The first-ever Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month will be observed in January 2025. Treatment Month seeks to raise awareness of the benefits and availability of evidence-informed treatments for people with a substance use disorder; address barriers to treatment, including stigma; and normalize seeking help.
SAMHSA published a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month toolkit, which includes information about weekly themes, events, social media graphics and messaging, a webinar background, and resources that public health organizations, treatment providers, professional associations, and others can use to spread awareness of Treatment Month.
Learn more about Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month and access the toolkit here.
Date:
01/16/2025
Don’t miss this national event, which brings together 4,000 prevention practitioners, advocates, scientists, leaders (community, state, tribal, and federal), and consumers at the largest federal gathering dedicated to advancing the prevention of substance use. At SAMHSA’s 21st Prevention Day, on February 3, 2025, you’ll hear directly from youth across the country who are advancing prevention and inspiring their peers and communities.
The 2025 theme, “Telling the Prevention Story,” underscores sharing prevention successes and inspiring action. Prevention Day is held in conjunction with the CADCA National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Prevention Day is a free event, but you have to register beforehand.
Date:
01/16/2025
SAMHSA published the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) 2023 annual estimates for substance-related emergency department visits. The report contains nationally representative data including weighted estimates, demographics, drug types and rates, and information on polysubstance use. Of note, the 2023 report shows that the frequency of substance-related visits increased by 5.8 percent compared to estimates in 2022. The top substances reported were alcohol, cannabis, opioids, methamphetamines, cocaine, and benzodiazepines.
Access the full report here.
Date:
01/16/2025
The DEA and the National Family Partnership announced the winners of the 2024 National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest. This year, between home and school submissions, there were 20 winners chosen for numerous categories, including Most Creative, Most Ambitious, Best Use of Family and Community, Best Use of Theme, and Most Educational. Watch this slideshow to see the winning entries.
Date:
01/16/2025
ARCR celebrated 50 years of publishing cutting-edge, accessible articles in 2024. The ARCR editor in chief reflects on the journal’s history and evolution over the past five decades. ARCR is the open-access, peer-reviewed publication of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National Institutes of Health. Read the full editorial here.
Date:
01/16/2025
An article from ARCR reviews diverse and often innovative objective measures and research designs that have been used to examine how structural determinants such as government policies or community opinions/norms affect substance use and mental health. The studies reviewed can be used by public health proponents to foster awareness that a wide range of structural determinants correlate with the substance use and mental health of many groups within and across nations. Read the full article here.
Date:
01/16/2025
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
01/16/2025
This year marks the 20th anniversary of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), an evidence-based strategic planning and implementation process that provides states and communities with a roadmap for prevention action. This blog post by Jon Dunbar-Cooper, M.A., CPP, from SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, provides an overview of the SPF, its guiding principles, evidence of its utility, and ways in which the SPF can be used to respond to current substance use trends.
In addition, check out this reflection by the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion, which features an interview with DEA Senior Prevention Program Manager Rich Lucey on how the SPF has been built to last, while also continuing to evolve.
Date:
12/03/2024
SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) recently published the following free, publicly accessible resources:
- Prevention Collaboration in Action Toolkit: This toolkit includes step-by-step resources for all phases of building and sustaining collaborative partnerships. The toolkit encompasses grantee success stories and collaboration tools and worksheets organized by five essential building blocks for successful collaborations.
- Using Logic Models to Address the Social Determinants of Health in Substance Misuse Prevention: This tool guides prevention planners in using logic models to address social determinants of health in their substance use prevention plans. It offers a step-by-step process for incorporating factors like housing instability into logic models, detailing resources, activities, outcomes, and impacts to create more comprehensive and effective prevention strategies.
- Data Dashboards: Making Data Interactive: Data dashboards provide state, tribal, and community practitioners access to the data needed to inform their substance use prevention efforts. This resource highlights best practices for planning, implementing, and evaluating these important data tools, covering areas such as defining scope, understanding audience needs, selecting technology, incorporating user-friendly design, and evaluating effectiveness.
Date:
12/03/2024
The Overdose Crisis Community Decision Tool, developed through the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) funded by the National Institutes of Health and SAMHSA, is a free, web-based resource to support community leaders in identifying evidence-based strategies proven to reduce overdose deaths. By answering a short survey, users receive a customized list of science-backed solutions and recommendations tailored to meet the needs of their community’s specific goals, resources, and capacities.
The decision tool draws strategies from the Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA), which was developed and tested in 67 communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio that participated in the HCS. The tool offers practical guidance, examples of successful overdose reduction strategies applied in HCS-participating communities, and resources on how to replicate the strategies.
Whether you are an elected official, decision-maker, community coalition member, local leader, or an advocate looking for ways to support your community, this tool offers a starting point to identify sustainable, life-saving solutions. No technical expertise or prior data is required, nor does the tool collect identifying information such as geographic location. Check out the Overdose Crisis Community Decision Tool to match your community to evidence-based overdose solutions today.
Date:
12/03/2024
Earlier this year, you may have seen that DEA updated “Prevention with Purpose: A Strategic Planning Guide for Preventing Drug Misuse Among College Students” with new data, real-life stories from campus prevention professionals focused on unique or innovative approaches to SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), and more. Now, DEA is offering supplemental resources on a dedicated Campus Drug Prevention hub. The hub offers substance use prevention resources for groups on campus, from campus police and public safety personnel to faculty members, campus health/counseling center administrators, and more. The hub also provides resources on tailored subjects, such as preventing substance use among student-athletes, considering culture throughout the SPF, and more. Access these and other resources at https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/preventionguide.
Date:
12/03/2024
In a November blog post, NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D., highlighted NIDA’s commitment to improving community engagement in all parts of the addiction research process. To elevate NIDA’s ongoing efforts to incorporate community engagement into its research and funding opportunities, NIDA is seeking a workgroup to recommend ways to enhance the meaningful engagement of people who have experience with drug use in the research that NIDA funds.
The workgroup will be convened by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA)—the body of experts that advises on NIDA’s scientific research priorities. The workgroup will inform the creation of resources that outline NIDA’s expectations regarding community engagement and help both applicants and community partners navigate this critical work.
NIDA is seeking individuals who identify as having experience with substance use or a substance use disorder or as a family member or caregiver of someone who does.
Participants will meet virtually three or four times during 2025 and potentially early 2026 and will be compensated for their time during the meetings.
NIDA is accepting application statements through January 10, 2025.
Further information is available on the Council Workgroups page.
Date:
12/03/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
12/03/2024
In honor of National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month in October, SAMHSA’s “What Parents Are Saying” podcast featured a conversation with two teens about peer-led prevention programs. In an episode titled Teens Talk Prevention, two 13-year-olds from Dover Youth2Youth (Y2Y), a comprehensive youth empowerment program in New Hampshire, shared incredible knowledge and important perspective for adults working with teens.
Student members of Dover Y2Y are organized to participate as part of the solution to drug and violence problems. The program is known for its youth-taught presentations to students and adults on implementing youth empowerment programs, capacity building, and advocacy skills development. Learn more by visiting their website at https://www.dovery2y.org/home.html.
SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign produces the podcast “What Parents Are Saying — Prevention Wisdom, Authenticity, and Empowerment” to provide a platform where parents and caregivers can get informed, be prepared, and take action by having open and honest conversations with their kids about substance use and mental health. Learn more and listen to previous episodes at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1886890/about.
Date:
11/05/2024
In October, the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network shared an article on current trends in U.S. cannabis use and PTTC resources for prevention program development. The article included a spotlight on youth cannabis use, including Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8) use by youth, which was surveyed for the first time in the 2023 Monitoring the Future Survey. Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance typically derived from hemp, a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant.
Recent findings from the Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2023: Overview and Detailed Results for Secondary School Students show that:
- Approximately 11 percent of 12th-grade students across the United States reported past-year use of Delta-8.
- Among those who reported Delta-8 use, close to 91 percent also reported marijuana use, contributing to the approximately 30 percent of 12th graders who reported past-year marijuana use.
- The survey also showed that Delta-8 use was more common in the South and Midwest regions and in states without cannabis legalization or Delta-8 regulations.
- In contrast, levels of marijuana use did not differ by state-level cannabis policies.
Read the full article, including a list of PTTC cannabis education and prevention resources, here.
Date:
11/05/2024
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Spectrum, Volume 16, Issue 3–Fall 2024, highlighted a study confirming the reliability of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C). The AUDIT-C is a three-question tool used by health professionals to screen people for alcohol misuse. Previous clinical research had validated use of the AUDIT-C, but not its consistency over time in routine care conditions with adult primary care patients.
NIAAA-supported scientists conducted a study to examine the AUDIT-C’s reliability in real-world conditions. The team also evaluated the screening tool across demographic subgroups (defined by age, sex, race, and ethnicity) and options to complete the AUDIT-C online or in a clinic setting.
The research team reported that AUDIT-C screens completed in routine care and documented in electronic health records demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability (a measure of the consistency of a test’s results over time). Test–retest reliability evaluates the consistency of results from the same measure or screening tool by administering it at two different times. Test–retest reliability is high when there are similar results across separate test administrations.
