Products and Resources Catalog

  There is growing concern among prevention specialists and public health officials regarding older adults and substance use, misuse, and increasing substance use disorders. Substance use in older adults is complicated and is often overlooked, especially when individuals are experiencing other aging related health conditions. While the number of older adults experiencing substance use disorders dramatically increased in the last 20 years, prevention services have not been tailored to the needs of older adults. This webinar will highlight the growing problem, approaches to understanding the older adult population in your community, and available strategies. Additionally, we will hear directly from preventionists who are implementing programming with this population.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe how to assess the prevention needs of older adults in your community. Identify strategies to prevent substance misuse and promote the health and well-being of older adults. Understand approaches and barriers to engaging older adults in prevention efforts. Develop new partnerships that can work across sectors to engage older adults.   ACCESS OR DOWNLOAD SUPPORTING MATERIALS: Presentation Recording, April 25, 2024 Presentation Slides, April 25, 2024   PRESENTER: Chuck Klevgaard, CSPS  Chuck Klevgaard is a nationally recognized expert in substance misuse prevention, public health, and school-based health. Drawing on his experience in collective impact and prevention-focused partnerships, he builds the capacity of states, tribes, schools, communities, and cities to use evidence-based substance misuse prevention and intervention strategies. He specializes in behavioral health support; training and technical assistance; and evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and substance misuse programs and policies. Nationwide, he provides trainings to prevent opioid overdose, including working with first responders to administer naloxone. As a consultant to Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, Klevgaard provides training and technical assistance to substance misuse prevention entities within the Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. Klevgaard, a Certified Senior Prevention Specialist through the Illinois Certification Board, Inc., holds a BSW from Minnesota State University Moorhead.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.  

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. The April 2024 issue spotlights content celebrating National Minority Health Month and Alcohol Awareness Month. It also features links to upcoming trainings focused on supporting Black students experiencing racial trauma, harnessing AI for substance misuse prevention, and process improvement. Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

The latest edition of our bi-monthly newsletter is available. This month’s edition features a PTTC network event "Climate Change from a Prevention Perspective", Exploring Root Causes of Substance Misuse through Stories, Alcohol Awareness Month and awareness campaigns for April, and regionally and nationally developed events and tools to support and grow the prevention workforce in New England. View the newsletter.

Preventing Underage Alcohol Use Part 2: Strategies and Recommendations for the Field of Prevention Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW April 11, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide information on available evidence-based and culturally responsive prevention strategies for addressing underage alcohol use. It will cover both environmental and behavioral interventions, as well as opportunities to implement or expand policies that can address the social determinants of health. The webinar will review general strategies for underage alcohol use as well as those specifically focused on early adolescents and/or college-age youth. Lastly, it will describe how to ensure cultural responsiveness is incorporated into youth alcohol prevention efforts and programming. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize the importance of providing evidence-based culturally responsive alcohol misuse prevention strategies. Describe evidence-based environmental strategies for preventing underage alcohol use. Describe evidence-based behavioral strategies for preventing underage alcohol use among early adolescents and college-age youth. Explain how to ensure cultural responsiveness in youth alcohol prevention programs. PRESENTERS Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.   Olivia Stuart, MSW supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University.  

Preventing Underage Alcohol Use Part 1: Identifying and Understanding the Data Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW April 9, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of the current state of underage drinking and related prevention efforts. It will begin by reviewing the most common data sources for underage alcohol consumption and discuss opportunities to improve and expand data collection efforts. The webinar will then summarize the most recent data on alcohol use prevalence and patterns, as well as the consequences of use, at the national level and for the Central East region (HHS region 3). It will also describe the research on risk and protective factors for alcohol use among young people. Lastly, it will provide information on how the social determinants of health play a role in underage alcohol use rates. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe underage alcohol data sources and opportunities to expand data collection. Explain the scope of underage alcohol use and consequences in the Central East region and nationally. Identify risk and protective factors relevant to underage alcohol use. Recognize the effect of the social determinants of health on underage alcohol use. PRESENTERS Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.   Olivia Stuart, MSW supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University.  

Access free, self-paced online courses through HealtheKnowledge to enhance your substance misuse prevention knowledge and skills.  Upon finishing these courses, participants receive certificates of completion. Don't have a HealtheKnowledge account? Sign up for free and start browsing substance misuse prevention courses.  

​COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar draws from both historical perspectives and recent events, along with research findings, to unveil the alcohol industry’s role in creating and perpetuating social, economic, and health inequities. Additionally, it examines evidence-based alcohol policies aimed at alleviating inequities and addressing social justice issues. The session is designed for community coalition coordinators and members who are prepared to engage in policy and social change, ultimately transforming the community's relationship with alcohol and those who profit from its production and sale. Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording and link to the PowerPoint below. Alcohol and Social Justice PPT PRESENTER Dr. Jernigan is best known for his action-research approach to the issue of alcohol advertising, marketing, and promotion and its influence on young people. His work has led to better advertising regulations and a clearer understanding of the evolving structure of the alcohol industry. His work is policy relevant and scientifically rigorous. Dr. Jernigan has been very active in translating research findings into policy and practice. He testifies regularly at city, state, and national levels around alcohol advertising and youth, alcohol availability, and taxation. He also trains advocates around the world using the best evidence.       ​

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. To raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of alcohol policy safeguards, we have launched the Alcohol Awareness Toolkit: #ProofIsInTheNumbers. The Alcohol Awareness Toolkit seeks to do the following during the month of April: Raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of strong alcohol policies using memes, and Encourage engagement from prevention and public health stakeholders to strategically educate and inform decision makers about effective alcohol policies by providing easy-to-personalize, templated opinion editorials, letters to legislators and proclamations.   The Northwest PTTC is excited to bring these resources to communities in Region 10 and throughout the rest of the PTTC Network. We encourage our prevention partners to use the materials to raise awareness around the weekly themes to observe April as National Alcohol Awareness Month.   View the other resources available in this toolkit.

In this Issue: Substance Misuse Through the Lens of Black History Month Alcohol Availability is a Social Justice Issue Epi Corner: The Syndemic Framework: Enhancing Understanding of the Root Causes of Disease What's Happening Around the Region? Free Logic Model TA Webinar: Alcohol, Equity, and Social Justice: Breaking the Silence What's New?

Kurt Larson has been representing personal injury clients as a Missouri lawyer for more than 20 years. He graduated in the top of his class from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1992, and thereafter spent the summer working with trial attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D. C. Prior to law school, Kurt graduated from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, receiving a BA in English, with distinction. One of Kurts greatest projects is founding Safe and Sober Prom Night in 2004 in Springfield, Missouri. The program has evolved from an impaired-driving focus to preventing substance misuse in all its forms. The program today is simply known as Safe and Sober and has reached over 1 million students in 41 states, and schools as far away as Kiev, Ukraine and Queensland, Australia have downloaded their content. Safe and Sober provides an innovative way to combat substance misuse through a free program which features prevention-focused videos and curriculum that are used by schools, homeschool groups, and community organizations. Safe and Sober uses engaging and educational content, to encourage dialogue and preventative action between youth, educators, and parents. To Learn more visit www.safeandsober.org https://www.facebook.com/SafeandSoberOrg https://www.instagram.com/safeandsoberorg/ The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. Know the facts, about 1 in 4 teen car crashes involves an underage drinking driver. Talk with teens about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Impaired driving is entirely preventable. A link to a SAMHSA resource that gives tips for talking to kids about drunk and drug-impaired driving is available here - https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources/impaired-driving

  Women & Alcohol: When Equal is Not Better December 6, 2023     Webinar Description More than 40,000 women die of alcohol use each year, and nearly 1 in 5 women report binge drinking in the past month. Alcohol use affects women differently. Additionally, the immediate effects of alcohol occur more quickly and last longer in women than men, leading women to be more susceptible to alcohol-related harm including breast cancer, liver cirrhosis and disease, cognitive decline, and violence and assault. While there are individual factors associated with these consumption patterns and related harms, this presentation will focus on environmental factors and opportunities for population-level responses to the specific issues facing women.   Webinar Objectives In this webinar, participants will: Understand the trends in alcohol consumption among women, including related harms Discuss how the 4p’s (product, promotion, place, and price) directly affect women Explore opportunities and actions that individuals, coalitions, health departments, policy makers, and other stakeholders can take to prevent and reduce excessive drinking among women   Webinar Recording and Slides Women & Alcohol: When Equal is Not Better Recording Women & Alcohol: When Equal is Not Better Slide Deck (PDF)   Additional Resources Rethink the Drink CDC: Drink Less, Be Your Best Alcohol Policy 20 Conference 2024 Swiping Right: Alcohol, Online Dating, and Sexual Hookups in Post-College Women   Presenter Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH, is the Chair of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and a Senior Principal at Synergy Enterprises, where she serves as the Project Director for NIAAA’s APIS contract, as well as SAMHSA’s STOP Act contract. Dr. Sparks served as Project Director for CDC’s alcohol advertising monitoring project, for which she directed a team of researchers in conducting analyses of Nielsen data to determine alcohol industry compliance with self-governed rules on advertising alcohol to youth audiences. She has more than 12 years of experience in alcohol policy research, including designing, implementing, and evaluating studies, programs, and policies. Dr. Sparks has led the development of numerous publications on alcohol policy, including the 2022 Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse evidence-based resource guide and the 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has presented at more than a dozen conferences. She is co-chair of the Alcohol Policy conference series and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference.   Questions Contact Kathy Gardner ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

