This is a priority due to the current substance use issues striking youth and high-risk groups in San Diego County. Substance use is directly linked to health and life quality struggles within users. Through prevention of substance use, San Diego County will be able to pursue a healthier, productive, community. In June 2023, Public Health Services (PHS) Community Health Statistics Unit presented a Community Health Assessment revealing data that highlight the necessity to implement more community initiatives to assist with the health concern.  Of particular interest were the rising substance use population indicators for North County residents. See below for population indicators of interest.
2023 North County Community Health Assessment Data Presentation
 

In particular, the County of San Diego is striving to reduce youth substance use, increasing collaboration and efforts among school districts, increase the visibility of prevention resources at community-based locations, and educate and train leaders to become advocates through leadership academies. All these objectives set in place by the County of San Diego contribute to a healthier and safer community for the greater San Diego area in regards to Substance use prevention struggles.

Partners in North County that have been collaborating with NCCLT members on the priority health concern of substance use prevention include Turn BHS, Education Compact, Drug Free Escondido, Mano a Mano, Vista Community Clinic, Vista Unified School District, City of Oceanside, Mira Costa College, and many more. 
These organizations are regular attendees of the North County Community Leadership Team (NCCLT) meetings, a collaborative space which allow for individuals to come together to create plans and delegation of tasks for community initiatives, and ensuring all groups are communicative of efforts.

*Note: These do not represent all partners to the North Central Region Community Leadership Team. Only those partners actively involved in advancing this priority are listed here. There are many other important partners to other CEP priorities and North Central Region activities.

The County of San Diego has performance measures set in place to quantify goals within the priority health concern substance use prevention within North County. These performance measures can be seen on the Scorecard for Substance Use Prevention.