Study authors showed that the AUDIT-C demonstrated good to excellent test–retest reliability across various demographic groups, as well as when screens were completed in the clinic or online through patient portals. The study found that reliability was somewhat higher when patients completed the AUDIT-C using online patient portals both times, as compared to completing the screen in-clinic or when mixing the two modes of screening.
The findings also indicated that reliability was slightly lower for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients and multiracial patients. Clinicians and researchers should keep this finding in mind when work
Date:
11/05/2024
Talking with youth about safe driving is particularly important around the holidays, when there are gatherings with family and friends that may involve alcohol.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is sharing themed materials, many available in English and Spanish, encouraging people not to get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or drugs and reminding drivers and passengers to buckle up. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, NHTSA emphasizes traffic safety communication efforts through the following taglines:
- Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
- Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
- If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.
- Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.
- Click It or Ticket.
Seasonal campaigns include messages such as:
- “Have a fine Thanksgiving and not a Thanksgiving fine.”
- “You’ll be thankful for a sober ride home.”
- “Keep your spirits up and your driving sober.”
- “If you enjoy the holiday greenery, find a sober ride.”
Download materials for use in your own prevention efforts at https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/#10631.
Date:
11/05/2024
In a recent episode of the “Awkward Conversations” podcast, Jodie Sweetin of “Full House” and “Fuller House” and clinical psychologist Dr. Krystal Lewis are joined by anti-bullying advocate and author Jodee Blanco. Together, they dive into the emotional toll of bullying and how it can lead to substance use. “Awkward Conversations” is a collaboration between the DEA and the Elks Drug Awareness Program to help create a healthy, drug-free future for young people, with new episodes released on Wednesdays.
Watch or listen to Episode 11 of Season 4, as well as previous episodes and seasons, and learn how to empower kids with the tools they need to stay safe, remain drug free, and make smart decisions.
Date:
11/05/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
11/05/2024
October is Substance Use Prevention Month. Join SAMHSA, as partners in prevention, in Telling the Prevention Story.
SAMHSA’s Substance Use Prevention Month web page is a hub of information for anyone seeking to showcase the positive effects of prevention in their communities and inspire action. Here, you can find:
- A digital toolkit complete with sample social media posts and corresponding graphics to share throughout October;
- Links to other SAMHSA prevention campaigns;
- Information on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as other prevention resources and events;
- Prevention planning resources; and
- Training and technical assistance resources.
The digital toolkit contains sample social media posts encouraging community members and prevention specialists to share their #MyPreventionStory. It also shares key prevention messages about preventing alcohol and other drug use from an early age. One post is tailored to youth (age 12–17) substance use, providing data from the most recent NSDUH.
To access these tools and showcase the positive effects of prevention in your community, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/substance-use-prevention-month.
Date:
10/03/2024
Next spring, the second annual Joint Meeting on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery will bring together stakeholders, constituencies, and interested parties from around the country to address alcohol and other drug use among young people today.
A call for proposals (for oral or poster presentations) is open for the joint meeting, which will take place from March 18–20, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. For more information about the conference and presentation guidelines, please review the call for proposals at https://youthrecoveryanswers.org/national-conference-call-for-proposals and the submission portal at https://redcap.link/jointmeeting2025. The deadline for submissions is November 22, 2024.
Date:
10/03/2024
A new NIAAA-funded paper in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people—particularly girls and women—are more likely to use and misuse alcohol than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. The study also shows that the association between gender identity, sexual orientation, and alcohol use behaviors may differ among racial and ethnic groups.
This review examines the hypothesis that SGM individuals’ experiences of oppression (e.g., heterosexism, anti-bisexual prejudice, cissexism) in many domains of their lives may lead to stress that contributes to their alcohol use and misuse. It analyzes associations between different, often intersecting types of oppression at the personal/interpersonal and structural level and alcohol use among SGM people, including racial/ethnic minorities. These findings support the use of alcohol misuse prevention interventions and treatments that affirm SGM individuals, promote coping skills and resilience, and acknowledge nuances between different subgroups in these populations. Read the full article here.
Date:
10/03/2024
Campus Drug Prevention’s recent “Views from the Field” includes an article by Amelia Parnell, Ph.D., president of NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. In the article, Parnell discusses how prevention professionals can bolster student well-being, including collaboration among faculty, staff, and administrators; proactive approaches to provide holistic support to students; clear explanations of available resources; and a cycle of feedback from students regarding their well-being.
To read the full article, visit https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/views-from-the-field/four-strategies-addressing-students-well-being-holistically.
Date:
10/03/2024
A blog post by NIAAA Director George F. Koob, Ph.D., reminds readers of several alcohol-related topics during the fall season. The post addresses underage and binge drinking on college campuses, especially during the first six weeks of the school year. The post links out to the following NIAAA resources:
For more information and resources on this topic, visit NIAAA’s College Drinking Prevention website.
Date:
10/03/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
10/03/2024
Join SAMHSA this September for National Recovery Month, an observance celebrating the millions of Americans reclaiming their lives from mental health and substance use conditions. The 2024 National Recovery Month Toolkit offers downloadable and shareable materials including social media posts, graphics, and more to help you raise awareness about the information and resources SAMHSA offers to support people with mental health and substance use conditions in their recovery journey.
Each week, SAMHSA will share key messages and weekly themes aligned with the four dimensions of recovery. Partners are encouraged to use this information to develop messages of their own that resonate with their audiences. Access the toolkit to learn more about National Recovery Month and other ways you can spread the message that recovery is possible.
Date:
09/06/2024
This August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023. The report highlights data on the health behaviors and experiences of U.S. high school students in 2023, changes from 2021 to 2023, and 10-year trends. Specifically, the report focuses on:
- Substance use
- Mental health
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Experiences of violence
- Sexual behavior
- Other important issues, including social media use
Key findings include:
- From 2013 to 2023, 10-year trends were similar to what data showed in 2021. There were decreases in students’ use of substances. There were increases in students’ experiences of violence, signs of poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Students’ sexual activity decreased, but so did their protective sexual behaviors, like condom use.
- In 2023, female students and LGBTQ+ students experienced more violence, signs of poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their male and cisgender and heterosexual peers.
- From 2021 to 2023, early signs indicated that adolescent mental health was getting better. Data also showed, however, concerning increases in students’ experiences of violence at school.
Read the full report to learn more about adolescent health and well-being trends.
Date:
09/06/2024
For many college students arriving on campus this fall, they can expect new experiences, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, many also will experience underage drinking and its aftermath—from vandalism, sexual assault, and other forms of violence to injuries and death. This NIAAA fact sheet, available in English in Spanish, suggests ways parents can discuss alcohol use and its adverse consequences with their children to help them abstain from drinking. Download the fact sheet for more information, including rates and consequences of college drinking based on the 2023 NSDUH results.
Date:
09/06/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
09/06/2024
SAMHSA is accepting abstract submissions until September 4 (at 11:59 p.m. ET) for SAMHSA’s 21st Prevention Day. Through its call for abstracts, SAMHSA invites members of the substance use and misuse prevention field to tell their compelling prevention success stories, challenges, lessons learned, and insights at this national event on February 3, 2025.
The 2025 theme, “Telling the Prevention Story,” underscores sharing the successes of prevention and inspiring action. SAMHSA’s Prevention Day brings together more than 4,000 prevention practitioners, advocates, scientists, leaders (community, state, tribal, federal), and consumers at the largest federal gathering dedicated to advancing substance use and misuse prevention. The event explores current, emerging, and innovative strategies, policies, programs, practices, and research.
Visit www.samhsa.gov/prevention-day to learn more about the theme and focus of the event, the six tracks it offers, and detailed information on submitting an abstract.
Date:
08/19/2024
The latest episode of SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign podcast features an interview with Jason Kilmer, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Richard Lucey, senior prevention program manager in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Community Outreach and Prevention Support Section. In this episode, Kilmer and Lucey share insights on substance use trends on college campuses, as well as tips for talking to students about the importance of substance use prevention. Organizations working with parents and caregivers of youth heading to college soon won’t want to miss this episode. Listen to the latest episode, “What Parents Are Saying—Prevention Wisdom, Authenticity, and Empowerment” at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1886890/15283855?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
Date:
07/29/2024
International Overdose Awareness Day (held every year on August 31) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. This year’s theme, “Together We Can,” highlights the power of community when we stand together. Learn about local events, download and share resources, and find more ways to get involved at https://www.overdoseday.com. SAMHSA’s International Overdose Awareness page also has resources you can use with your community.
Date:
07/29/2024
A new website, the Rural SUD Info Center, highlights the work of three different Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders, all of which are funded by HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). The free resources on the website—including webinar recordings and presentations, resource guides, articles, posters, fact sheets, and videos—cover information and best practices related to SUD. Visitors to the website will find current information and technical assistance opportunities on SUD through a rural lens, including trends and best practices related to interventions, treatment engagement, overcoming stigma, harm reduction, delivery of support services, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), recovery, and more. The development of this website was informed by rural partners and adapted to address rural community needs.
Date:
07/29/2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Just Think Twice web page recently highlighted two youth-led projects to prevent fentanyl use.