Nashville based author and speaker Trish Luna needed the story more than 30 years ago for her then-very young children Nick and Sami as their father struggled with substance use disorder (SUD), a struggle that eventually took his life. Trish knows first-hand that shame, stigma, and chaos that comes from dealing with a loved one’s addiction, which can impact generations to come. Trish has a master’s degree in philosophy and ethics from Vanderbilt University and has a diverse professional background, and “Lambi Talks About Addiction’ A Book About Prevention” continues her life’s work. She remains an in-demand speaker at school’s, court programs, treatment centers, non-profits, and professional conferences. For additional information and resources, please visit www.lambilearns.com or email [email protected] The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) are strongly associated with a wide range of health problems that can persist throughout a person’s lifespan. To learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Role of Substance Misuse Prevention, download a resource guide from the Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC): https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sptac-ace-role-of-substance-misuse-prevention.pdf

    Considering the Associations Between Substance Use and Suicide September 7, 2023   Webinar Description September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. For this month's Monthly Media Series webinar, the Pacific Southwest PTTC would like to raise awareness on this preventable issue and highlight the important intersection between substance use and suicide.  In this webinar, we will consider alcohol-related risk factors for suicide, including ways in which alcohol use can impact decision making when a person is experiencing distress. We will also review the recent literature on cannabis, focusing on mental health concerns associated with the use of high-potency cannabis, as well as associations between cannabis use disorder and suicide risk. Implications for prevention, intervention, and public health will be discussed   Objectives By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Define “alcohol myopia” and how this relates to suicide risk. Identify a screening measure for cannabis use disorder. Describe at least one potential unwanted outcome associated with the use of high-potency cannabis. Discuss at least one implication for prevention, intervention, and public health.   Webinar Recording and Presentation Handout Considering the Associations Between Substance Use and Suicide Recording Considering the Associations Between Substance Use and Suicide Presentation Handout (PDF) *This presentation and all information contained within it is proprietary information of Dr. Jason Kilmer, Ph.D., and may not be adapted, modified, or disseminated without prior written consent of Dr. Kilmer. This presentation is intended to be used by prevention professionals for learning purposes only. This presentation is not ADA compliant.   Presenter Dr. Jason Kilmer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor in Psychology at UW. Jason serves as an investigator on several studies evaluating prevention and intervention efforts for alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use by college students. In addition to research and teaching, he has worked extensively with college students and student groups around alcohol and other drug prevention programming and presentations throughout his career (including student athletes, fraternity and sorority members, residence life, and first-year students), both at UW and on over 125 campuses across the nation.    As faculty in the School of Medicine, Jason continues his direct work with students through presentations for intercollegiate athletics and residence life. Jason also serves as the chairperson of Washington state's College Coalition on Substance misuse, Advocacy, and Prevention (CCSAP)   Questions Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

In this Issue:   September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month Additional FASD Resources Epi Corner: Reducing the Incidence of FASD: What Have We Learned? What's Happening Around the Region? What Else?

Preemption is a judicially created principal based on the proposition that a lower governmental authority cannot act contrary to a higher level of government. Click on each state to download PDF handouts that detail additional information on alcohol regulation and policy.     DOWNLOAD RESOURCE   The information provided does not constitute legal advice. All content is for informational purposes only. This resource may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.

