Products and Resources Catalog

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. The March 2022 issue features Women's History Month, the Counselor's Corner blog series, and a complete calendar of events. 

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The June 2022 issue features content related to Pride Month and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, the Counselor's Corner blog, the Checking In Podcast: Understanding PTSD in First Responders, and a complete calendar of events.

Prevention Specialist Certification Requirements Select from the map to view more details about IC&RC certification requirements for Certified Prevention Specialist fields.

The National Hispanic and Latino PTTC is pleased to share a new resource. This mini e-book was developed to provide information and resources to prevention professionals, providers, and community members on Latina Mental Health, prevalent alcohol use data, Feminism, and the impact of COVID-19 on women’s lives. At the end of the document, you will find resources from trusted sources, action and prevention tips to better support women and strengthen resilience for those who identify as women. We hope this resource is useful for you and we hope you can share the information with your family, friends, and colleagues. Español El Centro Nacional Hispano y Latino de Capacitación y Asistencia Técnica en Prevención se complace en compartir un nuevo recurso. Este mini libro electrónico ha sido elaborado para proporcionar información y recursos a los(as) profesionistas de la prevención, a los(as) proveedores(as) y a los(as) miembros(as) de la comunidad sobre la salud mental de las mujeres latinas, los datos de prevalencia del consumo de alcohol, el feminismo y el impacto del COVID-19 en la vida de las mujeres. Al final del documento, se incluyen los recursos obtenidos de fuentes confiables, así como consejos para la acción y la prevención, con el fin de apoyar mejor a las mujeres y fortalecer la resiliencia de aquellas que se identifican como mujeres.Esperamos que este recurso le resulte útil y que pueda compartir la información con sus familiares, amigos y colegas. Português O Centro Nacional Hispânico-Latino de Treinamento e Assistência Técnica em Prevenção tem o prazer de compartilhar um novo recurso. Este mini livro digital foi desenvolvido para fornecer informações e recursos para profissionais de prevenção, provedores e membros da comunidade sobre Saúde mental das mulheres Latinas, dados prevalentes sobre o uso de álcool, Feminismo e o impacto do COVID-19 na vida das mulheres. Ao final do documento, você encontrará recursos confiáveis, dicas de ação e prevenção para apoiar as mulheres e fortalecer a resiliência das pessoas que se identificam como mulheres. Esperamos que este recurso seja útil para você e que você possa compartilhar as informações com sua família, amigos e colegas.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Susan Depue with the Missouri Institute of Mental Health about her work in helping to lead the state's prevention efforts since 2006. Dr. Depue discusses the timeline from when the state was an early pioneer of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to the current day. She also provides leadership for the Partnership for Success initiative and is developing a prevention model to reduce methamphetamine use in Missouri.

    Presented by: Nicole Augustine, Founder and CEO of RIZE Consultants, LLC Description: The prevention field is an often unrecognized and undervalued part of our approach to health and wellness. We are a reactionary society that focuses most of our efforts on responding to illness through the strategy of treatment. As a result of this focus, the field of prevention has lagged behind our colleagues in treatment, while also consistently receiving the smallest distribution of financial support. Learning Objectives: After participating in this training, participants will be able to: Articulate the value of the Prevention Specialist credential Name the six Prevention Specialist performance domains Understand the typical process for acquiring the credential   About the Presenter Nicole M. Augustine, Founder & CEO of RIZE Consultants, LLC Nicole M Augustine is the Founder & CEO RIZE Consultants, LLC, a strategic consulting firm founded in January 2015. Nicole is an entrepreneur, public health professional and social justice advocate. Her journey in public health began at Cornell University when after graduating she worked for three years as a BASICS counselor for Cornell's campus harm reduction initiative.  From there, Nicole transitioned into the George Washington University School of Public Health before experiencing a rapid career progression from providing prevention education to providing training and technical assistance to communities, professionals and state agencies.Nicole has served as the Project Coordinator for the Southeast PTTC, the Project Director of the NC Behavioral Health Equity Initiative, and the Prevention Director for the Addiction Professionals of NC. Nicole currently serves as an Advanced Implementation Specialist with the Opioid Response Network.This network is building trust across justice, corrections and medical systems to address the opioid and stimulants crisis.

Stimulant use can become a major substance use issue in the Central East region1 and nationwide. Usage has risen over the past several years, stimulants have become cheaper and more potent, and stimulant-involved overdoses have increased dramatically. The opioid epidemic remains the region's more significant public health crisis, but prevention professionals should address stimulants before trends worsen. This document highlights recent trends as well as the increased impact on the Central East and what prevention professionals can do.