- High school students from Lincolnshire, Illinois, created the “Face Fentanyl, Face Death” video PSA for a HOSA (Future Health Professionals) competition in 2024. The PSA uses music, powerful visual imagery—including photographs, social media messages, and news coverage—and short clips from a police officer and DEA special agent discussing the dangers of drugs laced with fentanyl. The video placed first in the Illinois round of HOSA’s PSA event and advanced the Lincolnshire HOSA team to the competition’s international round this summer.
- Youth to Youth, a peer-oriented drug prevention program in Dover, New Hampshire, launched the “Dealer is not a Doctor” campaign days after police in Manchester shut down a fake pill operation. The youth-led campaign warns students and the community at large about the dangers of fake pills, which often contain lethal doses of fentanyl. Learn more about the campaign and read local news coverage of the campaign’s efforts at https://www.justthinktwice.gov/media/youth-youth-works-raise-awareness-fentanyl-laced-pills.
Date:
07/29/2024
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recently joined the NIH Kahoot! site with a quiz about how alcohol affects a teen’s health. Now high schoolers, at home or in the classroom, can learn how alcohol affects the teen brain and body by taking NIAAA’s Kahoot! quiz about underage drinking. The quiz is designed to help students understand the negative health consequences associated with drinking, the signs of an alcohol problem, and how teens can find support for friends, family, or themselves.
Date:
07/29/2024
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created a national high-visibility enforcement campaign for drunk and drug-impaired driving and motorcycle riding that begins in mid-August and runs through Labor Day 2024. Materials are now available for the following NHTSA campaigns: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over; If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI; and Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over. Click here for campaign materials to prevent impaired-driving crashes this holiday.
Date:
07/29/2024
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force, co-led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announce recommendations and best practices for safer social media and online platform use for youth. The report, Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry, provides a summary of the risks and benefits of social media on the health, safety, and privacy of young people; best practices for parents and caregivers; recommended practices for industry; a research agenda; and suggested future work, including for the federal government.
Date:
07/29/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success?tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
07/29/2024
This 4th of July, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is spreading awareness of the potential deadly consequences of impaired driving so that people can celebrate the holiday safely.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. In 2022, underage drinking was involved in almost one-third of young drivers’ deaths from fatal crashes. In addition, 30% of young drivers ages 15–20 who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01 grams per deciliter or higher.1
In addition:
- From 2018 to 2022, there were 2,228 traffic crash fatalities during the July 4th holiday period.
- 487 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period in 2022.2
Two NHTSA campaigns—1) Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving; and 2) If You Feel Different, You Drive Different—address social norms around drinking and driving. The first campaign encourages people to not get behind the wheel after drinking and to plan for a safe, sober ride home. The second reminds people that it is dangerous and illegal to drive impaired.
Access these NHTSA campaign materials, including sample social media messages, talking points, graphics, and more, at https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/#8916.
1 “Drunk Driving,” NHTSA, accessed June 18, 2024, available at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving#age-5056
2 “Fourth of July,” NHTSA, Traffic Safety Marketing, accessed June 18, 2024, available at: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/safety-topics/drunk-driving/buzzed-driving-drunk-driving/fourth-july#7076
Date:
07/01/2024
A recent Campus Drug Prevention article by Jennifer Jacobsen, MA, MPH, executive director of health and wellness at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, tackles the topic of faculty working with students on their well-being. In the article,
Jacobsen gives examples of ways that prevention practitioners can partner with faculty to support students, including:
- Working with statistics and data science faculty who may be looking for local campus health datasets surveying students and their peers;
- Coordinating shared projects or speaking opportunities with psychology faculty who teach health psychology or pharmapsychology;
- Reaching out to marketing and communications faculty who may be looking for projects to positively affect the campus community; and
- Working with pre-health faculties to reach students who are interested in learning more from practitioners.
Jacobsen also encourages practitioners to make faculty aware of substance data on their campus so that they can help promote accurate norms, challenge assumptions, and set pro-social expectancies.
Read the full article for more ideas on engaging faculty members in prevention work.
Date:
07/01/2024
Williamsburg Middle School in Arlington, Virginia, has produced several PSA campaigns throughout the years. Behind-the-scenes footage shows what goes into making these PSAs, including a recent one that addresses opioid use among youth and young adults and promotes a local program for students struggling with substance use.
Get inspired for your community’s own drug prevention efforts by watching the video at https://www.justthinktwice.gov/media/one-mistake-all-it-takes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
Date:
07/01/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
07/01/2024
As part of its National Prevention Week 2024 Kickoff Celebration in May, SAMHSA announced the winners of the FentAlert Challenge. The FentAlert Challenge sought innovative ideas from U.S. youth, ages 14–18, to develop a community strategy to educate their peers about fentanyl and fake pills?and prevent drug overdose deaths. The Challenge supports primary prevention efforts prioritized in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Overdose Prevention Strategy, a key element of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda, focusing on beating the opioid crisis.
The Challenge received almost 200 entries from across the country. The six winning videos can be viewed on SAMHSA’s YouTube channel and the FentAlert Challenge Winners webpage. SAMHSA congratulates the winners, honorable mentions, and every young person who participated and is helping drive the conversation in their community.
Date:
06/06/2024
SAMHSA is hosting a webinar, “FentAlert Challenge: Youth Innovators Advancing Fentanyl Overdose Prevention,”on June 13, 2024, from 2–3 p.m. ET. Youth and young adults will share their strategies to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl has increasingly become a concern for youth and young adults. From 2019 to 2021, overdose deaths among youth and young adults have increased. Among adolescents ages 10–19, about 90 percent of these deaths involved opioids and 84 percent involved illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Furthermore, the summer is often a time of substance use initiation for this population and it’s important to focus on prevention messaging around fentanyl and other substance use during this time of year. Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 13, 2024, and register to attend.
Date:
06/06/2024
SAMHSA’s Art of Recovery project highlights the impact of art on mental health and substance use recovery, showcasing how creative expression can serve as a pathway to solace, healing, and empowerment. The project solicits submissions, including artwork and a brief description of the artist’s inspiration, from artists with lived or living recovery experience. Submissions are open May 7–June 28, with categories for youth ages 13–17 and adults ages 18+. Artists may submit in two categories: 1) painting, drawing, or mixed media, and 2) photography. Learn more about the project and submission guidelines here.
Date:
06/06/2024
SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit, updated in 2024, is now available in Spanish. It provides guidance to a wide range of people on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit includes tailored information, guidance, and resources on overdose prevention and response for people who use drugs (and their family members or caregivers); people who use prescription opioids; practitioners and health systems; and first responders. SAMHSA encourages its networks to share this resource so communities can prepare to prevent and respond to overdoses.
Date:
06/06/2024
The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
The Screen4Success tool screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
06/06/2024
From May 12–18, SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week: A Celebration of Possibility (NPW) is showcasing the work of organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health in their communities. Learn more about how you can get involved throughout the week and join SAMHSA for the following virtual events and activities:
- Monday, May 13–Attend the live virtual kickoff event for NPW 2024! Join SAMHSA leadership and partners to celebrate the power of youth and the future of prevention.
- Tuesday, May 14–Join us for “Celebrate the Possibilities of Prevention: Building Resilient Communities,” an enlightening learning session co-hosted by Communities Talk and the “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign as part of SAMHSA’s NPW. This event will spotlight the remarkable efforts of our community partners, showcasing the critical work they’ve accomplished this year. By learning about their journeys, you can:
- Get informed on the challenges they’ve tackled, the innovative strategies they’ve adopted, and the successes they’ve celebrated.
- Be prepared by arming yourself with knowledge and actionable insights.
- Take action using the tools and resources in your own communities.
Register today!
- Wednesday, May 15–Join SAMHSA’s Innovations in Prevention Forum, where we’ll showcase SAMHSA’s innovative prevention initiatives addressing pressing and current issues, such as the opioid crisis and high-risk substance use among youth.
- Thursday, May 16–Spread the good news of prevention on social media and in your community! Share photos and videos from your events using #NationalPreventionWeek24 and #MyPreventionStory.
- Friday, May 17–Hear from grantees and coalition members from across the country, highlighting the collective power of the prevention community. Follow SAMHSA’s official YouTube channel to be the first to see and share this special tribute to prevention organizations.
See the full National Prevention Week 2024 agenda and register for events.
Help amplify the power of prevention leading up to, during, and after NPW by sharing your #MyPreventionStory on social media, downloading our planning toolkit, and spreading the word about NPW. Join the prevention conversation using the hashtags #MyPreventionStory and #NationalPreventionWeek24 on social media.
Date:
05/09/2024
It’s the time of year for end-of-school celebrations and graduation parties, and parents and other caring adults need to know the social host laws or host party policies in their state.
Consider holding a Communities Talk event about the risks involved with hosting parties for anyone under 21. You can learn from what other communities have done by reading success stories. Here are a few examples:
- After a death due to a drinking and driving accident that happened right after a graduation party, the Highland School District in Tieton, Washington, held a Communities Talk event to educate parents on how to host safe parties, especially if there isn’t close adult supervision. The presentations were delivered in Spanish, with translations offered to the English-speaking community members. Read their success story, No es usted, hasta que le sucede a usted (It’s not about you until it happens to you) to find out what they accomplished!
- In the rural community of Hayden, Arizona, underage alcohol use was seen as a “rite of passage” and parents provided alcohol to teens at parties they hosted. To educate parents and youth about the harmful effects of this behavior, the Copper Corridor Coalition held a Communities Talk event that included discussions with an officer from the Arizona Liquor Licenses and Control Board. You’ll find out more about their event in their success story.
