For every dollar we spend today on effective school-based prevention programs, we save $18 in the future by avoiding potential medical costs and boosting productivity on the job. Prevention programs also make young people less likely to one day have children who use substances, highlighting the far-reaching value these efforts have across generations. The global drug problem presents a multifaceted challenge that touches the lives of millions worldwide. From individuals struggling with substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organized crime, the impact of drugs is far-reaching and complex. Central to addressing this challenge is the imperative to adopt a scientific evidence-based approach that prioritizes prevention and treatment.
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Celebrate Red Ribbon Week in your community or your child’s school, and raise awareness of living a drug free life. Misusing opioid medication or using other opioid substances can carry a risk of unintentional overdose. But there are things you can do to help reduce this risk and the risk of opioid-related death. In the United States, more than 106,000 people died from drug-related overdose — including but not limited to opioids — in 2021.
National Prevention Week
That is why I made beating the opioid epidemic — our Nation’s most deadly drug use crisis — a pillar of the bipartisan Unity Agenda that I unveiled in this year’s State of the Union. I know that together, with resources and smart policy, we can overcome it. Last year, we invested nearly $4 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to expand mental health and substance use services and to help school districts increase the number of social workers on staff by as much as 54 percent. My Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposes $3.1 billion in National Drug Control funding for prevention, nearly $850 million more than last year.
National Prevention Week Toolkit
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Ozempic rose from a 10th place ranking among the 10 top-selling Part D drugs in 2021, with gross spending of $2.6 billion, to 6th place in 2022, with spending of $4.6 billion (Figure 2). In total, gross spending under Medicare Part D was $240 billion in 2022; Ozempic accounted amphetamine addiction for 2% of this amount. This is before taking into account rebates, which Medicare’s actuaries estimated to be 31.5% overall in 2022 but could be as high as 69% for Ozempic, according to one estimate. Last year, our Nation lost nearly 111,000 Americans to fatal overdoses — 1,000 of those lost to overdose were children and adolescents less than 18 years old.
Statement from HHS Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Rachel Levine for STI Awareness Week–April 14-20, 2024
- It serves as a powerful reminder that ordinary Americans nationwide contribute significantly to their communities every day by embracing a drug-free lifestyle.
- If you have questions about how, or when, to get involved, e-mail SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week coordinator David Wilson at
- Studies show that the earlier an individual starts smoking, drinking or using other drugs, the greater the likelihood of developing addiction.
- These obstacles are amplified for Tribal and other underserved communities, including rural communities that must often travel farther to find care.
- SAMHSA created a new, ongoing virtual series to showcase, elevate, and celebrate the important prevention ideas, events, news, and activities that impact communities across the country.
- At such a volatile time — with 1 in 6 youth impacted by the nation’s mental health crisis, and with youth fatal overdose rates escalating faster than any other age group — schools and communities came together for collective action and to elevate prevention.
We recognize that prevention happens every day, not just during the second week of May. As such, National Prevention Week is shifting to celebrate and promote your year-round prevention initiatives. SAMHSA created a new, ongoing virtual series to showcase, elevate, and celebrate the important prevention ideas, events, news, and activities that impact communities across the country.
Access a suite of prevention- and mental health-focused activities to share within your community. Competition among GLP-1 drugs could have a moderating effect on launch prices and lead to higher rebates negotiated between manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers. These drugs offer substantial potential health benefits, but the combination of intense demand, new uses, and high prices for these treatments is likely to place tremendous pressure on Medicare spending, Part D plan costs, and premiums for Part D coverage. Provides training and materials for mental health clinicians and substance abuse treatment providers on the complex intersections between psychological trauma and co-occurring substance abuse and dependency.
The Harm Reduction International website is a good starting point, as is the National Harm Reduction Coalition website. Experts also consider using substances that don’t have an accepted medical use — like heroin — or medications that you don’t have a prescription for — like oxycodone or fentanyl — misuse. While important, these opportunities for awareness only make up a small fraction of the year. Knowing how to protect yourself and others around opioids is a year-round effort.