On-the-Spot Discussion Panel: Engaging Key Decision Makers to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms   March 14, 2022   Description This On-the-Spot Panel with public health, prevention, and regulatory experts who will share recent successes, lessons learned, and science-based tools to promote public safety and reduce alcohol-related harms.   Objectives By the end of the discussion panel, participants will have: Define levels of engagement efforts. Provide an overview of a current network and actions related to alcohol public safety and policy safeguards. Spotlight two examples from the Northwest Region. Orient you to the 2022 Alcohol Awareness Toolkit #ProofIsIntheNumbers.   Facilitator Michelle Frye-Spray   Panelists Diane Riibe Sean J. Haley, PhD, MPH Julia Dilley, PhD, MES Tiffany Hall, MPA Mary Segawa, M.S. Mike Marshall   On-the-Spot Recording and Slides View On-the-Spot Discussion Panel Recording Download On-the-Spot Discussion Panel Slide-deck   Additional Resource Alcohol Awareness Toolkit Learn More about the Panelists Questions? Contact Michelle Frye-Spray ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this On-the-Spot Discussion Panel.

          Brush up on your knowledge with this series of short lessons on vaping and prevention! Each lesson consists of a 5-10 minute video followed by a brief quiz. Topics include: effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain, public health implications of youth ENDS use and why vaping/e-cigarette use appeals to youth.   How to use: Complete the lessons yourself to increase your knowledge or share these lessons with your coalition members, for parent or youth education programs, or with others in your community. Lessons can be viewed in the online quiz format through the links below, or can be taught along with the discussion guide available for download to use with a group.   Option 1: Online Quiz Format To complete the lessons using the online quiz format, follow the link to each lesson below.   Nicotine and the Adolescent Brain How does nicotine use affect the adolescent brain and development? What are potential short and long-term effects of nicotine use during adolescence?   Neurobiology of Nicotine and Cannabis What happens in the brain when nicotine or cannabis are used in vapes or e-cigarettes?   Appeal of JUUL among Adolescents What motivates young people to vape and why do some products appeal more than others?   Public Health Concerns of Youth E-Cigarette Use What are the public health considerations of youth e-cigarette use? How might that differ from adult use?   Option 2: Discussion Guide To use the lessons with a group in a discussion format, follow the discussion guide below. Each lesson includes a link to the video, followed by a set of discussion questions and answers.     Lesson 1: Nicotine and the Adolescent Brain How does nicotine affect the adolescent brain? How does it affect development and does it have any long-term impacts?   Watch the video   Discussion Questions How does nicotine use at a young age relate to substance use later in life? What are the effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain? Can nicotine use lead to feelings of withdrawal? Answers Use of any substance, including nicotine found in e-cigarettes/vaping devices, as an adolescent increases risk of substance use disorder later in life. According to one study, 17% of people who first used marijuana at age 13 went on to develop a substance use disorder, compared to only 4% of people who first used marijuana after age 21, meaning those who used earlier were 4 times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Research from both human and animal studies shows that early exposure to nicotine while the brain is still developing is associated with impairments in attention and working memory as well as risk for mood disorders and impulse control problems, along with increased risk for development of a substance use disorder. Stopping the use of nicotine can lead to withdrawal symptoms as quickly as 4 hours after cessation, and gradually taper off over 3-4 weeks of cessation.   Learn more New England PTTC Vaping Prevention Resources and Information In the Air is a graphic medicine built to foster conversations with and among young people around vaping, choices about substance use, and social factors. Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. A New England PTTC product. Tips for Teens: E-Cigarettes - Resource from SAMHSA Reducing Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults - Resource from SAMHSA     Lesson 2: Neurobiology of Nicotine and Cannabis What happens in the brain when cannabis is used in vapes or e-cigarettes? Language note: In this guide, we have used the term cannabis to refer to cannabis/marijuana. If you are using this guide with an audience who may be more familiar with another term, either marijuana or a different term, please substitute that word as needed.   Watch the video Discussion Questions What are some of the chemicals that make up a cannabis product? What are some of the short-term effects of cannabis use? Is it possible to become addicted to cannabis? Which vaping products contain higher potency chemicals? Answers THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two most common of the 500 chemicals found within the cannabis plant. THC is the psychoactive component that causes the “high” feeling and can impair cognitive and motor function. THC is illegal on the federal level but legal for medical or adult-use in many states. Short term effects of cannabis use may include a heightened sense of perception, poor attention and judgement, increased anxiety or paranoia, or decreased pain, among other effects. Yes, Cannabis Use Disorder is the term for a disorder in which a person is reliant on cannabis use. Just as a person may become dependent on alcohol or nicotine, especially with frequent use, a person can also become dependent on cannabis. A person with cannabis use disorder may experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, and hot flashes Both nicotine and cannabis vaping products can contain very high potency chemicals. For example, a typical vaping pod or cartridge may contain the equivalent of 1 pack of cigarettes and can be consumed very rapidly. Likewise, the typical concentration of THC in a vaping cartridge can be 6-8 times higher than the concentration of a typical smoked product.   Learn more Cannabis/Marijuana Use Disorder Prevention and Youth Cannabis Use Toolkit (PTTC Network) Marijuana & Vaping - The Triangulum: The Future is Now     Lesson 3: Appeal of JUUL among Adolescents How does cannabis use impact driving and road safety? This lesson reviews the impacts of cannabis use on road safety and policy and enforcement considerations in states with and without legalized cannabis.   Watch the video   Discussion Questions What did adolescents report as the top reasons for liking JUUL or vaping products? What reasons did adolescents provide for not liking JUUL or vaping products? What regulatory policies would these findings support to address vape use among adolescents? Answers In the study discussed in this video, which surveyed high school students in Connecticut about their views on vaping, students reported that they liked JUUL primarily because they like the “buzz,” their friends use it, and they like the flavors. Students who reported that they liked the “buzz” also reported more frequent use of vaping products. On the other hand, the most common reasons students reported disliking JUUL or vaping products were because they are too expensive, they have too much nicotine, or it gives them headaches. This study provides some useful insight into policy and environmental strategies to reduce adolescent vaping. For example, it suggests limiting nicotine content and flavor options may help reduce adolescent use. Increasing taxes or the price of vaping products may also help reduce adolescent use. Learn more Kong, G., Bold, K. W., Morean, M. E., Bhatti, H., Camenga, D. R., Jackson, A., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2019). Appeal of JUUL among adolescents. Drug and alcohol dependence, 205, 107691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107691. Abstract accessible at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31706249/     Lesson 4: Public Health Concerns of Youth E-Cigarette Use What are the public health considerations of youth e-cigarette use? How might that differ from adult use?   Watch the video   Discussion Questions What are some of the major public health concerns of youth vaping/e-cigarette use? Are e-cigarettes an FDA-approved tobacco cessation product? How does exposure to nicotine and other chemicals differ between e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes? Answers exposure at an early age can be detrimental to brain development and lead to nicotine dependence. There is also an increased risk that adolescents who start using vaping products will transition to combustible tobacco products (cigarettes, etc.). Another major risk is exposure to toxicants within the e-cigarette products. The FDA has not currently approved e-cigarette/vaping products as a tobacco cessation product for adults or adolescents. Some other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have approved certain vaping devices for tobacco cessation for adults, although typically with lower limits on the allowable nicotine content. Compared to combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes contain fewer and lower levels of toxicants. However, people tend to use e-cigarettes more frequently throughout the day, so their exposure to chemicals contained in e-cigarette products can be high.   Learn more New England PTTC Vaping Prevention Resources and Information The Stanford Vaping Prevention Toolkit   Interested in learning more about cannabis prevention? Check out our Microlearning Toolkit: Cannabis Prevention 101.