Learn more about social host liability and host party laws with these resources:
Date:
05/09/2024
Learn from your colleagues about their successful prevention strategies by attending the next Communities Talk webinar and these PPTC webinars.
- Celebrate the Possibilities of Prevention: Building Resilient Communities
- Youth Engagement Workshop 1: Assessing Organizational Capacity & Readiness to Successfully Engage with Youth in Your Substance Use Prevention Work
- May 8, 2024–12 p.m. ET
- Host: Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network (PTTC Network)
- This 2-part webinar series will focus on engaging young people in prevention work with and for youth. The first workshop will explore characteristics of organizations that serve as a strong foundation for youth engagement; organizational capacity and readiness for youth engagement; ideas for advancing characteristics to include and strengthen you
Date:
05/09/2024
- The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile application, which helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drug use prevention. Download it today from the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
- The Screen4Success tool, which screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It’s a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns. Access it on your mobile device by downloading the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app and selecting the Screening button from the app’s main navigation.
Date:
05/09/2024
An analysis of data from the 2023 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), shows that approximately 11 percent of 12th grade students across the United States reported past-year use of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC, or delta-8 for short). Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance that is typically derived from hemp, a variety of the cannabis sativa plant. Delta-8 has intoxicating effects similar to delta-9-THC (delta-9), the primary THC component responsible for the “high” that people may experience from using cannabis.
Date:
04/11/2024
April is Alcohol Awareness Month—an important opportunity to highlight the positive impact of the effectiveness of underage drinking prevention. Use this SAMHSA developed toolkit to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol use and misuse. It offers tools to assist in educating communities on how individuals struggle with alcohol use and offers resources and support.
Date:
04/11/2024
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications. The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 27, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. To find a collection site, go to dea.gov/takebackday.
Date:
04/11/2024
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) is a public health surveillance system that monitors emerging trends and characteristics of substance-related emergency department (ED) visits. This short report focuses on estimates of alcohol-related ED visits from January 2021 through September 2023. The report also contains statistics about alcohol-related and polysubstance emergency room visits for those under age 21.
Date:
04/11/2024
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.
Date:
04/11/2024
SAMHSA’s Prevention Day
- Missed SAMHSA’s Prevention Day on January 29? You can read about some of the highlights in this blog post by CAPT Christopher Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H., director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). In the post, CAPT Jones outlines the successes of SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day—the largest Prevention Day gathering to date. The post calls out data around prevention, including the significant decline in youth and adolescent substance use over the past 20 years; shares CSAP’s vision; and recaps some of the sessions held at the Washington, D.C., event in January, including an “Ask the Assistant Secretary” meeting with youth, at which Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shared resources for youth preventionists. The blog post also highlights the importance of involving more youth in prevention programming.
National Prevention Week
- 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 your NPW activities.
Date:
04/11/2024
Support youths by using the Screen4Success tool, which screens for health, wellness, and well-being by asking questions about a child’s life. It's a quick and easy way to identify areas where someone may benefit from more support and provides local and national resources to help address those concerns.
Date:
04/11/2024
The “Talk. They Hear You.” mobile application also helps parents and caregivers who want to turn everyday situations into opportunities to have conversations about alcohol and other drugs. Download it today.
Date:
04/11/2024
In response to the death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary/two-spirit student in Owasso, Oklahoma, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has compiled resources related to mental health and youth crisis services, tools for youth-serving providers, and resources to preventing school-based bullying and violence. HHS stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community and reaffirms its commitment to addressing discrimination, bullying, and violence in all its forms.
Date:
03/07/2024
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invite community partners—as well as scientists, students, educators, and health care providers—to join in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) from March 18–24. NDAFW is a weeklong national health observance inspiring dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. During NDAFW, use NIDA’s resources to support teens in making informed decisions about drugs and alcohol.
You can also:
- Check out these five steps to hosting an NDAFW event.
- Find lesson plans and other materials for prevention specialists, educators, and counselors.
- Register your event online to have your event listed on NIDA’s events map. It takes only a few minutes to register!
While you’re at it, why don’t you check out NIAAA’s new Kahoot! quiz about underage drinking? NIAAA has partnered with Kahoot!, an online learning platform, to provide free interactive quizzes and games for educators and learners. This online quiz tests high schoolers’ knowledge about how alcohol affects a teen’s brain and body. The quiz is designed to help students have a better understanding of underage drinking, the negative health consequences associated with drinking, the signs of an alcohol problem, and how they can find support for friends, family, or themselves.
Date:
03/07/2024
The National Center on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery in partnership with SAMHSA, the Bureau of Indian Affairs/Office of Justice Services, and Indian Health Services, Behavioral Health Division, will be hosting the national Joint Meeting on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery March 18-20, 2024 in conjunction with the third annual Pathways to Wellness Forum March 20-21, 2024. Join us for these events in-person in Baltimore, MD or virtually on the virtual Whova platform. This conference brings together practice, research, and policy to address the top public health problem facing our nation’s youth: alcohol and other drugs. With any questions, email info@youthrecoveryanswers.org.
Date:
03/07/2024
Planning to host a Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse activity? The 2024 cycle for SAMHSA’s Communities Talk is now open! If you want to join a national effort to help prevent substance use and misuse in your community, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation.
You can also check out our Quick Start Planning Guide, which includes everything community-based organizations need to know to quickly and easily begin organizing a results-oriented substance use and misuse prevention activity. The guide includes detailed steps to help organizers plan and promote their activities, share their successes, and use their planning stipends.
Date:
03/07/2024
Congratulations to the University of Northern Colorado, Centre College in Kentucky, and West Chester University in Pennsylvania for winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively, in the 2023 Red Ribbon Week Campus Video PSA Contest, co-sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and SAMHSA! These creative and compelling video entries are now available for online viewing, including the 1st place-winning “Sober Curious,” which parodies prescription drug commercials and lists “side effects” such as “having more time for hobbies, less stress, [and] more time to study for class.”
Date:
03/07/2024
An article on the DEA’s Campus Drug Prevention website discusses successful prevention efforts at HBCUs, both in Louisiana and nationally. Dr. Allison M. Smith, Assistant Commissioner for Student Health and Wellness for the Louisiana Board of Regents, discusses statewide data, national research, and anecdotal stories supporting the trend of Black students at HBCUs tending to use substances, including alcohol, less than their white collegiate counterparts. In particular, Smith looks at the effects of fictive kinship, religiosity, and culturally competent strategies on this trend.
Date:
03/07/2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has revised “Prevention With Purpose: A Strategic Planning Guide for Preventing Drug Misuse Among College Students” with new information! The guide provides a road map for college- and university-based prevention professionals to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders in addressing campus-wide drug misuse issues.
In this 2024 edition of the guide—first published in 2020—you will find updated data, real-life stories from campus prevention professionals focused on unique or innovative approaches to SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), ways to consider cultural factors in each step of the SPF, and strategies for success during times of disruption to campus life.
Date:
02/08/2024
SAMHSA's ninth round the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse initiative recently launched in January 2024. The initiative aims to prevent alcohol and other drug misuse among individuals aged 12-25 years old in communities nationwide. Since 2006, the initiative has provided prevention resources and planning stipends to thousands of community-based organizations, colleges, and universities.
Please share thisopportunity with your network. SAMHSA continues to offer organizations a $750 planning stipend to conduct a Communities Talk activity. Planning stipends are limited, so request an invitation as soon as possible.
If your organization is interested in participating, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation.
Date:
02/08/2024
The “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign’s social media training focused on best practices and strategies to enhance the visibility of prevention and intervention organizations. The training covered establishing social media metrics, developing S.M.A.R.T social media goals, using content development tools, increasing engagement and expanding to new platforms, and utilizing social media management tools. If you missed the training you can access it through the full-session recording and presentation slides.
Date:
01/18/2024
SAMHSA has a challenge for America’s youth: Help us raise awareness about fentanyl and reduce teen overdose deaths. FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices—SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge is an opportunity for youth (ages 14–18) to develop a community strategy to educate their peers about fentanyl and fake pills, and to prevent drug overdose deaths. The top six ideas will be awarded a $5,000 prize each, and up to 25 youth will receive a $2,000 honorable mention prize. Youth can participate individually or as part of a team. Please review the rules and judging criteria. Submissions are due by 6 p.m. ET on February 26, 2024. Please share this opportunity to support young people’s voices for a future where they and their peers can thrive.
Date:
01/18/2024
In this webinar, viewers hear from the SAMHSA’s CSAP Director Captain Chris Jones and two Communities Talk event hosts. David Kenyon is the advisor for a chapter of Friday Night Live in California. He, along with some of the youth from the chapter, speak about their event that focused on alcohol and substance use, mental health, and fentanyl. Yvonka Hall is the executive director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. Their event was an educational session for high school students within the Cleveland Municipal School District. Hear how she worked to develop a meaningful relationship with the school district and fostered a partnership with Black Lives Matter (BLM) Cleveland.