Please consider making a donation to SAFE Project in support of our prevention and Red Ribbon distribution efforts. 7 in 10 of adults who have had a mental health or substance use condition are in recovery. Partners are key to creating prevention efforts that sustain themselves over time. National Prevention Week is the perfect opportunity to reach new groups and build a platform for year-round engagement and collaboration. Most individuals leave a prevention-focused event filled with enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference. Tap into this enthusiasm to keep the momentum going in your community long after your event concludes.
Send your best pictures to and you just might be included on an NSC social post. My Administration proposed a rule this summer that reinforces the fundamental goal of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, ensuring families have the same access to mental health and substance use benefits as they do to physical health benefits. The rule proposes making it easier to get in-network mental health care and eliminating administrative barriers to access that keep people from getting the care they need, when they need it. In response, people have designated special days and months to raise awareness, promote harm reduction, and recognize those who have died from opioid overdoses.
Most people with hepatitis C can be cured with just 8–12 weeks of well-tolerated oral-only treatment. Mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for more than two decades since it was first approved by the FDA, one of our nation’s most critical public health agencies. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.
One of the best ways to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities is to “design out” or minimize hazards and risks. NIOSH leads a national initiative called Prevention through Design (PtD) whose purpose is to promote this concept and highlight its importance in all business decisions. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has compiled a list of helpful resources for parents is it safe to drink coffee with adderall and caregivers, children and teens, mental health providers, child welfare workers, law enforcement professionals, educators and school staff, and policy makers. The Red Ribbon Campaign serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities, educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. When you purchase Red Ribbon themed merchandise, you’re helping support drug-use prevention efforts nationwide.
Approved pharmacological treatment options for alcohol use disorder include disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist. Importantly, if someone has a physical dependence on alcohol, and they are looking to discontinue use, they should consult a physician before discontinuing alcohol use. Because of the way alcohol modifies brain circuits and neurotransmission, quitting “cold turkey” can result in seizures and even death.
Shifting the National Prevention Week approach will better support our partners in prevention by providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action. We know that prevention happens year-round, and we want to highlight your efforts during National Prevention Week. By showcasing your work throughout the prevention field, we can confront the societal challenges surrounding substance misuse together while celebrating stories of prevention. Please download and share the free safety materials from NSC including a poster, social media kit, animated graphics, 5-minute safety talks, games, articles and more – plus NSC members get additional exclusive resources.
To download the image below, click on the thumbnail image and then right-click and « Save As… » The stickers are 2.5 in diameter and can be printed using standard printing labels. To download the logo, click on the thumbnail image and then right click and « Save As… » To download the email signatures below, click on the thumbnail image and then right click harbor house sober living review and « Save As… » To download the backgrounds below, click on the thumbnail image and then right click and « Save As… » Tap your “inner circle” first, then expand to broader groups, like your mayor’s office, with a request to issue a proclamation about National Prevention Week. There are endless ways to bring National Prevention Week to your community.
Sign up for NDAFW email updates below, and find lots of great resources for planning and promoting your very own NDAFW event. These are only a few examples of how we can prevent injury, illness, and death at work and beyond. Join us in promoting safety this June and share with us how you plan to celebrate in the comment section below. Choose a day or week to showcase your safety pride with the NSC Go Green for Safety campaign. Encourage your team to wear green – the universal color of safety – and hold up the printable Go Green for Safety sign. Capture photos and videos to share in your communications and on social media using the hashtags #GoGreenforSafety and #NSM.
Some employers may not be aware they have a fleet and need to follow the proper safety protocols. Check out this webinar on the Top Three Things to Know When Managing a Fleet. This post was updated on March 27, 2024 to include a clarification of the drugs included in the analysis and additional information about rebates. Offers perspectives on the intersections between trauma, caregiver substance use, parenting, and prenatal substance use exposure. Provides a picture of the challenges experienced by families caring for youth with trauma and substance use.
