Skip Navigation LinksAbout-SAPB

SUBSTANCE AND ADDICTION PREVENTION BRANCH

Office of Problem Gambling

About the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch

The Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch (SAPB) currently has four primary programmatic areas:
  • Alcohol use research and harms prevention
  • Problem gambling education, prevention, and treatment
  • Overdose surveillance and prevention
  • Cannabis surveillance and youth cannabis prevention

What We Do

Alcohol Harms Prevention Initiative (AHPI)

AHPI raises awareness, conducts research, and provides harm reduction and education to reduce the adverse health effects of alcohol use on individuals, families and communities. AHPI collaborates with partners and stakeholders to support statewide efforts to reduce the negative health and social harms of alcohol use on the lives of Californians. 

Office of Problem Gambling (OPG)

OPG provides research-driven prevention, education, and treatment services to mitigate the harms of gambling addiction. OPG trains clinical providers and educates the community on the signs and symptoms of gambling addiction; conducts statewide community–informed public awareness campaigns; and studies the epidemiology and impact of gambling harms. OPG's California Gambling Education and Treatment Services (CalGETS) provides no-cost treatment to people with gambling addiction and those friends and family affected by gambling harm through a statewide network of treatment providers. Crisis management and referral to services are accessible through the CalGETS. For services text SUPPORT to 53342, chat online at 800GAMBLER.chat or call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Overdose Prevention Initiative (OPI)

OPI works on the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic through prevention and research activities. OPI collects and shares data on fatal and non-fatal drug-related overdoses, drug-related overdose risk factors, prescriptions, and substance use. Through state and local partnerships, OPI supports substance use prevention programs, harm reduction tools and strategies, public awareness and education, and safe and effective prescribing and treatment practices.

Youth Cannabis Prevention Initiative (YCPI)

YCPI is comprised of the California Cannabis Surveillance System (CCSS) and the Cannabis Education and Youth Prevention Program (CEYPP). CCSS is a  public health data collection and analysis system that tracks youth and adult cannabis use, social impacts, and health outcomes. CEYPP provides health education and prevention strategies to reduce the negative impacts and consequences of cannabis use through state and local partnerships, media, and social marketing campaigns.

​
For questions, please contact us at SAPB@cdph.ca.gov.

Page Last Updated :