Date:
01/18/2024
In this webinar, viewers learn why storytelling is an important tool in prevention efforts, as well as hear storytelling strategies from experts in the field. The webinar features Joseph Green of LMSvoice, an award-winning storyteller. He explains why using narrative disruption in storytelling has great impact. He also shares the importance of value-centered storytelling when engaging with people in the recovery community and youth involved in prevention. The Value of Storytelling to Enhance Prevention webinar video can be found on SAMHSA’s YouTube channel.
Date:
01/18/2024
Join your colleagues at SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day (SPD), taking place on Monday, January 29, 2024. The day is dedicated to exploring current innovations, reflecting on past accomplishments, and charting a course for the future of prevention. SPD is held in conjunction with the CADCA National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. SPD is a free event, but registration is required.
Date:
01/18/2024
The holiday season can be filled with joy and celebrations. It also can trigger difficult emotions, thoughts, or behaviors—which can affect mental health and increase substance use (including alcohol). Use SAMHSA’s new Holiday Toolkit to let those in your community know that confidential support is available 24/7 for both mental health and substance use.
Date:
12/07/2023
The PTTC Network offers training and events to help you with your prevention work. Here are some that you may be interested in. To learn more about future PTTC webinars visit the Events Calendar.
Date:
11/09/2023
In case you missed it, be sure to watch the Communities Talk About: Fentanyl Use Prevention in Youth and Young Adults webinar from June 21, 2023. Featured is a discussion on the prevention of fentanyl use, the effects of fentanyl laced with other substances such as xylazine, and the growing threat of fentanyl use among young people. Presenters included:
Date:
11/09/2023
The Thanksgiving holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Unfortunately, more people on the roadways means the potential for more vehicle crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Date:
09/29/2023
Teens’ inexperience behind the wheel makes them more susceptible to distraction while driving. One in three teens who text say they have done so while driving. NHTSA has information you can use with parents to motivate them to talk with their teens. Urge them to remind their teen that underage drinking is illegal and driving under the influence of any impairing substance—including illicit, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs—could have deadly consequences.
Date:
09/29/2023
SAMHSA aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery during Recovery Month. In the years since Recovery Month launched, SAMHSA has timed announcements of initiatives and grant funding during Recovery Month, while collaborating with private and public entities to celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries.
Date:
09/19/2023
Please join DEA and participate in this year’s Red Ribbon Week. Each year, from October 23-31, individuals, schools, and communities across the United States show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying a red ribbon. This annual event offers a great opportunity for parents, teachers, students, and community members to raise awareness of the problem of drug use and misuse. This year’s Red Ribbon Week theme is “Be Kind to Your Mind, Live Drug Free.” The Red Ribbon Week Toolkit includes including downloadable graphics, fact cards, student and parent pledges, and ways to support Red Ribbon Week in your schools and communities.
Date:
09/19/2023
The New England PTTC held a Fellowship Symposium focusing on practical resources to address the root causes of substance misuse. The PTTC created six new research-based tools and resources for the substance misuse prevention workforce to support their work in New England. The resources can be applied to other regions in the United States. You can view the recorded webinar and learn details about the resources described below.
Date:
09/19/2023
Colleges and universities provide ongoing support for their students, including programs and activities to prevent alcohol and other substance use and misuse. Unfortunately, it’s harder to reach those who do not attend college full-time. The prevalence of substance misuse among transition-age youth who do not attend a four-year college or university is as high as, if not higher than, that of their college-attending peers.
Date:
08/10/2023
The Communities Talk About Prevention podcast series has real-world examples of ways community-based organizations and institutions of higher education are advancing substance use prevention in their own communities. Three episodes are available now.
Date:
08/10/2023
SAMHSA has tips and resources to help you move forward after your activity, including:
Date:
07/06/2023
SAMHSA has updated drinking prevention publications with the latest NSDUH data as well as other important information. More updated publications will be available soon!
Date:
07/06/2023
As you know, substance use prevention promotes healthier communities and enhances overall population health. Prevention mitigates health behaviors related to premature death and chronic health conditions. Prevention also increases access to evidence-based services and supports for individuals, families, and communities to reduce health disparities and address social determinants of health.
Date:
06/29/2023
Overdose deaths among youth and young adults have increased significantly in recent years. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.
Date:
06/14/2023
David Arnold, who is leaving NASPA, is featured in the DEA’s Campus Drug Prevention “View from the Field.” He speaks about the importance of unlearning that there is a one-size-fits-all solution, and dissects the root causes of why prevention is so prone to distraction, as well as the factors that should inform a modern approach to the field.
Date:
06/08/2023
It’s the time of year for end-of-school celebrations and graduation parties. Adults may not know the social host laws or host party policies in their state.
Date:
05/04/2023
Learn from your colleagues about their successful prevention strategies by attending the next Communities Talk webinar, and don’t miss these helpful PPTC webinars.
Date:
05/04/2023
Celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month by hosting a Communities Talk event in April and linking the event to national and local coverage of the observance, maximizing your promotional efforts. Read on for resources you can use when planning your event! And don’t forget to read Communities Talk success stories as inspiration for activities that are working across the country to prevent underage drinking.
Date:
03/07/2023
A new program by SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign, “Parents’ Night Out,” provides parents in your community with the information, skills, and tools they need to feel comfortable talking with their kids about underage drinking and other drug use. The “Parents’ Night Out” materials are intended to be used for community implementation, either virtually or in person. Comprehensive toolkits are available for download and include all materials needed to implement either a 1-hour “Parents’ Night Out” session or a series of three 1-hour program sessions. Each interactive session should be led by a facilitator, and this person can be a teacher, administrator, classroom aide, student support staff member, trained parent or caregiver, or community group volunteer.
Date:
03/07/2023
The Northwest PTTC has developed an Alcohol Awareness Toolkit to use during Alcohol Awareness Month. The Alcohol Awareness Toolkit will help you raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of strong alcohol policies. It also encourages engagement from prevention and public health stakeholders to strategically educate and inform decision-makers about effective alcohol policies by providing easy-to-personalize, templated opinion editorials, letters to legislators, and proclamations.
Date:
03/07/2023
Communities Talk About Prevention podcast episode 3 is available now! Hear from three community members that developed their own public service announcements and leveraged social media to join SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week. They share how they developed their activities and saw them through to completion and success. If you’ve missed other episodes be sure to check them out. Episode 3 is available on SAMHSA’s YouTube page and all episodes are available on the Communities Talk About Prevention podcast page.
Date:
02/09/2023
You’ll find many resources to help you register your Communities Talk activity on this site. The updated FAQ is a good place to start to find out details about the Communities Talk initiative, registering, and stipends. Another great resource is the Quick Start Planning Guide. It includes detailed steps for planning an activity, tips for promoting an activity using traditional and social media, tips for sharing your work, and how you can use your stipend. Register your event soon! Stipends are going quickly. Email info@stopalcoholabuse.net for information about hosting an event in 2023.
Date:
02/09/2023
SAMHSA has released the results of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people living in America reported about their experience with mental health conditions, substance use, and pursuit of treatment in 2021. The 2021 NSDUH national report is the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators that SAMHSA has released to date.
Date:
02/09/2023
SAMHSA’s Prevention Day is January 30, 2023. Don’t miss this free one-day event! Participants will have the opportunity to network with other preventionists and partners; take part in engaging and informative workshops to enhance their program skills; and share success stories and resources. This year we will end the day with an exciting in-person planning kick-off of the upcoming National Prevention Week, taking place May 7–13, 2023! Register here.
Date:
01/12/2023
SAMHSA’s eighth round of the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse initiative has begun. Join substance misuse prevention professionals throughout the country in hosting a Communities Talk activity in 2023. Since 2006, the initiative has provided prevention resources and planning stipends to thousands of community-based organizations, colleges, and universities.
Date:
01/12/2023
This free one-day event provides an exciting forum for to learn about the latest developments in the areas of substance abuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and mental illness. Participants will have the opportunity to network with other preventionists and partners; take part in engaging and informative workshops to enhance their program skills; and share success stories and resources. This year we will end the day with an exciting in person planning kick-off of the upcoming National Prevention Week taking place May 7-13, 2023! Register here.
Date:
12/08/2022
While underage drinking has been the focus of Communities Talk events, communities can also address misuse of other drugs and promote positive mental health. Success Stories can give you some ideas to build on. For instance, Oregon the Tigard Turns the Tide Coalition held an event addressing mental health and wellness due to an increase in drinking and drug use as a coping mechanism during the pandemic. Students created a social media campaign, creating videos to help students coping with stress and anxiety. Read more, and view the videos, in their success story Hope and Beyond Mental Health Matters.
Date:
12/08/2022
The holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, is one of the deadliest times of the year due to impaired driving. The need to address impaired driving by young drivers is urgent; they report driving while under the influence more often than older drivers.
Date:
11/10/2022
Transition-age youth (TAY) who are not attending college full time are at an increased risk for substance use disorders compared to TAY who are on a college campus. In addition, there are few national resources to help the prevention field communicate with this population.
Date:
11/10/2022
Red Ribbon Week, America’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program, takes place on October 23–31. This is a great opportunity for parents, teachers, educators, and community organizations to raise awareness about substance misuse. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has created a Red Ribbon Toolkit with resources to use with your community.
