As parents, caregivers, prevention specialists, or other adults, what we do influences the young people around us. Kids notice the role alcohol plays in our everyday routines, our celebrations, and how we cope with stress. When adults pause their use of alcohol, they...
Stopping in a convenience store or gas station, you probably would not notice the substances being sold to get high. Many of these legal substances are packaged to look harmless or even kid-friendly–some like sweets. As easily accessible as these products are, they’re...
Prevention is not as simple as warning kids not to do drugs. If you’re an adult reading this, you probably remember “Just Say No” and “This Is Your Brain On Drugs.” Did those common refrains stop young people in your community from using substances? We now know so...
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...