NEWSLETTER
February 2026
Substance Use Prevention Day, March 5, 2026. Join us at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta on Thursday, March 5, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM for Voices for Prevention Georgia’s Substance Use Prevention Day. We are hosting a powerful free event bringing together youth, adults, professionals, advocates, and community members to advocate for a healthier future and be a Champion of Change. This dynamic day will feature inspiring speakers, substance specific resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy training designed to equip you with tools to effectively communicate with local legislators. After the event, we’ll head to the Georgia State Capitol to meet with legislators and raise our collective voices for prevention.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Substance use continues to impact families across Georgia. According to recent data, 1 in 6 Georgians aged 12 or older meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, and over 18% of adults 18+ are affected, illustrating the widespread nature of this public health concern. For youth aged 12–17, approximately 9% meet criteria for a substance use disorder, underscoring the importance of early prevention and support. These statistics remind us that prevention isn’t just a concept, it’s a community commitment with real human stakes.
Empowerment Through Advocacy
At the event, you’ll gain practical tools to speak confidently about prevention with policymakers. Whether you’re passionate about youth wellness, prevention support, or public policy change, this event will help you turn your energy into action. With evidence showing that early intervention and educated communities reduce the risk and impact of substance use, your participation contributes to a stronger, healthier Georgia.
Be a Champion of Change
Whether it’s your first time advocating or you’re a seasoned prevention champion, Substance Use Prevention Day is a place to connect, learn, and influence. Let’s come together to raise awareness, advance prevention efforts, and build relationships with legislators who can make a difference. Register today, bring a friend, and be part of a statewide movement for change!
Register today to secure your spot at Voices for Prevention Substance Use Prevention Day on March 5th at the Georgia Freight Depot. Space is limited! Register now and be part of a powerful day of learning, advocacy, and community action.
Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday March 19, 2026 at the Sloppy Floyd Building in Atlanta. This meaningful day will bring together youth, adults, professionals, and community advocates to confront one of Georgia’s most pressing public health challenges. Participants will hear from powerful speakers, resources, and advocacy training focused on suicide prevention. After the program, attendees will walk to the Georgia State Capitol to meet with legislators and share why suicide prevention must remain a statewide priority.
Why This Matters Now
Suicide continues to claim far too many lives across Georgia and the nation. In the United States, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, with more than 49,300 lives lost each year. In Georgia alone, over 1,600 individuals die by suicide annually, affecting families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Suicide is among the leading causes of death for both youth and adults, reminding us that no age group is untouched by this crisis. This reality highlights the importance of prevention, early intervention, and building strong support systems rooted in compassion and understanding.
From Awareness to Action
Suicide Prevention Day is designed to move participants from concern to action. Youth and adults will gain concrete skills for speaking with policymakers about mental health needs, suicide prevention strategies, and community-based solutions. Advocacy resources will help participants tell their stories, communicate priorities clearly, and understand how policy decisions impact prevention and crisis response across Georgia. Whether you are new to advocacy or already engaged, this event offers a supportive space to learn, connect, and make your voice heard.
Being Part of the Movement
Preventing suicide requires collective effort and sustained commitment. By joining this day of education, dialogue, and advocacy, you are helping reduce stigma, expand awareness, and push for meaningful change. Invite friends, family members, colleagues, and youth leaders to stand with you and be part of a growing movement dedicated to protecting lives and strengthening mental health support across Georgia.
Register today to secure your spot at Voices for Prevention Georgia’s Suicide Prevention Day on March 19th at the Sloppy Floyd Building. Space is limited! Register now and be part of a powerful day of learning, advocacy, and community action.
Advocacy as a Professional Responsibility
This article from the National Library of Medicine (NIH), discusses how advocacy has become an essential part of professional roles; specifically, within the medical field arguing that health professionals have a responsibility not only to deliver excellent clinical care but to address broader social and systemic factors that affect health outcomes. It defines advocacy broadly as speaking on behalf of others and outlines a framework for both individual-level support and system-level activism, emphasizing collaborative and directed approaches that can improve equitable access to care and address health disparities.
This article highlights that advocacy skills are increasingly embedded in professional standards and education and that working collectively with communities and organizations can amplify voices and affect meaningful changes. Click here to see the entire article.
