National prevention week is an annual observance that will be conducted this year from May 8 to May 14. National Prevention Week is a platform dedicated to bringing communities and organizations together to increase awareness about the importance of prevention in substance use and the push for positive mental health promotion.¹ The National Survey on drug use and health reports that approximately 19 million American adults (12 and older) battled some sort of substance use in 2017.² In that same year it is also reported that 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.¹ The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that drug misuse and addiction may costs the American Society approximately $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, expenses of healthcare and costs related to crime.³ While these statistics may be daunting, it is essential to continue national observances such as National Prevention Week to shed light on the importance of prevention. This empowers prevention professionals to continue the work towards implementing evidence-based strategies for substance misuse. It increases community awareness to be empowered in their way to further this knowledge.

SAMHSA states on their website that the primary aims of National Prevention Week are to :

• Involve communities in increasing awareness of substance use and mental health and implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs
• Advance partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to the agenda of public health
• Promote and disseminate quality substance use prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications

Additionally, every year, National Prevention week includes daily themes to help reinforce the focus on substance misuse and mental health promotion through various topics. This year, themes include:¹

• Monday, May 9: Strengthening Community Resilience: Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention;
  • Join the Central East PTTC on April 27th for Bisexual Women and Substance Misuse 

• Tuesday, May 10: Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Mental Health in Youth;
  • Join the Central East PTTC on May 25th for Talking Effectively with Youth About Substance Use

• Wednesday, May 11: Preventing Suicide: Everyone Plays a Role ;
  • Join the Central East PTTC on June 7th for The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic Part 1: The Current Landscape
  • Join the Central East PTTC on June 14th for The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic Part 2: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

• Thursday, May 12: The Talent Pipeline: Enhancing the Prevention Workforce
  • Join the Central East PTTC on June 8th for Strategic Alliance: Prevention Across the Continuum of Care

• Friday, May 13: Prevention is Everywhere: Highlighting Efforts Across Settings and Communities;
  • Join the Central East PTTC on May 18th for Managing Stigmatizing Language in Substance Misuse Prevention

• Saturday, May 14: Celebrating Prevention Heroes

According to the Addiction Policy Forum, evidence-based prevention programs may dramatically reduce substance use disorder and substance use rates. Policies such as cost increases on alcohol may reduce rates of binge drinking.⁴ Prevention professionals are encouraged to engage with the daily themes to promote the importance of prevention while engaging in evidence-based strategies to further this in their practice. The Central East PTTC will be offering a webinar on Stigma and Substance Use Prevention: What Prevention Professionals and Others Can Do. Also, SAMHSA provides more information on National Public Health Week, found here