Highlighting Youth Gaming and Gambling Risks and Strategies for Prevention Heather Eshleman, MPH March 23, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION With the expansion of gaming and gambling activities in communities and on-line, how will it impact youth and young adults? This population is affected by gaming, gambling, and activities that include a mix of both in their daily lives. Learn about youth gaming, gambling, and the warning signs of problems with these activities. Learn of strategies to prevent youth problem gaming and gambling behaviors that have been adapted from alcohol and drug misuse prevention. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn about youth gaming and signs of gaming problems in youth Learn about youth gambling and signs of gambling problems in youth Learn how youth gaming and gambling behaviors connect Learn prevention strategies that have worked to prevent alcohol and substance misuse that could work to prevent youth problem gaming and gambling behaviors. PRESENTERS Heather Eshleman, M.P.H., is the Prevention Manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling.  She works collaboratively with community organizations, schools, and government agencies to prevent underage and problem gambling as well as oversee special population and youth grants.  She currently leads the Center’s efforts in compiling an underage and problem gambling prevention needs assessment to provide baseline data to guide future prevention strategies.  She served as the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Supervisor at the Anne Arundel County Department of Health from 2006-2019, overseeing the Substance Abuse Prevention coalitions, the Opioid Misuse Prevention Program, the Strengthening Families Program, the Fatal Overdose Review Team, and Coordination of the Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapters.  Before becoming Supervisor, from 2002-2006, Heather was a Grants Administrator at Anne Arundel County Department of Health.  Heather received her Masters in Public Health from the University at Albany School of Public Health and her Bachelor’s degree in School and Community Health Education from Towson University.  Heather served in the United States Peace Corps in Morocco, North Africa, as a Maternal and Child Health volunteer, working on hygiene promotion and pre-natal care for two years.  

