Recent News

Certification provides significant advantages to professionals and job candidates - Hiring managers report credentialing is a hiring criteria. Credentialed professionals are more likely to have advancement opportunities and leverage for raises and promotions. International Credentialing & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) certification is reciprocal – Individuals holding a credential through an IC&RC member board may be eligible […]

SAMHSA and the PTTC Network invite you to attend the upcoming Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series: Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse.  Register now to attend the webinar on Thursday, November 10 at 2:00 PM–3:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM–2:00 PM CT. Access the Guide Now!    

By Fabricia Prado, LCSW   If you experience excessive worry, fear, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irritability, nausea, stomachache, sweaty palms, shaking, fast heartbeat, procrastination, mental blank-out, and other symptoms before and while taking exams, you are NOT alone! The overall prevalence of test anxiety in college students, for example, is around 25 to 40%3. Test anxiety […]

The Building Our Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Prevention Fellowship Program (PFP) is focused on increasing the number of prevention scientists working within Black/African American communities and building their capacity to identify and chronicle programs, practices, and policies proven effective in reducing substance misuse risk factors and consequences and promoting mental health and protective factors or […]

North America continues to experience the highest drug-related mortality rate in the world. According to recent provisional data released from the National Vital Statistics System the number of overdose deaths in the United States increased 8.2% from February 2021 to February 2022, with the total number of deaths estimated at 105,770.[1] Fentanyl and other synthetic […]

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than half of Americans ages 18 and older reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and about a quarter of this same group reported past-month binge drinking. To help adults who drink alcohol to better understand their relationship with alcohol, the National Institute […]

The role of a prevention epidemiologist (Epi) is challenging and demanding - and one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences an epidemiologist will have.   While traditionally, an epidemiologist's training focuses on investigating and monitoring disease trends, a prevention Epi's position requires much more. These Epis are often tasked with locating data sources to […]

The PTTC Network joins with others in recognizing June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Our network is committed to ensuring all our programs are equitable and inclusive. On this resource page, you’ll find links to Network events, products, and resources to achieve those goals and foster an environment of respect, support, and equality. View Resource Page […]

No matter how well any program or practice is implemented by a community coalition, its power is strengthened exponentially when it has reliable resources that are embraced and utilized to guide the overall prevention initiatives. When I served as a program coordinator for Partnerships for Health, a grant program to prevent the onset, and reduce […]

SAMHSA Funding Opportunity Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success Application Due Date: Monday, June 13, 2022   The purpose of this grant program is to help reduce the onset and progression of substance misuse and its related problems by supporting the development and delivery of state and community substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion services. […]

Strengthen Community Build Resilience Create Hope   National Prevention Week (NPW) is a national public education platform bringing together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health. As national participation in NPW has increased over the years, this week now serves as a week-long observance created […]

What is alcohol awareness month? Alcohol Awareness Month is a health awareness campaign that was formerly sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). It took place every April and was established in 1987 with the aim of raising awareness for communities and to help understand the causes and treatment available for […]

Substance misuse is on the rise. Period. In 2018, 10.3 million people misused opioids1 and substance misuse is on the rise in response to the coronavirus pandemic with more than one in ten adults having reported starting or increasing use of alcohol or drugs to cope with the pandemic.2 Substance misuse is on the rise […]

Overdose Prevention and Response in Community Corrections:  An Environmental Scan The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted an environmental scan to determine how overdose prevention and response efforts are currently implemented in community corrections. This effort included a literature review, 19 key informant interviews, and […]

From the February 2022 South Southwest PTTC newsletter, Frank Magourilos, CEO of Prevention Works Consulting LLC shares his knowledge and expertise about a social health marketing campaign implemented in New Mexico called Be Above the Influence (BE-ATI) underage drinking prevention campaign. The article describes best practices, lessons learned, budget, and impact to more than a […]

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration invites National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) members to participate in its twelfth annual training opportunity, NNEDLearn 2022. This year NNEDLearn will be fully virtual! The 3-day virtual intensive training sessions will be held April 26-28, 2022 through Zoom. In addition to these sessions, […]

The Red Cup Q&A at the University of Oklahoma is a universal educational approach to alcohol misuse prevention. Developed at The University of Arizona in 2010 as a media campaign, OU Southwest Prevention Center (OUSWPC) entered into an agreement with them to customize logo and content for use on OU Norman campus. OU’s Red Cup […]

New 3-part Series: Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners Enroll now on HealtheKnowledge.org Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners is a 4.5 hour self-paced course that provides important information on what prevention professionals need to know about cannabis. Dr. Hayden Center presents the following 3-part series: The Effects of Cannabis Cannabis and the […]

As a region, our local communities must be empowered to lead the way in addressing the harmful impact commercial tobacco has on our states. Engaging and utilizing local and state policymakers, health systems, and local community members makes us a united force that can improve the health of everyone. By continuing best practices with retail […]

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing's message guide and toolkit equips youth-serving providers and organizations with the tools and resources necessary to support meaningful prevention messaging. In this toolkit, you can access messaging on youth substance use prevention, tip sheets, social media graphics and shareables, videos, webinars, interactive worksheets, and educational courses. The resources within […]

South Southwest Methamphetamine Brief, October 2021 Methamphetamine use is a large and growing problem across much of the United States. In fact, data reveals that methamphetamine (and stimulants in general) may be the next major epidemic facing the country. In some regions, methamphetamine has been endemic since previous waves of use. But the newest wave […]

World Mental Health Day Mental Health Care For All: Let’s Make It A Reality   By The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and the South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center   October 10 was World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is: Mental Health Care For All: Let’s Make It A Reality! […]

October is National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. Read President Biden's proclamation below.   A Proclamation on National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 2021 SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 Far too many families across our Nation have been impacted by addiction and the overdose epidemic.  In 2020, more than 93,000 people died from an overdose — 93,000 families […]

    Addressing Wellness and Building Community Coalitions By Sarah Davis   A coalition of individuals and organizations committed to a common goal can be an effective vehicle to achieve community wellness. Coalitions harness the power of their member organizations and amplify individual voices. Additionally, the process of engaging in a coalition itself can support […]