This year for our 2026 Substance Use Prevention Day, our youth keynote speaker is a rising high school student, Annabelle Lovell. She is a four-time attendee of CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute and a dedicated youth advocate in the fight against substance misuse. Her prevention journey began in 2021, when, as a seventh grader, she joined the Weakley County Prevention Coalition (WCPC). That same year, she was named a statewide youth anti-tobacco ambassador for the TNSTRONG (Tennessee Stop Tobacco and Revolutionize Our New Generation) program through the Tennessee Department of Health.
Through TNSTRONG, Annabelle helps strengthen her school district tobacco policies, collaborate with youth across Tennessee, and produce compelling public service announcements warning about the dangers of nicotine use. In 2022, she was awarded a scholarship to attend her first CADCA Mid-Year in Orlando, Florida, an experience that solidified her passion for community advocacy. She returns each year, building leadership skills and deepening her commitment to public health initiatives.
Annabelle has represented WCPC at Tennessee’s Day on the Hill, where she’s spoken directly with lawmakers about the urgent need for rural prevention efforts. She has been an active voice in youth mock sessions of the Tennessee House of Representatives, where students debate real-world policy solutions. She’s also shared her expertise at events like the Tennessee Teen Institute (TTI), TNSTRONG Summit, and DARE graduation ceremonies, inspiring others to stay substance-free and embrace healthy teen lifestyles.
Annabelle is an honors student active in multiple school clubs and serves as secretary of her Student Council. She is a student athlete participating in both cross-country and track. As a servant leader, Annabelle remains deeply engaged in her community, working to support organizations that empower today and tomorrow’s youth. Following high school, Annabelle plans to pursue a career in law.
Announcements
This year, Voices for Prevention is proud to recognize the incredible impact of community leaders by introducing two Advocate of the Year awards. One award will honor a youth advocate (ages 10–20), and the other will honor an adult advocate (ages 21 and older) who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to prevention efforts. These awards will be presented at Substance Use Prevention Day (SUPD) highlighting individuals whose passion, leadership, and service have helped advance substance use across Georgia.
The Advocate of the Year award recognizes individuals who have shown consistent involvement with Voices for Prevention initiatives throughout the past year and who actively promote prevention within their communities. Nominees exemplify leadership, collaboration, and a strong commitment to advocacy. Whether through organizing events, mentoring peers, or engaging in advocacy, these individuals have played a meaningful role in strengthening state awareness and action around substance use.
In addition, honorees serve as positive role models and advocates with community partners, inspiring others to get involved and make a difference. By uplifting both a youth and an adult advocate, Voices for Prevention aims to celebrate the power of voices at every age and stage of life. These awards reflect our shared belief that prevention is most effective when driven by enthusiastic individuals who lead with purpose, compassion, and commitment to building healthier, safer communities for all.
Membership is FREE
To become a member with V4P is free. Membership includes exclusive webinars, networking opportunities, and much more. You can also be involved with V4P events via our social media accounts. Our social media handle on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook is V4PGA. So, click that follow button and be a part of the V4PGA experience!
Upcoming Events
February
2/2 – SAMHSA’s Prevention Day
CADCA Leadership Forum February 2nd to 5th
March
3/5 – Substance Use Prevention Day; Freight Depot – Atlanta
3/19 – Suicide Prevention Day; Sloppy Floyd Building – Atlanta
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week March 18th to 24th
April
May
National Prevention Week – May 10th to 16h
July
CADCA Mid-Year Orlando, FL July 12th to 16h
September
National Suicide Prevention Week September 13th to 19th
9/10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
October
Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month
Red Ribbon Week – October 23rd to 31st
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT
Ubuntu means “I am because we are.’
This ancient African word rooted in humanist African philosophy, which emphasizes to choose connection over isolation, kindness over indifference, and community over self. Knowing that our greatest strength is found in each other. Ubuntu helps people develop a strong sense of identity, purpose, and dignity. By valuing compassion, respect, and generosity, individuals learn that their actions matter to others. This builds empathy, emotional resilience, and moral responsibility. Knowing you belong to a community also reduces isolation and encourages personal growth through mutual support and shared wisdom.
Ubuntu strengthens communities by promoting cooperation, trust, and social harmony. When people act with the understanding that “a person is a person through other people,” conflict is addressed through dialogue rather than division, and resources are shared more fairly. Communities guided by Ubuntu are more inclusive, resilient in times of hardship, and better able to solve problems collectively.
Ubuntu creates a cycle where individuals uplift the community, and the community, in turn, uplifts the individual. It transforms relationships from transactional to meaningful, fostering societies grounded in care, justice, and shared humanity.