While the landscape of substance use is constantly changing, cannabis remains one of the most commonly used substances among young people in our state. Its widespread availability, and attitudes about it being “harmless” and “natural,” contribute to early use. To...
Across New Hampshire, schools are discovering a powerful truth—we can’t suspend our way out of youth substance use. While rules and boundaries are critical, traditional responses like suspension can do the opposite of fixing the issue. It happens every day: a student...
The holiday season is often framed as a time of giving, but the most lasting gift we can offer isn’t something wrapped under a tree. It’s the gift of mattering: ensuring that the people in our lives feel seen, heard, and valued. As Zach Mercurio writes in The Power of...
For years, cell phones in schools were a source of frustration. Limited, local bans were hard to enforce and put students in conflict with their teachers. This year, things changed. Influenced by the growing research on the negative impact of screen time on learning...
Forward from the Connect Program, NAMI New Hampshire: As students return to classrooms this fall, it’s important to remember that school is about much more than academics. For many young people, school is where they discover belonging, form meaningful relationships,...
Prevention doesn’t just happen. It’s not a singular event or one-time campaign. It’s a vibrant, interconnected ecosystem: passionate providers, engaged parents, dedicated professionals, and forward-thinking funders working together to inspire hope and create...
Substance misuse and substance use disorder (SUD) are more than individual behaviors and health outcomes. Substance use can impact every level of our communities, from individual health to families and personal relationships, schools and workplaces, and even our...
When a young person dies by suicide or from a substance use-related tragedy, the heartbreak isn’t limited to one family. It ripples out - through the community in classrooms, neighborhoods, and the entire town. In those moments, it’s impossible not to ask ourselves:...
National Prevention Week (May 11–17, 2025) is a powerful opportunity for communities across New Hampshire to raise awareness, spark conversations, and promote action around substance misuse prevention. This year, we’re making it easier than ever to get involved. We’ve...