It is important for the prevention community to know and understand the risks related to cannabis, especially in a time of changing laws, rules, and regulations in the region. The New England PTTC has created this page to bring together the latest health advisories from the CDC, CADCA, and other federal partners, as well as the health departments and organizations of the six New England States. You can also find below some helpful informational resources and cannabis prevention toolkits from the New England states.
We will continue to update this page with the latest federal and state health advisories and tools and resources you can use in your community to respond to this urgent public health crisis. If you have other training and technical assistance needs around cannabis and cannabis prevention, please contact us at [email protected].
“The purpose of this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory is to alert public health departments, healthcare professionals, first responders, poison control centers, laboratories, and the public to the increased availability of cannabis products containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the potential for adverse events due to insufficient labeling of products containing THC and cannabidiol (CBD).” VIEW.
This health advisory was conducted in April of 2021 and discussed how social media advertising could reach underaged groups, encouraging cannabis exposure. VIEW.
This advisory emphasizes the “importance of protecting our Nation from the health risks of marijuana use in adolescence and during pregnancy." VIEW.
"This marijuana toolkit aims to provide community members and prevention educators with essential information and supportive resources.” VIEW.
“The goal of this guide is to review the literature on prevention of marijuana use among youth, distill the research evidence into recommendations for practice, and provide examples of the ways stakeholders can implement the recommendations.” VIEW.
The Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network has put together a toolkit with a focus in cannabis prevention. This toolkit aims to prevention and educate on cannabis use. VIEW.
SAMHSA has created a toolkit called, #TalkTheyHearYou, to help stop the underage consumption of alcohol and other drugs. VIEW.
Theory-based and evidence-informed resources created by educators, parents, and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of cannabis/marijuana. VIEW.
The Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network has put together a toolkit with a focus in cannabis prevention. This toolkit aims to prevention and educate on cannabis use. VIEW.
The CDC perspective on cannabis use, the health effects, and the new research updates. VIEW.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deliberates the idea of teens and cannabis use. VIEW.
“Recognizing the need to understand changes in cannabis use patterns, the potential health and social consequences of cannabis use, and public health strategies to monitor and respond have led to the development of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Cannabis Strategic Plan.” VIEW.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration provides the risks of marijuana usage, as well as what marijuana is. VIEW.
The SAM Summit is a national resource that educates on the different national bills and budgets going through the United States. Also supplied are cannabis stories. The goal of this site is to “educate citizens on the science of marijuana and to promote health-first, smart policies and attitudes that decrease marijuana use and its consequences.” VIEW.
CADCA works to build drug free and prevention driven communities. VIEW.
“A variety of information. Sources are available to monitor the prevalence and trend of marijuana use in the United States and cover a variety of marijuana-related issues, including emergency department and use and misuse data, policy measures, and other related tools.” VIEW.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse - advancing addiction science covers a variety of subjects including definitions, data, news, and trends. VIEW.
(2020) Living the Example (LTE) is a program that trains adolescent youth ambassadors to develop and disseminate prevention messages within their own social media networks and through in-school activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to LTE-based social media on students in the youth ambassadors’ networks. VIEW.
(2018) This research article discusses how youth exposure to positive marijuana messages increases their risk of marijuana use. VIEW.
(2019) “Frequent Cannabis use has been linked to a variety of negative mental, physical, and social consequences. We assessed the effects of digital prevention and treatment interventions on Cannabis use reduction in comparison with control conditions.” VIEW.
(2022) This research article discusses cannabis use during pregnancy, stating that it is one of the most used drugs during pregnancy in the United States. VIEW.
(2022) Research confirms that four of the five factor-model personality traits have a significant association with cannabis use. VIEW.
(2022) “Cannabis use among women of reproductive age has increased substantially in recent decades. Understanding reasons for cannabis use in this population is critical for cannabis use prevention efforts. Thus, this scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize current measure on reasons for cannabis use in women of reproductive age.” VIEW.
(2020) E-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among youth. As more states adopt the cannabis legalization policies, youth cannabis use in e-cigarettes is a mounting concern. VIEW.
Outside US: (2022) Covid-19 and cannabis use study from Israel- using cannabis to cope and how that might impact health, how family support can prevent drug use during pandemic. VIEW.
Different school boards across the country discuss how they are adjusting to the legalization of cannabis and how it could impact their students.VIEW.
Albuquerque public schools discuss how to address students who are required to take medical marijuana during school hours. The site also addresses the steps that the school takes to provide not only the safety of the student but also the safety of all students by addressing the steps necessary for having medical marijuana in the school. VIEW.
“States have historically prohibited the use or possession of marijuana on school grounds, but with the arrival of medical marijuana, policymakers have begun to explore the intersection between school drug policies and medical marijuana laws.” This also looks at states that have modified drug policy in light of medical marijuana laws. VIEW.
“Preventing Youth Marijuana Use: Programs and Strategies is designed to help prevention practitioners identify programs that address youth marijuana use by providing brief information on the results associated with such programs, and how and where they have been implemented.” Pages 9-11. VIEW.
Search for evidence-based programs that fit your population and community needs. VIEW.
The “Keep Your Focus’ campaign is youth-driven to change the social norms in a south-central Connecticut community high school around cannabis use. VIEW.
“The Washington State Department of Health launched a statewide marijuana prevention and education campaign, You Can, to educate youth about the risks and consequences of using marijuana”. VIEW.