Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to reduce the impact of substance misuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA leads the nation in providing prevention, treatment, and recovery support services to communities, and works toward underage drinking prevention by supporting state and community efforts, promoting the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs), educating the public, and collaborating with other agencies and interested parties.

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Shareables

Talking With Your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Deciding where to go to college, what career path to pursue, and how to finance an advanced education are all decisions your college-bound son or daughter has made in moving...

Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts

This brochure dispels common myths about underage alcohol use and helps 9- to 15-year-olds understand the dangers associated with using alcohol. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department...

Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, Volume 6

This report summarizes data from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. It provides an annual update on a...

After High School: Talking With Your Young Adult About Underage Drinking

This guide empowers parents to continue to discuss alcohol-use consequences with their young adults, including with those who are already engaged in drinking.

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Lessons Learned at Frostburg State University" Discussion Guide

This guide highlights steps taken by the Frostburg State University community to reduce underage and high-risk drinking among the student population and discusses how these strategies were implemented.

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking" Discussion Guide

This guide shows how historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as other institutions that primarily serve students from a distinct background, region, or culture, can create prevention strategies...

SAMHSA’s AlcoholFX app

Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) is a free, science-based app that teaches students ages 10-12 how alcohol can harm their brains if they drink. Based on lesson plans from...

AlcoholFX Mobile Application - YouTube video

This animated video introduces the Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) mobile application, providing the science base behind the app and how it can be used in the classroom.

Talking With Your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Deciding where to go to college, what career path to pursue, and how to finance an advanced education are all decisions your college-bound son or daughter has made in moving...

Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts

This brochure dispels common myths about underage alcohol use and helps 9- to 15-year-olds understand the dangers associated with using alcohol. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department...

Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, Volume 6

This report summarizes data from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. It provides an annual update on a...

After High School: Talking With Your Young Adult About Underage Drinking

This guide empowers parents to continue to discuss alcohol-use consequences with their young adults, including with those who are already engaged in drinking.

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Lessons Learned at Frostburg State University" Discussion Guide

This guide highlights steps taken by the Frostburg State University community to reduce underage and high-risk drinking among the student population and discusses how these strategies were implemented.

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking" Discussion Guide

This guide shows how historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as other institutions that primarily serve students from a distinct background, region, or culture, can create prevention strategies...

SAMHSA’s AlcoholFX app

Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) is a free, science-based app that teaches students ages 10-12 how alcohol can harm their brains if they drink. Based on lesson plans from...

AlcoholFX Mobile Application - YouTube video

This animated video introduces the Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) mobile application, providing the science base behind the app and how it can be used in the classroom.

Resources

2023 Comprehensive Plan For Preventing and Reducing Underage Drinking

After the unparalleled series of adversities that affected youth in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) has revisited...

Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center

This new Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center aims to provide communities, clinicians, policy-makers and others in the field with the information and tools they need to incorporate evidence-based practices into their...

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking"

This video shows how HBCUs, as well as other institutions that primarily serve students from a distinct background, region, or culture, can create prevention strategies to meet the unique needs...

Talk. They Hear You.

The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and substance use among youths under the age of 21 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources...

Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults

This guide supports health care providers, systems, and communities seeking to prevent substance misuse among young adults. It describes relevant research findings, examines emerging and best practices, identifies knowledge gaps...

Examining resources to prevent underage drinking from a social ecological perspective

Adolescent and college underage drinking are significant public health problems both on their own and together. It is important for prevention professionals to understand and help prevent the development of...

Facts on Underage Drinking

This factsheet summarizes current data about underage drinking overall and by gender, race/ethnicity, and age group. It also provides information on health and safety risks associated with underage alcohol use.

The CBHSQ Report: A Day in the Life of Young Adults: Substance Use Facts

This issue of The CBHSQ Report presents facts about young adults' substance use, including informationon the initiation of substance use, past year substance use, emergency department visits, and receiptof substance...

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health provides national and state-level data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs (including nonmedical use of prescription drugs) and mental...

Focus on Prevention

This guide was developed to help a wide range of groups and communities move from concerns about substance abuse to proven and practical solutions. It is a starting point that...

Substance Abuse Treatment Locator

This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism and alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. The Locator includes...

SAMHSA Store

The SAMHSA Store offers free publications, games, posters, and other resources related to promoting mental health and preventing and treating mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Enter “underage drinking” in...

Alcohol and Drug Combinations Are More Likely to Have a Serious Outcome Than Alcohol Alone in Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking

This Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) spotlight looks at the outcomes of emergency department visits that involve underage drinking in 2011. The report compares the outcome of emergency department vists...

Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking

This report presents statistics on the nature and extent of underage drinking in the United States. It also discusses the role of the federal government in preventing and reducing underage...

SAMHSA's COVID-19 resource page

SAMHSA recognizes the current challenges posed by COVID-19 and is providing resources and informationexternal link disclaimer to assist individuals, providers, communities, and states across the country during these difficult times.

2023 Comprehensive Plan For Preventing and Reducing Underage Drinking

After the unparalleled series of adversities that affected youth in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) has revisited...

Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center

This new Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center aims to provide communities, clinicians, policy-makers and others in the field with the information and tools they need to incorporate evidence-based practices into their...

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives "Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking"

This video shows how HBCUs, as well as other institutions that primarily serve students from a distinct background, region, or culture, can create prevention strategies to meet the unique needs...

Talk. They Hear You.

The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and substance use among youths under the age of 21 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources...

Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults

This guide supports health care providers, systems, and communities seeking to prevent substance misuse among young adults. It describes relevant research findings, examines emerging and best practices, identifies knowledge gaps...

Examining resources to prevent underage drinking from a social ecological perspective

Adolescent and college underage drinking are significant public health problems both on their own and together. It is important for prevention professionals to understand and help prevent the development of...

Facts on Underage Drinking

This factsheet summarizes current data about underage drinking overall and by gender, race/ethnicity, and age group. It also provides information on health and safety risks associated with underage alcohol use.

The CBHSQ Report: A Day in the Life of Young Adults: Substance Use Facts

This issue of The CBHSQ Report presents facts about young adults' substance use, including informationon the initiation of substance use, past year substance use, emergency department visits, and receiptof substance...

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health provides national and state-level data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs (including nonmedical use of prescription drugs) and mental...

Focus on Prevention

This guide was developed to help a wide range of groups and communities move from concerns about substance abuse to proven and practical solutions. It is a starting point that...

Substance Abuse Treatment Locator

This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism and alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. The Locator includes...

SAMHSA Store

The SAMHSA Store offers free publications, games, posters, and other resources related to promoting mental health and preventing and treating mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Enter “underage drinking” in...

Alcohol and Drug Combinations Are More Likely to Have a Serious Outcome Than Alcohol Alone in Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking

This Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) spotlight looks at the outcomes of emergency department visits that involve underage drinking in 2011. The report compares the outcome of emergency department vists...

Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking

This report presents statistics on the nature and extent of underage drinking in the United States. It also discusses the role of the federal government in preventing and reducing underage...

SAMHSA's COVID-19 resource page

SAMHSA recognizes the current challenges posed by COVID-19 and is providing resources and informationexternal link disclaimer to assist individuals, providers, communities, and states across the country during these difficult times.