What's New

Read monthly updates on substance use prevention news and resources from federal agencies that make up the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) and other national organizations working to prevent substance use and misuse.

HHS Crisis Resources for Oklahoma

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.

Communities Talk 2024 Planning Stipend Cycle Has Launched

SAMHSA’s ninth round of the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse initiative launched last month. 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 this opportunity with your network. SAMHSA continues to offer organizations a $750 planning stipend to conduct a Communities Talk activity.

If your organization is interested in participating, email info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation. Planning stipends are limited, so request an invitation as soon as possible.

Registration Open for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invite scientists, students, educators, health care providers, and community partners 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. NIDA provides resources to support teens in making informed decisions about drugs and alcohol, including lesson plans and other materials for educators, counselors, and prevention specialists. Those planning on hosting an NDAFW event may consider registering it online to have it listed on NIDA’s events map.

Bringing Youth Back to the Top of Our Nation’s Substance Use Agenda

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.

Start Planning for National Prevention Week

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

Updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit

SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit, updated in January, educates a broad audience on overdose causes, risks, and signs, as well as the steps to take when witnessing 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); practitioners and health systems; and first responders. The toolkit also includes information on policy and systems considerations for community engagement and planning around overdose prevention and response initiatives. SAMHSA encourages its networks to share this resource so communities can prepare to prevent and respond to overdoses.

New Report Shows Binge Drinking Decline Among NCAA Student-Athletes

Results from a comprehensive NCAA study released in January show declines in binge drinking, as well as the use of narcotic pain medication and spit tobacco, among NCAA college athletes. The study was based on data collected from more than 23,000 student-athletes across all of NCAA’s three divisions during the 2022–2023 academic year. This year marks the 10th iteration of the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study, which examines the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by college athletes.

Winners of 2023 Red Ribbon Week Campus Video PSA Contest Announced

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, cosponsored 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.”

Updated for 2024: “Prevention With Purpose”

The 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. The 2024 edition of the guide—first published in 2020—includes 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.

SAMHSA Releases Peer Support Recovery Guide

SAMHSA released a how-to resource for people with problematic substance use about working with a peer specialist. The consumer guide, “How Can a Peer Specialist Support My Recovery From Problematic Substance Use?” offers people with past or current problematic substance use a straightforward exploration of the roles, values, and work environments of professional peer specialists. This comprehensive resource will help readers understand who professional peer specialists are, what they do in various work settings, and how to access and pay for their services. Through visual aids illustrating the integration of peer specialists into the treatment and recovery landscape, this consumer guide will help facilitate a strong start toward collaboration with a peer specialist.

Out Now: 2023 Edition of “Prescription for Disaster”

The DEA has released a digital copy of the 2023 edition of “Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Misuse Medicine.” This publication is designed to be a guide to help readers understand and identify current medications that teens are misusing. The 2023 edition includes new information on fake pills as well as the use of social media—a major avenue through which teens purchase illicit drugs.