Insights Library
Breaking the Cycle, Substance Use: Quick Reads
Substance use often has generational implications. As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s substance use work, PSC interviewed parents who currently use or formerly used substances with the goal of gathering real stories to inform policy and programming. This quick read describes risk factors for multi-generational use, as well as state recommendations that can curb…
The Substance Use Vulnerability Index: Quick Reads
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s substance use work, this quick read covers PSC’s Substance Use Vulnerability (SUV) Index, a map illustrating the rates of risk for substance use across Iowa counties based off of demographic data.
The Alcohol Outlet Landscape in Alabama
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Alcohol Research Initiative, PSC provided an in-depth look at the alcohol landscape in Alabama through: Cleaning and classifying Alabama alcohol license data Creating measures of alcohol outlet density to enable statewide monitoring and evaluation Creating measures of alcohol outlet density for the city of Montgomery Developing strategic recommendations…
A Blueprint for Measuring & Monitoring Alcohol Outlets in Alabama, Executive Summary
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Alcohol Research Initiative, PSC partnered with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, and Alabama’s Direct Communications to better understand the landscape of alcohol outlets in Alabama and leverage state and local data to inform alcohol risk education…
A Community-Based Strategy to Advance Substance Use Recovery
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s substance use recovery work, PSC analyzed strategic information that would give Iowa the best chance of maximizing recovery and developed a key resource to use as a launching point for building a recovery community in Iowa. Key findings were the breadth, depth, size, and strength of recovery resources…
Local Alcohol Policies to Improve Community Health & Safety in Iowa
As part of Public Science Collaborative’s Alcohol Research Initiative, this report recommends data-informed local and state policies to improve Iowa’s community health and safety. When it comes to alcohol, Iowa is a high-consumption state, with one of the highest binge drinking rates in the country. That places Iowans and their communities at especially high risk…
A Recovery Community Guide for Public Health
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s substance use recovery work, PSC spoke with directors of recovery community centers (RCCs) from around the country to learn best practices in establishing an RCC, then analyzed interview transcripts and reviewed scientific literature around recovery to identify themes and concepts that facilitate development of recovery community organizations (RCOs)….
Alcohol Policy Toolkit: Quick Reads
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Alcohol Research Initiative, this quick read highlights the context and current policies that surround alcohol in Iowa, both on a state and local level.
Interviews with National Leaders: Quick Reads
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Substance Use Recovery work, this quick read highlights interviews the PSC team facilitated with national and local recovery experts to learn their key strategies on building strong, community-rooted Recovery Community Centers (RCCs) in Iowa. Recommendations include using recovery-friendly language, supporting multiple pathways, compensating staff with lived experience, and…
Iowa’s Collegiate Recovery Resources: Quick Reads
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Substance Use Recovery work, this quick read highlights PSC’s collegiate recovery resources on Recovery-Iowa.org. The website highlights how Iowa universities support students in recovery through community programs and wellness services, and it links to national networks like the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE).
Recovery Iowa Website: Quick Reads
As part of the Public Science Collaborative’s Substance Use Recovery work, this quick read highlights PSC’s Recovery Iowa website project. Specifically, this quick read focuses on tools, features, and website content that create accessible recovery resources. Archive: View a previous edition of the Recovery Iowa Website: Quick Read here.
Community Action Network Quick Read: The System Features Users Want
The Public Science Collaborative conducted two surveys, six focus groups, and three workshops on behalf of Iowa’s Community Action Network (CAN) to evaluate their current data systems’ effectiveness and feature gaps. CAN stakeholders identified the six features they wanted to see in their next data system: intuitive data entry, accurate reporting, customizable systems, strong governance…