New Web site is one-stop shop for substance abuse data, consequences

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A one-stop shop of data on alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption and consequences in Minnesota is now available at www.sumn.org.

The Substance Use in Minnesota Web site was designed to help communities make decisions about substance abuse prevention efforts based on 55 alcohol, tobacco and drug indicators from such sources as the Minnesota Student Survey, the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics and the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety.

Data are provided at the county level and by race/ethnicity at the state and regional level whenever possible. Users can view results and create reports in table, map and graph format.

“Data on this easy-to-use Web site can help in program and curricula development, planning and prioritization and grant writing for prevention programs,” said Carol Falkowski, director of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Chemical Health Division. “Community leaders, parents, teachers, students and others also can use the site just to learn current alcohol, tobacco and drug use trends in their county, the cost of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, fatalities and injuries and a host of other information related to substance abuse.”

Substance Use in Minnesota is a tool created by Minnesota’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup. Members include Minnesota’s departments of Human Services, Health, Education, Public Safety and Corrections and the Minnesota Institute of Public Health, which maintains the Web site.

The workgroup and the Web site are funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Tags: website, substance, abuse, data, consequences