Project planning is a multi-faceted and dynamic step in the prevention implementation process, one that can set the stage for continued success and sustainability. Without a robust and agile plan, implementation and sustainability can be negatively impacted, potentially putting a project at risk. This important step goes beyond using the data gathered from community, and ethical analysis of that data. From including a diverse set of voices and experiences, to balancing funder expectations and community defined outcomes, project planning requires a critical lens to ensure ethical practices and equity are embedded throughout. In this session of the series, we will explore various examples of practical planning processes and practices which can have tremendous positive implications for the communities we serve. Webinar Objectives After attending, each participant will be able to: Understand the value of purposefully seeking and leveraging a diverse set of experiences, types of expertise and community defined outcomes in the planning process. Explore examples of successful projects using an equity lens. Learn the difference between representation and inclusion in ethical and equitable planning.

  Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on March 4, 2022). No continuing education is available.  Date: March 4, 2022 Format: Webinar   Time: 11:30 AM—12:30 PM EST Cost: FREE Registration (Certificate of Attendance) $25 Fee for Continuing Education Credits Note the CEU fee is for Maine Behavioral Health professionals to cover the cost of issuing those CEUs, for everyone else, when you register you can select the Free option and you will get a certificate of attendance.   ABOUT THE LEARNING SESSION   New England PTTC will be co-Sponsoring the March installment of Maine’s Governor Janet Mills’ Opioid Response Summit Seminar Series, which will be focused on the topic of the intersection of brain injury and substance use disorder. The seminar is being conducted in partnership and featured speakers from the Maine/New Hampshire chapter of the Brain Injury Association of America.   Along with the epidemic of overdoses, there has been a parallel rise in sustained and often permanent cognitive disability resulting from a loss of oxygen to the brain. This webinar will provide an overview of the relationship between brain injury and substance use, and introduce the practical steps providers can take to recognize the cognitive impact of overdoses.  New resources to support provider screening, assessment, and intervention will be introduced.   Presenter: Carolyn Lemsky, Ph.D.,C.Psych ABPP-CN Moderator: Steve Wade, MBA - Consulting Executive Director, Brain Injury Association of America – Maine Chapter   About the webinar: This webinar is co-sponsored by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, administered by AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, Inc. The New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center program is funded by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This webinar is planned in response to an identified need to provide training and information on brain injury and substance use disorders for New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) prevention professionals. The contents of New England PTTC programs are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

In this Issue:   Celebrate Love. Celebrate Joy.   Epi Corner: The Evolving Opioid Epidemic: Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogues, and Other Drugs   What LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC Want Prevention Professionals to Know, A Four-Part Learning Series   What's Happening Around the Region?  PTTC Spotlights A New Product From the PTTC Healtheknowledge Online Course

