, e.g., to combat tolerance of substance use and denial, for community assessment and for evaluation, for monitoring and for sustainability (acquisition of future grants).
  • Cultural competency refers to the ability to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts. It requires an understanding of your own ethnocultural background and values and also basic knowledge about the cultures of your customers or clients. It includes such things as being committed to working with diverse clients, and the ability to adapt your practices and skills so that they are appropriate to your clients’ cultural backgrounds. It calls for flexibility and making the necessary effort to reach out to appropriate cultural resources.

2. Areas of expertise

  • Library Science
  • Use of Data and Geographic Information Systems in Prevention
  • Culture and Communication
  • Latin American Culture
  • Spanish language fluency

3. Recent activities

  • Presentations/Workshops including Indiana Association of Prevention Professionals CPP Training, Indianapolis and Regional Meetings for the DOE/IPRC Model Program Project (SPICE), and State and Regional Meetings of the Strategic Prevention Framework SIG
  • Participation in a variety of groups including the DMHA Advisory Council and Prevention Subcommittee, the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup, the Cultural Competency Committee of SPF SIG, the Latino Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and the Meth Free Indiana Coalition
  • Earned certification as a facilitator for CSAP Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training
MORE »      
Hatlen, Merrill []

Hatlen, Merrill, M.A., C.P.P.

Grants Consultant

Expert in community-based projects, proposal development, grants research and sustainability.

Recent news

$1.5 million in federal funds secured for community substance abuse prevention programs.

  • IPRC assists communities in Indiana to draw prevention funds from U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, U.S Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
  • Grants help fund programs such as Peer-t-Peer Support for Recovery, Meth Prevention for Mothers of Young Children, Bloomington’s Clean Indoor Air project, Healthy Eating, and Prevention of High-Risk College Drinking.
Amy Drever []

Drever, Amy, M.S.W.

Evaluation Specialist

Expertise in program development and evaluation, community organizing, advocacy

  
Lacy, Jasynda []

Lacy, Jasynda, MPH

Community Prevention Specialist

Expertise in community prevention programming, project coordination, program planning and public health education.

Recent news

  • Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use among youth is related to increased risk of health1234, academic56, and social problems7 and is related to other problem behaviors such as gambling8.
  • Initiation of use of ATOD begins between the ages of 10-14 years9 and often occurs between the hours of 3pm and 6pm - when youth are often unsupervised10.
  • After-school drug and problem gambling prevention programs, "Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana", are offered in all of Indiana's 92 counties at no cost to participants.
  • Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana after-school drug prevention programs have contributed to a decrease in ATOD use among Indiana youth11.
  • Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana after-school drug prevention programs are valued by participants and parents. Participants reported that staying ATOD-free was the most important thing that they learned from the program. Nearly 97% of parents reported that they would recommend Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana to other families with youth12.
  • 1. Hingson, R. W., Strunin, L., Berlin, B. M., & Heeren, T. (1990). Beliefs about AIDS, use of alcohol and drugs, and unprotected sex among Massachusetts adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 80(3), 295-299.
  • 2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2001). Alcohol and transportation safety. Alcohol Alert No. 52. Rockville, MD: NIAAA.
  • 3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (1998). Alcohol and the liver. Alcohol Alert No. 42. Rockville, MD: NIAAA
  • 4. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2002). NIDA Research Report - Marijuana Abuse. Rockville, MD: Author.
  • 5. Bryant, A. L., Schulenberg, J. E., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Johnston, L. D. (2003). How academic achievement, attitudes, and behaviors relate to the course of substance use during adolescence: A 6-year, multiwave national longitudinal study. Journal of Research on Adolescence 13(3), 361-397.
  • 6. O'Malley, P. M., Johnston, L. D., & Bachman, J. G. (1998). Alcohol use among adolescents. Alcohol Health & Research World, 22(2), 85-93.
  • 7. Miller, T.R., Levy, D.T., Spicer, R.S., & Taylor, D.M. (2006). Societal Costs of Underage Drinking. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67(4), 519-528.
  • 8. Hardoon, K.K., Gupta, R., Derevensky, J.L. (2004). Psychosocial variables associated with adolescent gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18 (2), 170-9.
  • 9. Gassman et al., (2006) http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/survey/indianaSurvey_2006.pdf
  • 10. Alter, Jun, & McKyer (2004) http://www.rock.indiana.edu/publs/pdfs/ARII_Monograph.pdf
  • 11. Alter, Jun, & McKyer (2004) http://www.rock.indiana.edu/publs/pdfs/ARII_Monograph.pdf
  • 12. Alter, Flynn, & Morrison (2006) http://www.rock.indiana.edu/data/pdfs/2006.pdf
Jun, Mi Kyung []