Date:
10/06/2022
This October during National Hispanic Heritage Month, plan prevention events for your Hispanic and Latino community members using SAMHSA resources. Some of the many Spanish-language materials include:
Date:
10/06/2022
Parents can be the biggest influencers on teens’ choices behind the wheel if they take the time to talk with their teens about some of the biggest driving risks. During National Teen Diver Safety Week, (October 16–22), encourage parents and other concerned adults to have conversations with teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel. The Department of Transportation has developed fact sheets, sample news releases, social media messages, and more to amplify the safe driving message. Find them on the National Teen Driver Safety Week website.
Date:
10/06/2022
Thursday, October 20, is the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. Visit the Take Back Day website to find resources to help dispose of unneeded medications, watch PSAs, and learn more about the drug overdose epidemic in the United States.
Date:
10/06/2022
Whether you are planning a Communities Talk or other prevention event, SAMHSA’s new Event Planner application has resources and event management capabilities that enable you to succeed. You’ll find resources to help you plan your event, as well as create tasks and collaborate with others as you plan.
Date:
09/01/2022
Back-to-School and College: Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies
Summer’s over and students are heading back to school and college. It’s an important time for parents and caregivers to connect with teens and young adults to reinforce clear no-use rules about alcohol and other substances. Teachers, counselors, and administrators can be prepared with evidence-based prevention tools to help teens and young adults make smart choices for their future health and well-being.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2020 an estimated 32 percent of 18- to 20-year-olds and 9 percent of 12- to 20- year-olds reported monthly alcohol use.1 About 20 percent of 18- to 20-year-olds and 6 percent of 12- to 20- year-olds reported using marijuana in the past month.2 Resources from the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) can help prepare you to reduce youth substance misuse and lay the groundwork for a healthy school year.
Prevention Resources from ICCPUD agencies
Date:
08/09/2022
Don’t miss SAMHSA’s Prevention Day 2022 on May 9! This virtual event will kick off National Prevention Week activities.
New Findings: Changes in Alcohol Use Among Girls and Young Women
Girls and young women, ages 12 to 20, are now drinking more alcohol than their male counterparts. SAMHSA has a new publication that shares the facts on this shift in behavior to help the prevention field envision strategies to curb harmful drinking behaviors among this group.
Colleges Get Involved in the “One Pill Can Kill” Initiative
In this month’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Prevention Profiles: Take Five podcast, learn about the importance of DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” initiative and how colleges can get involved with Take Back Day.
New Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC has released two reports, one with data on tobacco use among middle and high school students and another on children’s mental health.
Date:
04/14/2022
It’s Time to Start Planning for SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week 2022!
SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week (NPW) is a national public education platform that brings communities and organizations together to educate the public about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health, while sharing information about effective prevention strategies. This year NPW will be May 8–14 and SAMHSA is already planning! Go to the NPW website to stay updated and check back often for new resources that can help you start planning your activities.
Tune in to Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) Webinars
The SAMHSA-funded PTTC Networks provide technical assistance and learning resources you can use in your substance misuse prevention efforts. By visiting the PTTC Training and Events Calendar, you can easily find webinars and other events to help you keep up with the latest prevention information. Here are some upcoming events on underage drinking and substance misuse prevention:
Date:
03/17/2022
Inspiration at Your Fingertips: Data and Success Stories from Your State
You can find the information you need to support your underage drinking prevention work by visiting the
State Resources page. There, you’ll find your state summary from the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking with rates of past-month alcohol use and binge drinking broken down by age group. Information about your state’s expenditures for substance abuse prevention and treatment is also available, as well as details on current laws, enforcement, and programs. You also can see what prevention success looks like on the local level with Communities Talk Success Stories from your state listed on the page.
Apply for a Drug-Free Communities Grant Next Month!
Date:
02/16/2022
Host a Communities Talk Event in 2022 With the Power of Partnerships and Sponsors
While SAMHSA’s
Communities Talk stipend cycle has ended, the work of prevention has not! SAMHSA encourages communities to continue to build momentum behind the substance misuse prevention movement by hosting an event or activity this year. Now is also a great time to establish and fortify
strategic partnerships if you’re planning to do something big in 2023.
Even if you already have an extensive partner network, think about ways to expand or strengthen it. Partners are vital to maximizing your reach, promoting your message, and supporting your prevention effort—including providing financial support with
in-kind contributions. Watch the
Communities Talk webinar
Leveraging Partnerships in Planning/Hosting a Communities Talk Event to learn how to cultivate and maintain mutually beneficial partner relationships to achieve lasting impact.
New! Featured Success Stories
Success Stories for events and activities held in 2021 are now posted, and new this year are featured
Success Stories that go a little deeper into the what, why, and how communities and organizations nationwide have recruited, educated, and mobilized their constituents to prevent underage drinking. Take a look and prepare to be inspired!
Date:
01/21/2022
Keep the Holidays Bright by Staying Safe Behind the Wheel
December is observed as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month because it can be the deadliest when it comes to drunk driving. As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has created resources designed to be used during the holidays to educate your community members about the risks of substance use and prevent tragedies. The holiday campaign runs from December 15, 2021, through January 1, 2022.
The Essential Link to Prevention: Parent/Caregiver and Child Communication
When parents and caregivers communicate with their children about the harmful effects and negative consequences of alcohol and other substances, they can make a real difference. The holidays, especially New Year’s Eve, are a critical time for community-based prevention practitioners to encourage and enable parents and caregivers to talk with their children about the dangers of alcohol and other substance use. However, adults may need some help to know how to discuss these sensitive topics with their children.
Date:
12/02/2021
NEW! Featured Success Stories
How do Communities Talk hosts put their events and activities together—and what do they achieve? Three new success stories describe Communities Talk activities in Maryland, rural Montana, and on a college campus in Florida. Lean what they were up against and how they worked within their communities to get a conversation going about preventing underage drinking.
Evaluating Communities Talk Activities
If you have held a Communities Talk activity or event this year, it’s time to review and evaluate its impact; this is the best way to plan strategically for future activities and put you in the best possible position to respond to the underage drinking and substance misuse prevention needs of your community. Here are some tips and tools to help you evaluate your event.
Date:
11/04/2021
NEW! “Talk. They Hear You.” Campaign Posters
SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” substance use prevention campaign has released three new posters. These posters encourage parents and educators concerned about their child’s or student’s health and wellbeing to work with student assistance professionals. The vibrant posters are available in three sizes (11x17, 18x24, 24x36) and designed to grab attention and inspire action.
National Teen Driver Safety Week Is October 17–23, 2021
During National Teen Driver Safety Week this October, encourage parents to have conversations with their teens about important rules for staying safe behind the wheel. Use the NHTSA’s Rules for the Road campaign materials to inspire parents to discuss the importance of driving safety with their young drivers. Read how other communities incorporated teen driving safety into their Communities Talk activity.
Red Ribbon Week Is October 23–31, 2021
The DEA’s Red Ribbon Week, America’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program, takes place this year October 23–31. Celebrate Red Ribbon Week in your community by raising awareness about the value of living a drug-free
life!
Date:
10/07/2021
SAVE THE DATE: The annual Red Ribbon Week Campus Video PSA Contest starts September 13!
As part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA)
Red Ribbon Week campaign, the DEA and SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention are co-sponsoring the annual Campus Video PSA Contest for colleges and universities. Join SAMHSA, the DEA’s Campus Drug Prevention initiative, and the larger prevention community for a Twitter chat to learn more.
SAMHSA Expands its Talk. They Hear You. PSA Series
SAMHSA expands its
Talk. They Hear You. substance use prevention campaign resources with the release of 15 new
print PSAs. Tips include topics to discuss with teens and young adults before dropping them off at a party or before they get behind the wheel, and how to keep the dialogue about substances going as they get older.
NEW! Turning Data Into Action: A User’s Guide to the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking
The
Turning Data Into Action guide provides a digestible overview of the Report to Congress, State Performance and Best Practices report and state-specific reports. You’ll find tips for using the reports specifically for communities, coalitions, parents, local government agencies and law enforcement.
Date:
09/14/2021
Download the new “Talk. They Hear You.” mobile app.
Help parents and caregivers prepare for one of the most important conversations they may have with their kids by using SAMHSA’s new “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app. Watch a quick video to learn more about the app and see how it works.
Do you know how your state prevents underage drinking? Learn the laws with SAMHSA’s new series.
This new series in the SAMHSA Store summarizes the 24 legal policies that allow you to track how your state regulates underage drinking compared to other states. Using these summaries will help inform your prevention work.
Back to campus!
In the coming weeks, many students will be physically returning to college and university campuses and engaging in the social activities they have been missing during the pandemic. Luckily SAMHSA has many resources you can use with students, parents, and the campus community to aid your on-campus prevention efforts.
Date:
08/06/2021
When you invest in holding a Communities Talk activity or event, you—and your partners or participants—will want to walk away knowing the effort made an impact. A good starting place for evaluation is to determine what success looks like to you and your community (ideally before the activity takes place).
Date:
07/08/2021
Connect the Dots with a Communities Talk Planning Stipend
If a lack of resources is one of the things getting in the way of you connecting to your community about underage drinking prevention, a $750 planning stipend is your solution! But register now because stipends are going fast.
Need Something to Talk About?