  Supplemental Resources: Tackling America’s Opioid Epidemic from the Ground Up (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 25 No. 1) Effectively Engaging Men and Fathers to Support the Health and Wellness of Their Families (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 25 No. 2) Community Engagement 101 (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 26 No.1)   Presented by: Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc. Description: This Community Engagement Training will provide a deeper understanding of the importance of community mobilization and how community engagement strategies create wins for both the community and your organization. That “win-win” is what leads to stronger, more vibrant and resilient communities. Learning Objectives: Many agencies and organizations are struggling to engage members of affected communities. Participants in this Community Engagement Training will: Understand how to adapt the Strategic Prevention Framework to engage communities (particularly with oral-based cultures) who have been mistreated by the systems and institutions that are supposed to serve and assist them. Learn why having authentic, on-the-ground community engagement in a public health or mental health professional’s “toolbox” counters a lack of trust in mainstream institutions, even though this approach is often ignored because it is perceived as “too hard” to pull off. Learn why using a network of community partners as a message-delivery channel can be both more culturally-relevant and cost-effective than mainstream, traditional media. Learn how to effectively engage and mobilize members of the community for community-wide dialogue by involving numerous access touchpoints. Understand why a combination of digital outreach (high-tech) and on-the-ground, community-based encounters (high-touch) community-based strategies increases both impact and effectiveness of community-engagement efforts for hard-to-reach audiences. Receive an overview of the “how” through culturally-relevant community outreach and mobilization strategies and tactics.   About the Presenter Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc. Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc., is a leading expert in health communications and social marketing. He has over 25 years of first-hand experience working on health disparities and public health issues affecting low income, underserved and devalued communities across America. Mr. Juzang’s work focuses on how service providers, community-based organizations and the public health community can present trauma-informed and culturally-relevant health information in such a way that lifestyle changes are sustainable in the context of an economically-challenged and stressed-out life. MEE specializes in community-centered approaches that acknowledge the social determinants of health, honor personal assets and resiliency, infuse protective factors and embrace trauma-informed strategies. MEE has been engaged in substance abuse prevention work since 1991 in low-income urban communities across the country. Its specific opioid misuse work has been conducted in urban, suburban and rural communities over the last five years, in places that include Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans, with Prevention Coalitions across Ohio and statewide agencies in Louisiana. Mr. Juzang was a member of the Advisory Committee on Public Issues for The Ad Council and a current board member of Power to Decide (formerly the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy). From 2003-2009, Mr. Juzang was a member of The Office of National Drug Control and Policy's Behavior Change Expert Panel. Mr. Juzang received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, and his MBA from The Wharton School of Business.

Preventing Substance Use Disorder Related Stigma Jessica Hulsey, BA March 17, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the world. This stigma creates barriers to early intervention, screening, treatment, and effective recovery. It also results in a lack of general public support for legislation that provides meaningful reform and fiscal support to prevention, treatment, and recovery. This webinar will focus on how to prevent stigma. Topics covered will include responding to misconceptions about substance use disorder, such as waiting for “rock bottom” and “teens are going to drink anyway, so they might as well do it at home”. The webinar will also discuss evidence-based strategies that can help to prevent stigma, such as increased addiction literacy. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand how to address common misconceptions about substance use disorders. Understand how to increase addiction literacy Understand how to combat stigma. PRESENTER Jessica Hulsey, BA is the Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit organization that leads the fight against the deadly consequences of addiction and helps patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. Jessica has more than 25 years of experience in the field of prevention, treatment, and policy solutions to address substance use disorders and has collaborated with our nation’s top scientists to translate the science of addiction into digestible content for patients, families, and other key audiences.  

Understanding Prevention Science Part 2: Building Support for Science Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip March 16, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss how to ensure that prevention science guides and supports prevention professionals. Part of this is understanding how to identify and implement evidence-based prevention programs and services. Equally important, however, is understanding the need to build a “culture of prevention” among policymakers, other public health stakeholders, and the community at large. By having this culture of prevention, prevention professionals can establish support for new and expanded evidence-based programs and services. This webinar will review each of these topics. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define a “culture of prevention” and its importance Identify barriers and challenges to a culture of prevention Discuss how to build readiness and support for prevention Review strategies for incorporating science to practice PRESENTERS Josh 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, 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.  

COURSE DESCRIPTION In session 3, Prevention Coalition Affinity Group Series - Rejuvenating Community-led Prevention includes a discussion and practical tips from presenter Sarah Davis and focuses on empowering community coalitions and a facilitated learning forum focused on rejuvenating prevention efforts and empowering communities to lead prevention efforts.  Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below is the PowerPoint for this webinar. PowerPoint Six Elements of Effective Coalitions Resource Toolkit   PRESENTERS Sarah Davis is the associate director for the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center housed within the Center for Public Health Practice at the Colorado School of Public Health. The Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center is one of 10 HRSA-designated regional public health training centers. She leads a team that provides high-quality, primarily distance-based training to professionals addressing public health issues throughout PTTC Region VIII. She also supports national workforce development efforts as part of the Public Health Learning Network.       Sarah holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management and has spent the past 20 years in the public health field working as a project and team leader, a facilitator and trainer, grant writer and manager. Her background includes program planning and implementation, integrating program and policy initiatives, and working with coalitions. Sarah lives in Denver with her husband, high school daughter, and two dogs.    Since 1996, veteran Derrick Newby has worked in the field of prevention and public health in both the public and private sector. He serves as a training and technical assistance specialist for the South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center for HHS Region 6.   As a veteran's counselor and advocate, Mr. Newby gained experience with the impact of federal programs on communities after working as a special assistant to a member of Congress. He then worked as the Program Coordinator in Arkansas for the Delta Region AIDS Education and Training Center for 15 years, facilitating the education of providers interested in increasing their capacity to provide comprehensive services related to HIV including testing and treatment. In 2017, he was selected for a position with the University of Arkansas Little Rock and served as a Program Coordinator with MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training for 5 years, helping to facilitate the growth of the prevention system.   Serving on the Arkansas Prevention Certification Board since 2020, Mr. Newby has a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in education.    

