With the legalization of recreational marijuana, as well as sports betting and other changes that have expanded opportunities for gambling in Virginia, the Office of Behavioral Health Wellness (OBHW) within the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) received funding to support prevention efforts targeted towards these two areas through SAMHSA’s state prevention block grant and through gambling tax revenues in Virginia.

As a first step, OBHW, in partnership with OMNI worked with Community Service Boards (CSBs) to conduct two readiness assessments: one on the commonwealth’s gambling and gaming behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and environment; and a second on marijuana related behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and environment.