    Prioritizing Equity in Prevention Series: The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military August 22, 2023   Learning Session Description U.S. military personnel are particularly vulnerable to a number of health disparities due to their occupational stresses, hazards, and environments. These include frequent geographic relocations due to changing duty stations, undergoing deployments, and balancing work-life demands (e.g., supporting their families). Each of these factors contribute to alcohol misuse on their own, and taken together, create a high-risk setting for military personnel. Additionally, concern for potentially career-ending ramifications keep many personnel from seeking treatment or support. Military personnel report binge drinking at higher levels than the U.S. civilian population: in 2018, 34% of active duty personnel binge drank in the past 30 days compared to 27% of U.S. adults age 18 and older. This population also experiences extensive harms, including violence, injury, poor work performance, and potential harm to careers. This Learning Session will discuss the risk and protective factors that contribute to the military alcohol environment, drawing parallels between colleges and the military as institutions with unique opportunities for prevention efforts to promote health equity within this population. Participants will have the opportunity to assess the potential alcohol-related issues specific to the military population in their jurisdiction and develop a plan for collaborating with the military community to address these issues.   Objectives In this learning session, participants will: Describe alcohol consumption and harms specific to military personnel Discuss risk and protective factors that contribute to the alcohol environment on and around military installations Determine opportunities for collaboration in the prevention of excessive alcohol consumption among military personnel   Learning Session Recording and Slides The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military Recording The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military Slide Deck (PDF)   Presenter Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH, is the Chair of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and a Senior Principal at Synergy Enterprises, where she serves as the Project Director for NIAAA’s APIS contract, as well as SAMHSA’s STOP Act contract. Dr. Sparks served as Project Director for CDC’s alcohol advertising monitoring project, for which she directed a team of researchers in conducting analyses of Nielsen data to determine alcohol industry compliance with self-governed rules on advertising alcohol to youth audiences. She has more than 12 years of experience in alcohol policy research, including designing, implementing, and evaluating studies, programs, and policies. Dr. Sparks has led the development of numerous publications on alcohol policy, including the 2022 Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse evidence-based resource guide and the 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has presented at more than a dozen conferences. She is co-chair of the Alcohol Policy conference series and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference.   Questions Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this learning session.

  Recording: Telling the Story - What do You Know About Underage Drinking in Your State?   Webinar Resource:  Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking   With so many data resources available, how does one know what’s important, useful, and accessible? Participation in this webinar may provide insights into your current interventions, help identify collaborators, and highlight best practices. This webinar will present highlights from the recently published Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking from the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). The presenters will share national and state data on the policies, programs, and practices used to prevent and reduce underage drinking specific to the Great Lakes region (HHS Region 5). Presenters will explore the importance of increased collaboration across sectors in the changing landscape around underage drinking. Guidance will be provided on how to use the resources on the ICCPUD website including individual State Performance & Best Practices (SPBP) Reports. PRESENTERS:  Robert M. Vincent, MS.ED Rob Vincent is Associate Administrator for Alcohol Policy at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where he advises the agency on alcohol policy issues and coordinates alcohol-related prevention and treatment activities. He also chairs the Agency Representatives Committee of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. Mr. Vincent has worked in the substance misuse field at the local, state, and federal levels since 1988. He has worked in the area of substance misuse prevention, intervention, and treatment for more than 35 years as a nationally certified clinician, and has served as the director for Counseling and Assistance Programs for the U.S. Navy and Public Education. Rob served as the principal investigator of the Olympia Effective Adolescent Grant, and as a consultant specializing in the implementation of school-based prevention and treatment programs for several states. He received his Master of Science in Education Degree from Southern Illinois University. Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH  Alicia Sparks has more than 10 years of experience at the nexus of policy and behavioral health research—including designing, implementing, and evaluating studies, programs, and policies—with a particular focus on systems-level change to prevent alcohol misuse and related harms. She is the current project director for NIAAA’s Alcohol Policy Information System as well as SAMHSA’s STOP Act to Prevent Underage Drinking Report to Congress. She has led the development of numerous publications intended for broad public dissemination. These include comprehensive guides on various substance use and mental health topics for community coalitions; the Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health; and many peer-reviewed manuscripts with accompanying infographics to translate the research into practice.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify trends in underage drinking in the Great Lakes region. Describe the importance of cross-sector collaboration. List key resources available to support prevention planning. Access and use online resources to inform their underage drinking prevention efforts.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders. 

