What's New

Limited Communities Talk 2024 Planning Stipends Still Available

SAMHSA’s ninth round of the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuseinitiative launched in January. The initiative aims to prevent alcohol and other drug misuse among individuals ages 12–25 in communities nationwide. Since 2006, the initiative has provided prevention resources and planning stipends to thousands of community-based organizations, colleges, and universities. SAMHSA continues to offer organizations a $750 planning stipend to conduct a Communities Talk activity. If your organization is interested in participating, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation. Planning stipends are limited, so request an invitation as soon as possible.

National Prevention Week Is Just Around the Corner

From May 12–18, National Prevention Week (NPW) will showcase the work of organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health in their communities. SAMHSA has brand-new resources to help communities, organizations, and individuals plan prevention-focused initiatives. The NPW web page includes a digital toolkit, planning calendar, educational games, and more to help with developing and promoting NPW activities.

SAMHSA Launches New Modernized Data Tool

SAMHSA’s Data Analysis System (DAS), a consolidated and modernized data system, has replaced the Public-Use and Restricted-Use Data Analysis Systems since late October. DAS allows users to access the same data previously housed in those systems (such as NSDUH and MH-CLD) in a way that is more intuitive and user-friendly. Step-by-step guides and FAQs are available to help navigate the new pages and screens in the application.

White House Unveils Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose

On March 13, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, a nationwide call-to-action to organizations and businesses to save lives by committing to increase training on and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications. Organizations may make a commitment and share a story of how their efforts saved a life. This work builds on SAMHSA’s comprehensive efforts to expand access to naloxone and other opioid overdose reversal medications, including state naloxone saturation plans, naloxone saturation state policy academies, and SAMHSA’s bi-monthly learning collaborative with state and community partners working to get these lifesaving medications into communities across the country.

“Prevention Profiles: Take Five” Podcast Features Oklahoma Preventionist Emily Morrow-Mueller

The DEA’s “Prevention Profiles: Take Five” podcast invites guest experts at the federal, national, state, and local levels to shed light on recent trends and challenges in the substance misuse prevention field. On February 27, the podcast featured an interview with Emily Morrow-Mueller, a senior prevention programs manager at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. In the episode, Morrow-Mueller advised viewers on engaging their state agencies in efforts related to preventing drug use and misuse among college students. She also discussed some of the top prevention issues for colleges and universities in Oklahoma, her agency’s new initiative to create a statewide higher education prevention services network, issues around stimulant use by college students, and more.

One-Tenth of Maine High Schoolers Drove Under the Influence of Marijuana

The 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey analyzed high school marijuana use by factors such as sex, race, and sexuality. The survey revealed that one-tenth of high school students in Maine had driven under the influence of marijuana in the past month. The study also showed that 17.9 percent of respondents reported being driven in a car by someone who had used marijuana. Read the survey to learn more about these and other statewide findings.

STOP Act Funding Opportunity

SAMHSA announced a new funding opportunity, Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants, for current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program recipients. Funding is available to support community approaches in preventing alcohol use among underage youth and adolescents ages 12–20.