Recent News

  August 31st, 2022, commemorates International Drug overdose awareness day. Drug overdose is a raging public health crisis throughout the globe and this campaign aims to honor those who have died due to overdose and reconcile the grief of the families they left behind through discussions on drug prevention and policy[1]   According to the […]

July is recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. However, over the years , studies have recognized the importance of person-first language in which personhood is prioritized before diagnosis or disability.1 Because of this change in how we should think about communities of people, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other People of […]

  While uplifting the voices of communities that have been marginalized should be a year-round occurrence, the month of June is dedicated to elevating LGBTQ voices and recognizing their contributions to history locally, nationally, and internationally. Additionally, the needs and perspectives of those within the LGBTQ community must be considered in prevention efforts.   Within […]

By Jessica Hulsey Addiction Policy Forum   While much stigma is associated with health conditions like mental illness, HIV, and obesity, addiction is the most stigmatized health condition globally. A multi-country study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) examined levels of stigma associated with highly stigmatized conditions, such as homelessness and HIV, and found […]

  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 […]

The National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has celebrated Alcohol Awareness Month every April since 1987. This month aims to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage surrounding communities to focus on alcoholism and issues related to alcohol.   According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2006 […]

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, an annual grassroots public awareness and outreach campaign established by the National Council on Problem Gambling to educate the general public and healthcare professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling and raise awareness about the help and resources available.   For most, gambling can be fun. But for […]

 "Creative Ways to Incorporate the One Choice Message: The Power of National Partnerships to Improve Local Prevention" Produced by the One Choice Team, please find the following tri-fold available for download and customization: Click here For more information about the One Choice please visit: https://onechoiceprevention.org/                       […]

The month of February is dedicated to Black history. This month-long observance is celebrated annually as it gives us the chance to celebrate Black achievements while also taking stock of systemic racism and how organizations can continue to create change.   As we reflect on the purpose behind Black history month, it is important to […]

According to Merriam- Webster, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The addiction policy forum states that prevention is cost-effective as prevention programs reduce some substance use by over 50%. [1] Additionally, implementing prevention policies such as increasing the cost of alcohol may reduce binge drinking by nearly 10% among men and […]

This year's World Aids Day theme is Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice. Although there have been significant improvements in HIV diagnosis rates and HIV prevention, HIV is still seen as a healthcare challenge, especially for populations disproportionately impacted by this disease. In response, fighting towards equity must be a priority for all […]

        Almost every year, thousands of troops return home from active duty and become military veterans in their respective communities. However, experiences from active duty may contribute to the high rates of substance abuse within this population. According to Teeters et al., 2017 more than 1 in 10 veterans have been diagnosed […]

The month of October offers a multitude of observances to reflect on the importance of education and awareness on mental illness. National Depression Education and Awareness month is observed in order to bring awareness to the importance of understanding depression and the need for accessible and affordable mental health screenings.1 Depression is a common but […]

October 23rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day From https://takebackday.dea.gov/   "The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription […]

The Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Data-Informed Decisions Working Group has designed the Checklist for Identifying Data Gaps and Primary Data Collection Methods: A Review Sheet for prevention professionals.       This review sheet was designed to support addressing data gaps through primary data collection. It provides several methods and select resources as a starting point […]

Public Safety Alert Issued by the DEA   Source: https://www.dea.gov/alert/sharp-increase-fake-prescription-pills-containing-fentanyl-and-meth   Download a PDF of this alert here: https://www.dea.gov/sites/pttc/files/2021-09/2021%20DEA%20Public%20Safety%20Alert.pdf   Download the DEA Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet here: https://www.dea.gov/sites/pttc/files/2021-09/DEA_Fact_Sheet-Counterfeit_Pills.pdf Sharp Increase in Fake Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl and Meth DEA Warns that International and Domestic Criminal Drug Networks are Flooding the United States with Lethal Counterfeit Pills September […]

As National Suicide Prevention Month, September offers numerous opportunities to reflect on the terrible impact of suicide and the behavioral health continuum's role in preventing it – including Suicide Prevention Awareness Week (September 6–12) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the […]

International Overdose Awareness Day and other such observances offer an opportunity to reflect on the human toll that overdoses take throughout the world. As the opioid epidemic spread and grew in severity across the United States, fatal overdoses have increased almost every year since 1999. In recent years, fatal overdoses involving stimulants have increased as […]

July is Black, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Recognized by the US House of Representatives in 2008, the month aims to:1 Improve access to mental health treatment and services and expand public awareness of mental health disorders Honor […]

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration has made available the Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet and Fact Card.    These are available for download using the following links:  Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet (English) Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet (Spanish) Counterfeit Pills Fact Card (English) Counterfeit Pills Fact Card (Spanish)   Visit dea.gov for more information and resources. […]

Several important HIV/AIDS awareness observances occur in June, including the National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day on June 5, National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on June 8, and National HIV Testing Day on June 27. Each of these observances, and others throughout the year, are an opportunity to provide education on how far U.S. […]

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Prevention Week (NPW) is May 9 through 15. NPW is the annual culmination of year-round efforts by SAMHSA to increase public awareness of and efforts to address mental health and substance use disorders. The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center (CE-PTTC), funded by SAMHSA, is […]

ALERT: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services releases New Buprenorphine Practice Guidelines, expanding access to treatment for opioid use disorder. More details can be found here: https://www.samhsa.gov/.../press-announcements/202104270930 Direct link to the document: Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder

The New England PTTC has developed: In the Air. "A graphic medicine built to foster conversations with and among young people around vaping, choices about substance use, and social factors. This graphic novel-styled story of five teens going through high school incorporates behavioral science of substance misuse prevention with the stories, interest, and ideas of members of the […]