The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE March 10, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Laura Stack’s 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide on November 20, 2019, after becoming delusional from dabbing high-THC marijuana concentrates. Soon afterward, Laura started a 501c3, Johnny’s Ambassadors, to educate parents and teens about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. In this session, Laura will share the story of Johnny’s marijuana addiction from a parent’s point of view, a poignant chronicle of the shocking descent from innocence to eventual suicide. Before marijuana, Johnny was a computer whiz with a 4.0 GPA and a perfect math score on the SAT. After marijuana, he stole his family dog from the home and threatened to kill it without payment from his mother. With moving candor, Laura traces the first warning signs, their attempts at rehabilitation, her desperation, and his eventual demise. Three days before his death, Johnny issued his own warning about marijuana usage. Through this tragic tale, Stack hopes to use her pain to help parents talk to their children about the dangers of today’s marijuana. Participants will hear a first-hand account of the death of a teen from marijuana use and be educated on the harms of marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. Laura’s real-life story is backed by recent scientific-based research on how today’s potent THC products lead to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, psychosis, and sadly, suicidal ideation. This presentation is a clarion call for parents across America to educate themselves about the risks of today’s high-THC marijuana products and to better understand the potentially devastating effects on youth mental health. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn About the High-Potency Marijuana Products Used by Today’s Youth See the Results of Legalizing Medical Marijuana for 18-Year-Old’s in Colorado Understand How Adolescent Marijuana Use Can Lead to Mental Illness and Psychosis Understand the Connection Between Marijuana and Suicide in Youth PRESENTERS Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is the Founder & CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors, Inc., educates parents and teens about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. Prior to her advocacy work, Laura was a 30-year award-winning professional speaker, spokesperson, and author with eight bestselling productivity books. The devastating loss of her child gives Laura a powerful voice and a platform for change. Laura sees it as her responsibility to share Johnny's warning to prevent other families from having to go through what she did and save other young lives. Laura’s platform now brings marijuana education, awareness, and prevention curriculum around the globe to raise awareness of THC use, mental illness, and suicide. She presents live and virtual keynotes, breakout sessions, and training for parents, teens, schools, coalitions, and drug prevention conferences. By sharing Johnny’s own warning about marijuana, Laura helps parents understand and talk to their children about the potential harms of today’s marijuana. She is determined to start a movement to bring teen marijuana use, mental illness, and suicide into the spotlight and get adolescents to #StopDabbing.  

Understanding Prevention Science Part 1: The Basis of the Field Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip March 9, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will review prevention science and its relevance to substance use prevention professionals. It will describe the different domains of relevant science, including epidemiology, intervention development, and research methodology. The webinar will discuss how these domains influence and improve public health and prevention efforts. Additionally, the webinar will review the latest research in prevention science. It will provide examples of theories and frameworks to better understand how evidence is used and how it can be applied to the prevention field. Lastly, it will discuss how prevention science can support prevention professionals and others in the field in establishing actionable processes, policies, and programs. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Examine how prevention science can be described and provide a shared definition Understand the research and theories behind prevention science Review how prevention science is applied to substance use prevention and its impact Discuss some of the challenges to incorporating prevention science and provide a research agenda for expanding future efforts PRESENTERS Josh 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. Lauren Pappacena, MSW is a Research Associate with Carnevale Associates. Lauren has a background in criminal justice and juvenile justice research specifically as it relates to evidence-based programs and practices spanning criminal justice topics, including corrections, law enforcement, reentry, and courts. Currently, she assists with training evaluations for NADCP and the PTTC, where she brings her experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis and data visualization. With a strong interest in policy analysis, research translation, data collection, and analytic writing, Ms. Pappacena is published in the Journal of Human Rights and Social Work for her analysis of national early-release laws.

