Prevention in Your Community

You can make a difference. Your voice and your actions matter!  Whether you are affected by substance misuse directly or have seen the effects in your family or community, you have a role in making a change.  From small everyday actions such as attending an event, joining (or starting!) a coalition, or supporting your local school or youth serving organization in prevention efforts, you can help prevent substance misuse and help those in recovery stay in recovery.

Everyday Actions

Prevention and recovery efforts take place at every level-individual, family, community and state. Each of us can do small things every day to contribute to prevention and recovery efforts. Overwhelmingly, research shows that CONNECTION through relationships is important to mental health and substance use prevention. 

family cooperates painting an outdoor projects

Engaging in meaningful activities.

Ask your child/friend/neighbor what their interests are and help connect them to activities that match. Show an interest in what they do (even if you do not think it is interesting, it is interesting to them and showing them that you care will help build a strong, positive relationship!)
young teenage boy working on robotics project

Life skills and social competence

Invite your child, their friends and/or your community’s children to learn a new skill (stack wood; fix the muffler; sew a patch on pants; make a budget; cook a favorite family dish; go fishing). Learn side-by-side with each other.

Talk to your child, their friends and/or your community’s children. Ask about their day, what made them laugh, squirm, roll their eyes today.

mother and daughter seated together

Cultural identity and connection

Engage in conversations about diversity and engage with individuals with different experiences or cultures than your own experiences and culture(s).

teenage girl deep in conversation with woman

Having positive role models

Model healthy behavior around substance use and promote positive communication.

young family with little girl and boy on their shoulders

Family connectedness

Be present and show an interest in your child; seek help if parenting positively is hard; provide support to neighbors and friends who may be stressed in their family relationships.

So what can you do to encourage this CONNECTION?

Connect with What's Happening in Your Community

Every community in New Hampshire is included in the New Hampshire Regional Public Health Network (RPHN) to help connect individuals, families, businesses and organizations to supports, services and resources.  Contact your RPHN and ask to speak with the Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator or Continuum of Care Facilitator to help make those connections. The RPHN with the help of local community coalitions, bring community members and partners in safety, education, government, healthcare, behavioral health and business together to:

  • Identify supports, services and resources in prevention, early identification and intervention, treatment and recovery support and identify where gaps in these areas may be.
  • Help identify local, regional, state and federal resources to fill those needs and
  • Develop steps that support communication, collaboration, and integration in communities.
Become a Recovery Friendly Workplace
As a business owner, you can make a difference in the lives of your employees and their families by becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace you support people in recovery by promoting health and wellness.  Recovery Friendly Workplaces improve communication, health and wellbeing and employee satisfaction and reduces the stigma and shame which is often associated with having a substance use disorder or being in recovery from a substance use disorder.  With less absenteeism and turnover, there is greater productivity, increased customer loyalty and greater community connection.  All of this benefits the employee, their families, coworkers, the community and your business!
Advocate!
Think that YOU can’t make a difference at the local, state or national level? Well, think again. You CAN!

Becoming an advocate means you understand the affects substance misuse has for individuals, families and communities and you want to get informed, be engage and be part of the solution to promote healthy and resilient communities. 
Being an advocate is working at community and/or state levels to increase awareness and support for prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery!

You can help make a difference!
Networks of advocates and community programs are the foundation for changing attitudes, beliefs and perceptions regarding substance misuse. New Hampshire has many networks who are working toward change and your voice helps!

four people wearing brightly colored coats standing side-by-side, with their arms linked together

Community Coalitions in NH

Find community coalitions that bring together different community members to build prevention programs, advocate for policy changes, and offer services.

group seated for a meeting

Join The Partnership

Join the Partnership and together we can reach even more NH individuals, families, and communities get informed, get involved, and get help!