As you plan your Communities Talk activity, don’t forget that it can be combined with another community activity or event, as long as underage drinking prevention is a key, related topic. For example, underage drinking prevention could be discussed along with mental/behavioral health, marijuana use, e-cigarette use or vaping, opioid misuse, or other health problems.
Date:
06/02/2021
NEW! Tips and Tools for Hosting a Virtual Activity
Prevention happens even in a socially distant world! These tips and tools offer creative and innovative ways to host a Communities Talk activity to bring people together.
NEW! After High School: Talking With Your Young Adult About Underage Drinking
Young adults still listen to their parents when it comes to decisions about avoiding alcohol. This new fact sheet has the information parents need to start the conversation about the consequences of underage drinking and alcohol use.
National Prevention Week 2021: Prevention Happens Anywhere and Everywhere
Substance misuse prevention happens in many places, spaces, and communities. SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week (NPW), set for May 9 through 15, is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of and action around mental and/or substance use disorders. Find ideas, tools, and other resources for participating on the NPW website.
Don’t Be Left Out! Register Now to Receive Your Planning Stipend
More than 500 organizations have already applied for a $750 Communities Talk planning stipend. If you didn’t receive an invitation to register yet, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request one. Remember, planning stipends are only available on a first-come, first-served basis and they are going fast.
Date:
04/07/2021
NEW! College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives Discussion Guides for Campus Communities
We are excited to introduce two new discussion guides to use with the College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives video series! The new discussion guides provide an overview of key themes and strategies in each episode, as well as conversation starters to spark discussions within your college community about alcohol.
Have You Started Planning Your 2021 Communities Talk to Prevent Underage Drinking Activity?
If you haven’t, don’t worry! SAMHSA has plenty of resources to help you plan your 2021 Communities Talk activity. If you’re planning a Communities Talk activity for parents, there are new resources from SAMHSA’s Talk. They Hear You. campaign. Read the complete article to learn more.
Date:
03/09/2021
Discover Innovative Ideas for Virtual Communities Talk Activities
The Find an Activity Map has details about innovative ways communities and institutions of higher education used their planning stipends to mobilize their community and prevent underage drinking. The map will even show you some of the creative prevention activities happening near you!
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, communities were finding innovative ways to share prevention messages! Here are some creative ideas you can incorporate into your 2021 Communities Talk plans.
SAMHSA Prevention Resources at Your Fingertips
When planning your Communities Talk activity, remember that SAMHSA has prevention and planning resources for you to use.
Date:
02/12/2021
It's Time! Register Now for a 2021 Communities Talk Planning Stipend of $750
Registration for the 2021 Communities Talk activity cycle is now open, and $750 planning stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis! If you didn’t receive an invitation to register yet, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request one.
Once your registration information is verified (including a valid copy of your organization’s W-9 form), you should receive your $750 planning stipend within 21 days. Please cash your check within 30 days, even if your activity won’t take place until later in the year. Read the Communities Talk Quick Start Planning Guide for more information about registration and planning an activity.
Fresh for 2021: New and Updated Communities Talk Resources
We know prevention has changed in 2021, and a top priority for this year is providing new and updated resources to support prevention activities. These tips and resources will help you promote and implement your Communities Talk activity.
SAMHSA’s 17th Annual Prevention Day is Monday February 1, 2021
Attend SAMHSA’s 17th Annual—and virtual—Prevention Day and expand your knowledge of evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies. Prevention Day is free, so register today.
Date:
01/15/2021
Reduce Underage Drinking Where You Live with Communities Talk
Beginning in January 2021, $750 planning stipends will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep an eye on your email inbox in January for an invitation to apply for a 2021 Communities Talk planning stipend. You can also email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation.
Communities Talk Quick Start Planning Guide – Updated for 2021!
Get a head start on your 2021 activity with the newly updated Quick Start Planning Guide. The guide provides a checklist and calendar to support your planning efforts. It also includes helpful information to complete your Communities Talk profile and registration.
Prevention Activities in a Socially Distanced World
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, connecting to your community with prevention messages has been increasingly challenging. But there are many ways to keep prevention alive and community engagement strong that don't require in-person interactions. Read more for some ideas to push prevention forward virtually.
Date:
12/15/2020
Virtually Attend SAMHSA’s 17th Annual Prevention Day!
SAMHSA’s 17th Annual Prevention Day will convene on Monday, February 1, 2021, in conjunction with CADCA’s Virtual Forum. This exciting, one-day virtual event will give you the latest on SAMHSA’s prevention priorities for 2021. Registration is free to the public!
Celebrating the Holidays Safely
This year, families and friends will face new and unique challenges as they try to celebrate the holiday season while still following CDC COVID-19 guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This is an especially important topic for underage youth, as data show that they are involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes despite being too young to legally purchase or possess alcohol. Read more to learn about resources to help prevent underage drinking and driving.
Date:
11/17/2020
It's back! The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), together with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) and other national partners, will sponsor the eighth round of Communities Talk to Prevent Underage Drinking. The cycle will launch in January 2021 and $750 stipends will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Using Data to Inform and Mobilize Your Community
Community leaders, parents, and other concerned citizens can be motivated to prevent underage drinking when they learn how many adolescents and young adults begin using alcohol each year. Inspire more people to actively support prevention in your community by using data from SAMHSA’s 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Date:
10/06/2020
Even in a world that is social distancing, youth can and should play an important role in Communities Talk activity planning. For inspiration on how to get youth involved in your next Communities Talk, check out the story video. This short video highlights ways communities can work with youth to help reduce the prevalence of underage drinking.
NEW! Prevention Graphics Gallery
SAMHSA has developed three new data visualizations designed to facilitate conversations between children and parents or other caring adults, and support community efforts to prevent underage drinking. The visualizations bring key findings from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to life by creating a narration that helps outlines how communities get informed, stay prepared and take action.
Date:
09/01/2020
SAMHSA’s COVID-19 page has resources and information to assist you in your prevention efforts during this complex time. There you’ll find SAMHSA’s Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19, which is updated weekly, as well as other helpful materials. Read more for descriptions of helpful materials.
Date:
08/17/2020
Success Stories—Prevention Work Continues Despite Impacts from COVID-19 Pandemic
As you are rethinking prevention strategies to adapt to challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, learn how some of your colleagues have succeeded in refining their Communities Talk events.
Managing Youth Stress and Substance Misuse During COVID-19 Pandemic
Recent research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing increased levels of stress and substance misuse. Read more about recent findings as well as resources you can use to aid youth and caring adults in your community.
Date:
07/27/2020
Following social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials can make prevention work challenging. One way to reach your audience with prevention messages is by hosting a virtual Communities Talk event using free video conference platforms and using different virtual techniques. To help you plan, we’ve included some ideas for you!
Date:
06/01/2020
SAMHSA Email Newsletters to Support Your Prevention Initiatives
This is the final edition of the Communities Talk email newsletter, so be sure to bookmark our website and check back often for the latest information about Communities Talk events and resources for underage drinking prevention. Read the full e-Alert article to learn how to get the latest SAMHSA news and resources about substance use prevention delivered via email.
SAMHSA's StopAlcoholAbuse.gov and Communities Talk Website Resources
The StopAlcoholAbuse.gov and Communities Talk websites offers valuable resources to help strengthen your prevention efforts, including the state map that links to individual state profiles in the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking. Read the full e-Alert article to learn about what you can find on these websites.
Date:
05/04/2020
Other SAMHSA Email Newsletters to Support Your Prevention Initiatives
The Communities Talk email newsletter will soon be discontinued, so be sure to bookmark our website and check back often for the latest information about Communities Talk events and resources for underage drinking prevention. Read the full article for links to sign up for other prevention-related email newsletters.
SAMHSA's Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
SAMHSA understands how social distancing and quarantine may come with challenges for substance misuse prevention and serious concerns for individuals, families, and communities. SAMHSA's Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak shares information on how to cope with the thoughts and emotions many people are experiencing.
Communities Talk Success Stories, Share Your Success!
The latest Communities Talk Success Stories are now available to help you learn about all the creative and inspiring events your colleagues hosted to mobilize their communities in support of underage drinking and substance misuse prevention. You might find inspiration or ideas for an event of your own - and don't forget to share your own Success Story!
A Free Educational Resource for Virtual Learning: Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX)
Given the many COVID-19-related school closures, educators, parents, and caregivers are looking for innovative ways to help students learn as much as they can online at home. AlcoholFX is a fun, interactive, science-based app for children ages 10 to 12 to learn about alcohol's impact on the brain.
Date:
04/16/2020
Establishing Partners to Support Your Communities Talk Event in 2020
Keep the momentum you gained from your 2019 Communities Talk event going by hosting an event in 2020! Partnering with a local business or other community groups is a great way to enhance your underage drinking prevention efforts during non-stipend years. The Communities Talk website has some great information to help you develop partnerships that support your prevention efforts.
Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults
SAMHSA’s guide, Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults, supports health care providers, health systems, and communities seeking to prevent substance misuse among young adults. It describes relevant research findings, examines emerging and best practices, identifies knowledge gaps and implementation challenges, and offers useful resources.
