National Prevention Week is a national public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. Hosted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Prevention Week promotes the world we want to see – where prevention helps keep people and communities healthy and safe.
The campaign’s theme is A Celebration of Possibility.
This week recognizes that the important work of prevention happens every day. By providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action and story-sharing, and by showcasing the work of our partners in prevention, we can confront the societal challenges surrounding substance misuse together while celebrating stories of prevention.
There are many ways to participate in National Prevention Week, during the annual observance and throughout the year. Learn how you can get yourself and your community involved!
Download and share The Partnership @drugfreeNH's Partner Toolkit.
The Partnership @drugfreeNH created a mini social media toolkit to support digital communication around our prevention community’s response to youth substance use across New Hampshire. Included are graphics and prompts that can be modified to suit your needs. Download each image and corresponding text on our website, co-brand with your logo (if desired), then post to your organization’s social media account(s). All messages can be modified to suit your community’s needs. Make sure to include the hashtag #NationalPreventionWeek23 and tag us (@drugfreeNH) so we can share your posts!Watch an on-demand webinar hosted by The Partnership @drugfreeNH.
In recognition of this observance, The Partnership @drugfreeNH hosted a variety of virtual events to help raise awareness about the importance of preventing substance misuse and promoting mental health in a fun and engaging way during National Prevention Week 2023.
Monday, May 8, 2023
NH Prevention Program Showcase Virtual Workshop
The Partnership @drugfreeNH, the NH Student Assistant Network, and NH Service to Science showcased New Hampshire-grown prevention programs that prevention partners throughout the state can implement in their communities.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Supporting Students with Student Assistance Program Webinar
Student Assistance Programs (SAP) bring students, families, educators, and community resources together to address obstacles to student success. SAPs provide information, support, and resources that will help young people make healthier decisions, learn critical coping skills, and form and strengthen relationships that enable them to learn and flourish. This webinar recording explains the New Hampshire Student Assistance Network, including available resources to support your SAP or start an SAP at your school.
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Facebook Live: Update on Tobacco Use Prevention in NH
The Partnership @drugfreeNH talked with Martha Bradley, Public Health Consultant at JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., working on a number of projects throughout NH around tobacco use prevention, early intervention, and cessation. Martha shared state and community-level efforts to address the harmful effects of tobacco use, as well as why tobacco use prevention is important, what strategies communities are using to address youth tobacco use (including vaping), and the resources available for prevention, intervention, and cessation efforts.
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Facebook Live: Talking Matters – Preventing Youth Substance Use
The Upper Valley ALL Together Coalition has created a series of short videos for parents and guardians around youth substance use. These videos provide tools and information to help people feel more prepared to navigate hard topics with youth. The Partnerhsip @drugfreeNH talked with Andrea Smith, the Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator at Upper Valley ALL Together, about why talking with youth is so important, yet so hard, and how the coalition seeks to help adults feel more confident have those difficult conversations.
Friday, May 12, 2023
Video Screening & Discussion for Better Now: Life Without Substance Use
Many people are looking for ways to shrink the thumbprint that substances like tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis have on their lives and well-being. The Partnership @drugfreeNH dove into the stories of five New Hampshire residents in long-term recovery from substance misuse in our recent video “Better Now: Life Without Substance Use“. This panel discussion explored how the video participants knew it was time for a change and what life looks like on the other side of their substance use disorder. We also encourage you to download our video discussion guide to help implement the key points discussed in this video in their communities.
Share your #MyPreventionStory.
Host your own event in your community.
- Download the National Prevention Week Toolkit for all the information you need to jumpstart your prevention event planning.
- Register your event with SAMHSA so they can help promote your event.
- Tell The Partnership about your event and any needs you have for promoting it or for support. We will post your event on our events calendar and share it on social media. Email us at thepartnership@jsi.com.
Watch and share The Partnership @drugfreeNH's NPW 2022 Facebook Live series.
- Strengthening Community Resilience – Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention
- Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Mental Health in Youth
- Preventing Suicide – Everyone Plays a Role
- The Talent Pipeline – Enhancing the Prevention Workforce
- Prevention is Everywhere – Highlighting Efforts Across Settings and Communities