Webinar Description Durante esta segunda de dos sesiones, los participantes compartieron sus experiencias en la aplicación de las estrategias descritas en el breve video podcast, Colaboración de Esfuerzos de Prevención, seminario web (Mejorando la Colaboración en la Continuidad de Servicios: Para Profesionales de Abuso de Sustancias en Puerto Rico), y las hojas de trabajo acompañadas, parasus iniciativas de prevención y discutieron las preguntas y/o desafíos enfrentados. Este intercambio de ideas proporcionó un espacio para que los profesionales de la prevención compartieran estrategias sobre cómo aplicar la rica biblioteca de recursos proporcionada por el PTTC a su trabajo. Webinar Description In English: During this second of two sessions, participants shared their experiences in applying the strategies outlined in the short video podcast, Collaboration of Prevention Efforts, webinar (Enhancing Collaboration in the Continuum of Care: For Substance Abuse Professionals in Puerto Rico), and accompanying worksheets, to their prevention initiatives and discussed the questions and/or challenges faced. This exchange of ideas provided a space for prevention practitioners to share strategies on how to apply the rich library of resources provided by the PTTC to their work. The Presenters Lourdes Vázquez-Matienzo es una profesional con más de 30 años de experiencia en el campo de la prevención y la salud conductual. Lourdes fue directora de proyectos del Centro para la Aplicación de Tecnología de Prevención (CAPT) de SAMHSA, y los servicios de adiestramiento y asistencia técnica para los organismos estatales y jurisdiccionales de los Fondos del Bloque de Prevención y Tratamiento del Abuso de Sustancias (SAPST) financiados por SAMHSA en la región sureste de los Estados Unidos y el Caribe. Anteriormente, Lourdes también se desempeñó como gerente de proyecto para la subvención de Incentivo Estatal de SAMHSA en Puerto Rico, fue directora ejecutiva de Centros de Prevención al Uso de Drogas y Alcohol en Puerto Rico y fungió coordinadora estatal del Centro Regional del Sureste para Escuelas y Comunidades Libres de Drogas, donde facilitó y apoyó el establecimiento de coaliciones de prevención en áreas rurales y urbanas, logrando expandir los servicios, y la satisfacción y ejecución de las comunidades y distritos escolares participantes. Su compromiso mayor es con la atención de las disparidades en salud y la búsqueda de la equidad en salud con poblaciones marginadas. Clara McCurdy-Kirlis tiene más de diez años de experiencia en gerencia de proyectos en los campos de la salud y la educación a nivel estatal, tribal, comunitario e internacional. En su rol como coordinadora de servicios de asistencia técnica con el PTTC, Clara juega un rol principal en el diseño instruccional para participantes adultos, en el diseño y ofrecimiento de aprendizaje virtual, a través del diseño de materiales de entrenamientos virtuales y presenciales, y creando documentos educativos. Clara es apasionada sobre el rol de la educación en la transformación de la sociedad y en lograr un cambio positivo a través de la colaboración y el compromiso.    

COURSE DESCRIPTION In part two of this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center takes you on the next step of your data journey to "ditch the discomfort." We discuss what it means to "read" data, identify tips to help you understand data, research, and evaluate outcomes, and give you prevention-related opportunities to practice reading data.  Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below is the PowerPoint for this webinar. PowerPoint     Begin Your Data Journey and Ditch the Discomfort Are you curious about what you need to know as a prevention professional to participate in data-based decision-making? Have you been working with a prevention grant that requires you to conduct a needs assessment or an evaluation? If you are relatively new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, from providing an overview of the basic components of data literacy to then taking a deeper dive in parts two through four to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey, there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center; who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.     PRESENTER Dr. Hayden D. Center, Jr. was most recently on faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery in the Department of Psychology, where he taught for ten years. He has taught at several universities over the past thirty years.  He has also been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in addiction issues for over 30 years. Dr. Center has worked as a consultant in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention since 1987.  He has worked in the field of prevention for more than 30 years. He served as the director of a US Department of Education (USDOE) grant while at Auburn University.  He served the State of Alabama Department of Education as the coordinator of the state Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. He was a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for ten years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama. He served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT). He has provided over 300 trainings and workshops on the topics of “science-based prevention,” “evaluation,” “risk and protective factors”, and “sustainability.”  He has worked with numerous agencies and organizations at the national, state, and local levels as an evaluator, including three Drug-Free Community grants.  His experience includes working with several projects to develop databases, collect and interpret data, and produce data dissemination products and materials. Most recently Dr. Center has conducted training on implementation science, the psychopharmacology of marijuana, opioid use disorder, the opioid epidemic, and prevention of opioid overdose death.  He is also working on the development of a sustainability toolkit that was released in the Fall of 2019.  He and three colleagues presented an overview of the toolkit at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Chicago in 2019.    