HIV+ Patients and Substance Use Disorders – How to Provide Excellent Care Jim Winkle, MPH May 24, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Medical and behavioral health professionals who work with HIV+ patients are in a unique position to help these patients reduce harm from substance use, but often feel at a loss how to do so effectively, in a limited amount of time, and without conveying judgement. HIV+ patients, meanwhile, may face stigma from health professionals, and may not relate to a singular focus on treatment programs. This presentation will improve the ability of primary care and specialty health professionals to screen for substance use disorders (SUDs) and perform a four-step brief intervention model that enhances the motivation of patients to reduce their risk of harm. As a result, clinicians will be better able to help these patients forge their own pathway to recovery. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe how SUDs impact HIV+ patients Demonstrate how to use a brief screening tool that identifies possible SUDs Demonstrate how to perform a four-step brief intervention that enhances the motivation of HIV+ patients to reduce harm from substance use Explain how principles of harm reduction can help mitigate provider stigma PRESENTERS Jim Winkle, MPH, has trained hundreds of behavioral health professionals how to address substance use with clients and patients. As the creator behind the SBIRT Oregon website, Jim has designed screening forms, clinic tools and training videos used by professionals across the country.  

Preventing Underage Alcohol Use (April 2023 Series) Part 2: Strategies and Recommendations for Prevention Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip April 27, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss evidence-based prevention strategies for addressing underage alcohol use. It will cover both environmental and behavioral interventions, as well as opportunities to implement or expand policies and address the social determinants of health. The webinar will review both general strategies and those specifically focused on early adolescents or college-age youth. Lastly, it will provide an overview of Federal underage alcohol prevention efforts. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize the importance of providing evidence-based alcohol misuse prevention strategies Describe evidence-based environmental strategies for preventing underage alcohol use Describe evidence-based behavioral strategies for preventing underage alcohol use among younger adolescents and college-age youth Identify Federal prevention efforts to address underage alcohol use PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPPJosh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Emily Patton, MSEmily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.

Preventing Underage Alcohol Use (April 2023 Series) Part 1: Identifying and Understanding the Data Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip April 25, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of the current state of underage drinking and related prevention efforts. It will begin with a review of the most common data sources on underage alcohol consumption and discuss opportunities to improve and expand data collection. The webinar will then summarize the most recent data on alcohol use prevalence and patterns, as well as the consequences of use. It will also describe the research on risk and protective factors for use, including what is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, it will provide information on how the social determinants of health play a role in underage alcohol use rates. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe underage alcohol data sources and available opportunities to expand data collection Explain the scope of underage alcohol use and consequences Identify risk and protective factors relevant to underage alcohol use Recognize the effect of the social determinants of health on underage alcohol use PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPPJosh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Emily Patton, MSEmily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.

In this Issue:   National Alcohol Awareness Month Resources for the Prevention Professional National Women's Health Week, May 14-20 How to Find Help Epi Corner: Substance Use Disorders in People with Disabilities What's Happening Around the Region? Webinar: Substance Misuse Among Students with Disabilities, A 2-part series, April 26 and May 18 Free Online Courses through HealtheKnowledge SAMHSA's National Prevention Week, May 7-13

How Primary Care Can Address Youth Substance Use Disorders Jim Winkle, MPH April 13, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Medical and behavioral health professionals who work in primary care are in a unique position to help adolescents living with substance use disorders (SUDs), but often feel at a loss how to do so effectively, in a limited amount of time, and without conveying judgement. Adolescents living with SUDs, meanwhile, may face stigma from health professionals, and may not relate to a singular focus on treatment programs. This presentation will improve the ability of primary care professionals to screen for SUDs with adolescent patients and perform a four-step brief intervention model that enhances the motivation of patients to reduce their risk of harm. As a result, clinicians will be better able to help these patients forge their own pathway to recovery. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Demonstrate how to use a screening tool that quickly identifies possible substance use disorders with adolescent patients Demonstrate how to perform a four-step brief intervention that enhances the motivation of adolescents to change their substance use Explain how principles of harm reduction can help mitigate provider stigma and help adolescents reduce harm from substance use Describe best practices in referring adolescent patients to substance use treatment PRESENTER Jim Winkle, MPH, has trained hundreds of behavioral health professionals how to address substance use with clients and patients. As the creator behind the SBIRT Oregon website, Jim has designed screening forms, clinic tools and training videos used by professionals across the country.  