Jun, Mi Kyung, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.H.E.S

Survey Statistician

Expertise in data analysis and prevention program support for schools and communities.

  
Samuel, Susan []

Samuel, Susan, M.Sc., M.S.

Survey Coordinator

Expertise in data analysis and prevention program support for schools and communities.

Recent news

Survey shows a shift in manner of drug use among Indiana adolescents.

  • Dr. Jun and Ms. Samuel administer and annual survey among 6 through 12 grade adolescents in 138 schools resulting in 130,000 participants.
  • The survey findings are used to analysis and plan community prevention programs for youth.
  • The data provides a comprehensive analysis of drug prevalence, gambling and violent behavior as well as risk and protective factors.
  • These data enable communities to acquire federal, state and foundation grant dollars for the purpose of improving Hoosier lives.
Jones, Aaron D. []

Jones, Aaron D., M.P.H

TRIP Operations Coordinator and Research Associate

Expertise in community health education, tobacco control

Recent news

  • According to the Center for Disease Control (2002), 80% of all adult smokers started smoking before their 18th birthday. In America, every day, 5,000 young people try their first cigarette.
  • Research shows that access to tobacco products and the prevalence of smoking among young people is directly correlated.
  • Indiana youth access to tobacco declines to all-time low of 12.7. Tobacco retailers in Indiana are more diligent than ever in refusing to sell to minors, according to the latest data from the Tobacco Retailer Inspection.
  • Access to tobacco is curbed by TRIP Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program aims to reduce teen smoking
Lay, Mary []

Lay, Mary, M.P.H, C.H.E.S, C.P.P.

Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program Project Manager

Expertise in community planning, meeting planning, substance abuse and gambling prevention.

  
Kelley, Jennifer E. []

Kelley, Jennifer E., M.P.H., C.H.E.S., C.P.P.

Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program Assistant Project Manager

Expertise in community prevention programming, project coordination, problem gambling prevention, tobacco control, and public health administration

Recent news

  • Indiana about 3% of the adult population would be considered problems gamblers.
  • The rate of problem gambling among youth and adolescents is estimated to be between 3 and 6%.
  • Problem Gambling Prevention Activities are being incorporated into the afternoon’s R.O.C.K. in Indiana Program beginning in the fall of 2006.
  • Risk Factors associated with youth substance abuse shown to also be related to youth problem gambling behavior. The activities the have been selected to address problem gambling behavior. The activities that have been selected to address problem gambling for use with the Afternoon’s R.O.C.K. will address these risk factors.
  • In SEF 2006, public ally funded problem gambling treatment programs enrolled 430 clients; in SEF 2005 Indiana enrolled 385 clients.
  • The Indiana Problem Gambling Prevention Initiative is funded through the Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction with funding from the Indiana Problem Gamblers Assistance fund.
Martin, Eric Vance []

Martin, Eric Vance, M.P.A., M.I.S., C.P.P.

Education and Training Coordinator

Expertise in substance abuse prevention, needs and resource assessment, capacity building and planning, prevention curricula for schools, community-level program planning, and statewide planning

Recent news

  • Ensure the fulfillment of training needs for Afternoons Rock
  • Assess the capacity of education and training resources to meet the needs of the Indiana Prevention System.
  • Develop and deliver technical assistance to build human resources and organization capacity throughout the Indiana Prevention System.
  • Ensure the fulfillment of education and training training information need of Indiana prevention practitioners.