Date:
03/04/2020
Underage Drinking Prevention Materials Now Available in Spanish
Several new Spanish-language underage drinking prevention resources are now available. Originally available in English, the resources are adapted to connect with Spanish-speaking audiences to help community-based organizations and prevention strategists address issues around underage drinking in those communities.
Talking to Your College Student about Alcohol During the Holidays
Students are returning home after their first semester in college, and it’s a great time for parents and caregivers to talk with them about alcohol or reinforce conversations they may have had at the beginning of the semester. Check out SAMHSA’s resources for parents to guide your own conversations.
Celebrating the Holidays Safely
Help prevent drinking and driving this holiday season with campaign resources from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These campaigns provide animated graphics, fact sheets, sample news releases and op-eds, and Spanish-language materials.
Date:
12/17/2019
New SAMHSA resource focuses on embracing culture and context for prevention strategies
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) educate students in a culturally specific context, which calls for a tailored approach to underage drinking prevention. The second episode in SAMHSA’s College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives series, Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking, shows how HBCUs have created prevention strategies that meet the unique needs of a campus community with a strong history and culture.
Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) Resources
The SAMHSA-funded PTTC Network provides technical assistance and learning resources for you to use in your substance misuse prevention efforts. Learn more about resources on the topic of underage drinking and alcohol misuse prevention.
SAMHSA Addresses Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults
SAMHSA’s new public message on Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults offers resources to support those concerned about someone who may be drinking too much, using drugs, or dealing with mental illness get the help they need.
Date:
11/14/2019
Preventing Underage Drinking and Marijuana Use
Communities Talk events primarily focus on underage drinking prevention. But the events also are a great
opportunity to discuss other substance misuse and prevention-related topics that are important to your community,
including marijuana use. Addressing the dangers associated with underage and young adult marijuana and alcohol use can increase the impact of your event and energize your community’s prevention work. SAMHSA’s Know the Risks of Marijuana webpage and SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.”
campaign website
have facts and materials for you to use when planning or hosting your Communities Talk event.
Back-to-School Season: An Opportunity to Help Parents and Caregivers Prevent Underage Drinking and Drug
Use
A new school year often brings a fresh start for children and their families. It’s also a time to revisit
conversations with children about alcohol and other drugs. Resources from SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” national
media campaign helps parents, caregivers, and other role models have conversations about alcohol and other drugs with
children. Read SAMSHA’s blog
by Johnnetta Davis-Joyce, M.A., Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, for details about using
the campaign in your prevention initiatives this school year.
Using Data to Mobilize Your Community
Community leaders, parents, and other concerned citizens become more invested in prevention when they learn how many adolescents and young adults begin using alcohol each year. You can use data from SAMHSA’s 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to educate your community about underage drinking and get them engaged in prevention strategies.
Date:
10/09/2019
SAMHSA’s AlcoholFX App Helps Educators Highlight Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain
As an educator, you do important work every day to help youth in your community build healthier, brighter futures. Helping kids understand the consequences of using alcohol, and how alcohol can harm their brains, is key to ensuring they achieve their goals. Download SAMHSA’s AlcoholFX app for tablets at no cost to help share these messages.
Enhance Your Communities Talk Profile
Thank you to everyone who added event flyers to their Communities Talk profile! Your flyers, event photos, and media coverage bring your events to life on the Find a Meeting map and offers other Communities Talk hosts ideas for their own activities. If you have not had a chance to share your flyers, photos, etc. for your event, please add them to your profile.
Date:
09/19/2019
New Communities Talk Toolkit
Check out the new Communities Talk Event Host Toolkit. This all-inclusive guide has detailed information for first-time hosts and for those who want to expand the impact of their events. Be sure to read the social media section to find updated sample content for your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. The toolkit also includes updates on ways you can engage the media with your event.
Strategic Planning for Year-Round Underage Drinking Prevention
When developing your substance misuse prevention strategic plan, remember to include Communities Talk as part of your underage drinking prevention efforts. Effective prevention efforts begin with a strong strategic plan—a process for setting goals and objectives, and for determining how to achieve them and how to measure impact. SAMHSA has resources that will help you as you plan programs and evaluate results.
Date:
08/07/2019
Inside, Outside, Small, Virtual—Whatever Format Works in Your Community Works for Communities Talk!
Not all Communities Talk events need be large or follow a traditional meeting approach. Every community is unique, with different populations and different concerns about the causes and effects of underage drinking. A variety of venues and formats can be used to host an event, including hosting a virtual meeting using social media. Read on to learn how.
Using Your Planning Stipend
SAMHSA requires Communities Talk stipends be used to cover the costs of planning and hosting an event. The stipends can be used to cover the costs of printing promotional materials or for facilities rental, and there also are other creative ways to use the funds.
Date:
07/10/2019
Join us for a webinar on June 25 from 2–3 p.m. EDT to hear from an all-youth panel about how to engage youth and young adults in underage drinking prevention strategies.
Date:
06/20/2019
Using Social Media to Promote Your Communities Talk Event
The Communities Talk Social Media Guide provides tips for using social media, from selecting platforms to guidelines for writing and posting content. SAMHSA also provides sample content to promote your event.
#CommunitiesTalk Twitter Chat
The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) co-hosted a Twitter chat with Communities Talk about preventing and reducing college student drinking. The chat discussed groups that are most at-risk for binge drinking among college students, activities and programs that have worked on college campuses, and resources used for planning underage drinking prevention programs on campus.
Upcoming Webinar: “Leading the Way: Maximizing the Power of Youth and Young Adult Leadership in Communities Talk” on June 25 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
Register now for SAMHSA’s Communities Talk webinar featuring insights from youth presenters on increasing youth engagement in your underage drinking prevention efforts.
Date:
06/05/2019
Join colleges, universities, students, staff, and the larger prevention community for a Twitter chat to learn more about underage drinking prevention strategies on campus.
Date:
05/31/2019
Is your organization hosting a Communities Talk event this year? Register now to receive a planning stipend!
Be sure to keep in mind that you do not need to set a firm date or select a venue to register. If your
Communities Talk event will take place by December 31, 2019, you can receive a planning stipend.
Spread the word!Your colleagues from other community organizations or institutions of higher education can request information about hosting a
Communities Talk event and may qualify for a planning stipend. Encourage them to contact
info@stopalcoholabuse.net.
Participate in the National Prevention Week Prevention Challenge today!
SAMHSA is inviting you to participate in the
NPW 2019 Prevention Challenge! This is a great activity to integrate into your
Communities Talk event - set up a backdrop for photos or a "selfie station" and ask participants to take photos and videos of their underage drinking Prevention Champions at the event. Remember to use the hashtags #PreventionChampion and #NPW2019.
Date:
05/08/2019
Leveraging Alcohol Awareness Month and National Prevention Week
April is
Alcohol Awareness Month, which is the perfect opportunity for your community to focus on underage and harmful drinking prevention. Plus, learn how
Communities Talk events have contributed to national progress in reducing underage drinking rates in
SAMHSA’s recent blog post from Luiz Vasquez, LICSW, Acting Director, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
Join communities across the nation in celebrating SAMHSA’s
National Prevention Week (NPW) May 12–18, 2019. Tuesday, May 14, focuses on the prevention of underage drinking and alcohol misuse.
Tell us about your event and be a 2019 Success Story!
Following your event, you will receive an e-mail survey. Please complete the survey to share the positive impact the
Communities Talk initiative has had on preventing and decreasing underage drinking in your community. What you share about the results of your event could be highlighted on the
Communities Talk Success Stories page.
Date:
04/11/2019
Watch the archived webinar here.
On March 20, 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hosted a webinar with experts from around the country to discuss best practices for engaging partners in planning, hosting, and promoting a successful Communities Talk event. SAMHSA encourages audiences to view and share this video with their communities or any organizations they know that would be interested in hosting a Communities Talk event.
Date:
04/05/2019
More about planning stipends
Completing your registration to host a SAMHSA-sponsored Communities Talk event ensures that you will receive your $750 planning stipend within 21 days. Watch the new step-by-step video tutorial (look for the video in the orange Event Host Log In box on the homepage) about how to register your event.
Promoting your Communities Talk event
Now that you’ve planned your event, you need a strategy to spread the word. The Communities Talk website has the tips and resources you need to promote your event.
First, create a promotion plan and learn the best ways to implement it.
Date:
03/05/2019
The 2019 Communities Talk stipend cycle is now open! This year, the $750 planning stipends will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you didn't receive an invitation to participate in this year's stipend cycle, e-mail info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request your stipend invitation. Be sure to include your organization's name and website to speed up the verification process.
As you begin planning, remember to check out the resources that are available on the Communities Talk website in the following list.
Date:
02/06/2019
Read the latest SAMHSA blog post from Luis Vasquez, LICSW, Acting Director for SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, to learn about the 2019 Communities Talk Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking initiative that will launch in late January.
Date:
01/24/2019
This year, SAMHSA will sponsor the seventh round of Communities Talk Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking. Beginning in late January 2019, a limited number of $750 planning stipends will be available to help cover the costs of planning and holding a Communities Talk event.
If you’re attending the NASPA Alcohol, Other Drug, and Campus Violence Prevention Conference, you can attend the Communities Talk workshop, “Engaging Campuses and Communities as Partners to Address Underage Drinking: A strategic Framework” from 2:35 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Friday, January 18.
Date:
01/11/2019