NSU strengthens opioid and stimulation prevention initiatives

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Northeastern State University Office of Opioid Stimulant Prevention is continuing efforts for opioid and stimulation prevention with research studies in collaboration with the NSU School of Social Work and Tahlequah Public Schools. The programs involve local high school and college-age students.

The NSU Office of Opioid and Stimulation Prevention and the NSU School of Social Work recently joined forces. The two departments began collaborating with TPS to conduct research studies on the risk and protective factors associated with substance abuse among rural high school and college-aged students in Oklahoma.

“Combining efforts strengthens our ability to understand, prevent and intervene in substance misuse among high school and college-age individuals in rural Oklahoma,” NSU President Rodney Hanley said. “These partnerships exemplify our dedication to fostering healthier communities and empowering our youth to make informed, positive choices.”

The partnerships between the university departments and TPS were recently developed, with like objectives in mind.

“Having similar objectives, we felt the need to join forces together in our work of not only studying substance misuse in student populations but also in designing and creating strategies and interventions that can help address the problem among students in rural Oklahoma,” Dr. Eun-Jun Bang, Professor and Chair of the School of Social Work, said.

Bang said he understands the enormity of the task at hand. Creating these partnerships enhances the ability for expanded research initiatives and allows the collaborative effort to reach a common goal. So far, research has been conducted throughout the institution’s three campuses and TPS.

The data collection for this research was first implemented on April 30 at TPS and will be expanded to high schools in rural areas throughout Oklahoma.

“It is the hope that this project will increase public awareness of substance use issues among rural high school students in Oklahoma,” Bang said. “Through this project, we also aim to develop interventions and prevention programs that address this problem. These efforts are intended to improve the lives of rural high school students and their families in Oklahoma.”

Allison Hamilton, coordinator for the Office of Opioid and Stimulation Prevention, said the department

recently concluded a successful campaign to gather vital data through the OPNA survey on all three NSU campuses. The initiative not only fosters a healthier campus environment but also highlights the university's commitment to proactive prevention strategies.

“The issue of substance use/abuse is not a problem for just individuals who experience it and their families,” Bang said. “It is our problem too, and we think we have a critical role to play in helping society understand the conditions that make it easier for people, especially high school students, to get involved with substance use, and the measures that can be put in place to address this problem.”

Support from parents, families and the local community is integral to the success of the program.

In 2022, Northeastern State University was awarded a Higher Education Prevention Service grant through the Oklahoma Department of Health & Human Services. The three-year grant brings $100,000 a year in funding resources, providing funding for education and referrals and will utilize a coalition to address community-wide issues related to opioid and stimulant use in the surrounding areas.

Joining Bang and Hamilton on the Opioid and Stimulation Prevention research team are Desirae Bloomer and Sonya Davidson, TPS prevention specialists; Dr. Allen Shamow and Dr. Samuel Asante, assistant professors of the NSU School of Social Work

For more information on this grant and how NSU is working to address opioid and stimulant use, contact Hamilton at hamilt42@nsuok.edu.

For information regarding the research studies, contact Bang at bang@nsuok.edu.  

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