One Choice Prevention: A Message of Hope and Science   February 15, 2022   Webinar Recording and Slides Webinar Slide-Deck Webinar Recording   Additional Resources One Choice Prevention Toolkit One Choice Prevention Webinar Q&A Responses   Description This webinar presents the One Choice Toolkit, a free resource for prevention leaders working with youth of all ages. One Choice is not a program but a framework. Analogous to other standards that promote teen health, the standard for substance use is One Choice: no use of any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs by youth under age 21 for reasons of health. Data show that for American youth, all substance use is closely related – and that the percentage of young people making the decision not to use any substances has been increasing for nearly four decades. The One Choice Toolkit offers data, graphics, and ideas and activities to help communities create social norms campaigns, amplifying the voices of youth who are making One Choice to be drug-free.   Objectives By the end of the webinar, participants will: Articulate the One Choice prevention message and the brain science and national substance use trends behind it Identify ways the One Choice message can be successfully integrated into youth-led prevention activities and prevention education materials Access the One Choice Toolkit and brainstorm new resources that could enhance the integration of the One Choice message among prevention groups   Presenters   Caroline DuPont, MD is Vice President of the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. (IBH), a 501(c)3 non-profit research and policy organization located in Rockville, MD. The IBH mission is to reduce the use of illegal drugs. In her role as Vice President, Dr. DuPont focuses on the areas of addiction treatment and prevention. She maintains a private practice specializing in anxiety and addiction. Formerly she was the founding President and Principal Investigator of DuPont Clinical Research, Inc., where she directed a team that conducted studies of investigational medication for the anxiety and affective disorders. Dr. DuPont received her MD from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston and completed her training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, where for years she held an appointment on the clinical faculty of psychiatry. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and by the American Board of Addiction Medicine. She is the co-author of numerous publications and several book chapters on anxiety and addiction.     Nancy Pasquale is Co-founder and Coalition Coordinator of RyeACT Coalition, a Drug Free Communities prevention coalition in Rye, NY. Her professional background is in human resources development and curriculum design, and she served for two terms as an elected Trustee of the Rye City School District Board of Education. Ms. Pasquale is a founding member of the One Choice Community, in partnership with the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., and a founding member of K.N.O.W. 2 Prevent, a collaborative of prevention leaders in Westchester County, NY. Nancy is also certified by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as an instructor of Youth Mental Health First Aid. Ms. Pasquale oversees all programmatic aspects of RyeACT’s operations and serves as Co-Advisor of the Youth Action Team, working directly with youth leaders. Under her stewardship, RyeACT has been recognized by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for exemplary leadership in youth prevention and selected to the pilot cohort of CADCA’s Graduate Coalition Academy. Ms. Pasquale has presented at CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, and at national and regional conferences of The American Society of Addiction Medicine, The School-Based Health Alliance, and Youth to Youth International, among others.   Corinne Shea has held several positions at the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. since joining the organization in 2007. In her present role as Director of Programs and Communications, she is responsible for the organization and management of drug policy initiatives and projects related to the IBH priorities, including managing the One Choice Community. She directs the writing of research manuscripts, reports, and journal articles. She earned her MA and BA from The George Washington University. Questions? Contact Clarissa Lam Yuen ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

Recording: What Does NOT Work in Prevention   The Great Lakes 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. Many trainings and resources focus on what research has shown to be effective at preventing substance misuse. However, we also know through research what is NOT effective in preventing substance misuse and in some cases is harmful. Yet communities across the nation continue to implement these ineffective and sometimes counterproductive strategies. The focus of this webinar will be on identifying these ineffective approaches. We will also spend time discussing strategies prevention professionals can use to address the resistance often expressed by individuals and organizations reluctant to change long-standing, well-liked prevention practices.   OBJECTIVES: By the end of this training, participants will be able to: Identify at least 5 interventions that have been shown through research to NOT be effective in preventing substance misuse List evidence-based approaches that can be used as effective alternatives to the ineffective/counterproductive strategies Describe strategies to address resistance to discontinuing ineffective and/or counterproductive prevention strategies   PRESENTERS:  Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes PTTC. She has worked in substance misuse prevention for over 30 years. She was the associate director of the Western CAPT, co-author of the SAPST, and co-author of the Substance Abuse Prevention textbook. Kris has delivered trainings across the United States, focusing on bridging the gap between research and practice.   Erin Ficker, CPRS, MPAff,  serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 16 years, Erin Ficker has worked in substance use prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data driven process in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions. 

The March 2022 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Equity-Grounded Leadership | Mental Health: Decreasing the Risk of Suicide for Black Boys | Prevention: Prevention Gambling | ORN: Peer Based Training | Spotlight: Lost Dreams Awakening Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter.  Sign up to receive the Dialogue in your mailbox.