Preventing Underage Drinking and Excessive Drinking among Adults through Alcohol Policy Webinar 3: The How - A Proven and Practical Model To Guide the Development of Local Alcohol Policies   March 15, 2023   Webinar Overview and Objectives This is the third part of a 3-part series focused on alcohol policy. In collaboration with the Southeast PTTC and the US Alcohol Policy Alliance, this interactive webinar provides an answer to the question, ‘How do we do alcohol policy at the local level?’ The session will provide an overview of The 10-step Policy Adoption Model utilized by the Southeast PTTC. In this webinar, participants will explore: How to identify coalition strengths and challenges related to policy development and implementation Understand the five internal steps of the Policy Adoption Model necessary to prepare a policy for public discussion, debate and support Learn the five external steps of the policy process with an emphasis on media advocacy, community organizing and post-adoption policy compliance    Learning Session Materials Recording for Webinar 3: The How - A  Proven and Practical Model to Guide the Development of Local Alcohol Policies Slide Deck for Webinar 3: The How - A Proven and Practical Model to Guide the Development of Local Alcohol Policies (PDF)   Additional Resources  Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity, an introductory guide for policy Makers & Practitioners Data Collection for Alcohol Policy Change, A toolkit for Local Coalitions Implementing Policy to Prevent Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Misuse: A Guidebook   Recordings for Other Sessions Recording for Webinar 1: The Why - Alcohol Policy: A Community Approach to Reduce Community Harms Recording for Webinar 2: The What - Evidence-Based Alcohol Policies to Reduce Community Level Harms   Presenters: Michael Sparks is an Alcohol Policy Specialist and President of Sparks Initiatives. His primary interest is in assisting communities to implement evidence-based environmental strategies to reduce alcohol and other drug problems. Among others, Michael is currently working with Wake Forest University, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation and Health Foundation of South Florida on a range of public health issues. He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the US Alcohol Policy Alliance.       Kristin Kidd is Director of the North Carolina Behavioral Health Equity Initiative. This project collaborates with North Carolina agencies and communities to address the structural or root causes of behavioral health inequities in historically underserved neighborhoods and communities of color. Kristin also provides local policy training and technical assistance for the SAMHSA-funded Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She has developed and delivered both synchronous and asynchronous trainings focused on the policy process across the region and internationally. Prior to joining the Southeast PTTC, Kristin led the Tobacco Control Training and Technical Assistant Team at the Colorado School of Public Health. Her team provided statewide advocacy and policy guidance to local health agencies focused on eliminating tobacco-related disparities. Kristin collaborated with multiple Colorado communities to pass                                               local tobacco control policies such as retailer licensing and expanded smoke-free/vape-free ordinances.   Sara Cooley Broschart leads the newly established Center for Advancing Alcohol Science to Practice. Sara is a public health leader with over a decade of experience in substance use prevention at local, regional and state levels. Contribution to community has been a driving value, and she is thrilled to work with communities nationwide in her new role. Her experience includes advising alcohol and marijuana regulators on policy and best practices, developing innovative methods to engage community voices in policy making activities, building a statewide alcohol policy alliance from the ground up, and establishing a health network in rural Nicaragua. Sara has done extensive graduate work in Cultural Anthropology and Public Health at the University of Michigan and holds a BA in Biology and Anthropology from the University of Virginia.     Snigdha Peddireddy is a Fellow currently supporting the Training and Technical Assistance Center and Alcohol Action Network. She is an early-career alcohol and other drug policy researcher with expertise in policy evaluation and statistical modeling methods. Broadly, Snigdha studies the impacts of structural determinants on inequities in substance use-related harms. She is a current PhD student at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. Snigdha also holds an MPH in Health Behavior from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Neuroscience from Duke University.       Questions? Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. To raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of alcohol policy safeguards, we have launched the Alcohol Awareness Toolkit: #ProofIsInTheNumbers. The Alcohol Awareness Toolkit seeks to do the following during the month of April: Raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of strong alcohol policies using memes, and Encourage engagement from prevention and public health stakeholders to strategically educate and inform decision makers about effective alcohol policies by providing easy-to-personalize, templated opinion editorials, letters to legislators and proclamations.   The Northwest PTTC is excited to bring these resources to communities in Region 10 and throughout the rest of the PTTC Network. We encourage our prevention partners to use the materials to raise awareness around the weekly themes to observe April as National Alcohol Awareness Month.   View the other resources available in this toolkit.