Integrate evidence-based substance use prevention services into existing youth-focused programs.

The Regional Substance Use Prevention Integration Centers (RSUPICs) program aims to increase the capacity of institutions, organizations, and providers to support youth in Illinois. RSUPICs programs will integrate with existing substance use prevention strategies and will be applied locally through collaboration, training, and support to improve the overall health and well-being of youth. 

Our online Substance Prevention and Awareness Resource Kit (SPARK) was designed to support Chicago youth in developing healthy relationships with substances. The public resource hub includes free resources accessible to anyone interested in starting this work. The facilitator portal provides lesson plans and resources developed by PHIMC and its partners.

PHIMC functions as the Chicago region substance use prevention subject matter expert and will use available data sources to understand regional trends and provide support to youth serving agencies in Chicago. PHIMC supports RSUPIC by providing access to resources, expertise, and data-driven strategies to enhance substance prevention efforts among Chicago’s youth. We invite youth-serving organizations in Chicago to join our Community Advisory Board to hear more about our vision and share their perspective.


The Need

Substance use among high-schoolers in Chicago is similar to statewide and national rates.

According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 29.5% of Chicago high school students have ever tried marijuana, higher than the state and national rate (by ~2%) and ~4 times that of Chicago middle school students (6.8%). We also see that 20.6% of Chicago middle school students drank more than a few sips of alcohol and 9.9% of them tried alcohol before the age of 11.

Substance Use among High-School Adolescents, 2021

Chicago

Illinois

United States

Marijuana

29.5%

27.5%

27.8%

Opioids

11.3%

9.5%

12.2%

Cocaine

1.7%

2.4%

2.5%

Inhalants

5.1%

6.7%

8.1%


We recognize that the past few years have been challenging for youth in Chicago. We also know that youth need comprehensive support, education, and information related to multiple behavioral health topics that will help decrease risk factors associated with substance use.

Our Approach

  • Developing a community advisory board comprising multiple prevention organizations 

  • Serving as the regional subject matter expert on substance use prevention, leveraging available data sources to understand trends in Chicago

  • Networking with youth-serving organizations across Chicago to share successes and strategies for addressing challenges

Next Steps

PHIMC invites youth-serving organizations to join the Community Advisory Board to contribute their expertise and guidance and foster a collaborative environment. 

For more information about how RSUPICs operate throughout the state of Illinois,
click here. Refer to this map provided by IDHS to determine your region.

For more information or to learn how you can get involved, please contact 
James Lones or Lara Nidea.