April 2026

Prevention Days 2026

Substance Use Prevention Day Recap

Voices for Prevention hosted its annual Substance Use Prevention Day on March 5th at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, bringing together over 260 attendees from across the state. Centered around the theme “Champions of Change” the event focused on empowering youth and community members to take an active role in substance use prevention advocacy. Attendees engaged with educational materials, including one-pagers on alcohol, opioids, marijuana, and prescription drugs, as well as newsletters and Red Ribbon Week resources. Seven community partners hosted vendor tables, providing valuable tools, information, and connections to support prevention efforts.

Youth engagement was a central highlight of the day, with middle and high school students from across Georgia taking on leadership roles throughout the program. Students introduced speakers, participated in a dynamic youth-led advocacy activity, and closed the session with a powerful “Champions of Change” chant that energized the entire audience. Many students shared that they aspire to be Champions of change so they can support their communities, families, and friends. The event also created space for meaningful connection, as attendees networked with peers and partners; sharing ideas, building relationships, and even taking time to laugh and celebrate together.

The program also recognized outstanding leadership through the inaugural Voices for Prevention Youth and Adult Advocates of the Year awards, honoring Maliya Dowell-Quick and Jeff Breedlove for their impactful contributions to prevention efforts across Georgia. Youth keynote speaker Annabelle Lovell delivered an inspiring message about the importance of youth voices in advocacy, leaving attendees motivated to act. Following the program and a shared lunch, participants had the opportunity to walk to the Capitol, where they received guidance on refining their advocacy messages and engaging with local representatives. This experience reinforced the day’s core message, equipping attendees not only with knowledge, but with confidence and tools to advocate for change.

Suicide Prevention Day Recap

On March 19th, Voices for Prevention hosted Suicide Prevention Day at the Georgia Sloppy Floyd Building, welcoming over 150 attendees for a day centered on awareness, advocacy, and community connection. Continuing the theme “Champions of Change” the event provided a space for participants to engage in meaningful conversations around suicide prevention and mental health. Attendees connected with four partner organizations that offered valuable resources and information to support individuals, schools, and communities in strengthening prevention efforts.

A key highlight of the day was a presentation from the Resilient Hearts organization at Oxford College of Emory University, which shared impactful insights into their work supporting student mental health and building resilience on campus. However, the most powerful and moving component of the event was the youth panel, featuring eight middle and high school students from across Georgia. Panelists spoke candidly about their experiences, the challenges they see in their schools, and the importance of creating safe, supportive environments for young people. Their voices underscored the need for continued advocacy and reminded attendees of the critical role young people play in shaping prevention efforts. Throughout the event, participants had opportunities to connect, reflect, and build community. Students shared that they want to be “Champions of Change” so they can better support those around them, reinforcing the importance of peer connection in prevention work. The event also fostered meaningful networking among youth, educators, and community partners, creating space for collaboration and shared learning. Overall, Suicide Prevention Day served as a powerful reminder that prevention starts with connection, and that empowering youth voices is essential to creating lasting, positive change.

Advocate of the Year Awards

The introduction of Voices for Prevention’s (V4P) first-ever Youth and Adult Advocate of the Year Awards marked a powerful and inspiring milestone. These inaugural recognitions celebrated individuals whose dedication, leadership, and passion are driving meaningful progress in substance use prevention and mental health awareness. The energy surrounding this year’s honorees reflected a shared commitment to uplifting voices that create real change across communities.

Building on this momentum, V4P is excited to expand the awards process in the coming year by opening nominations to members statewide. This next phase creates an opportunity for partners, peers, and communities to spotlight advocates whose efforts deserve recognition. By inviting nominations, V4P aims to deepen engagement and ensure a diverse range of voices and experiences.

We encourage all members to begin thinking about the advocates who inspire those who lead with purpose, amplify prevention efforts, and make a lasting impact. The Advocate of the Year Awards are more than a recognition; they are a celebration of the collective work happening every day across our network. We look forward to honoring even more outstanding individuals next year and continuing to elevate the voices, shaping a healthier future.

The Youth Advocate of the Year Award recognizes a young leader, ages 10 to 20, who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to advancing substance use prevention and mental health awareness. Maliya Dowell – Quick was this year’s Youth Advocate of the Year. The Adult Advocate of the Year Award honored

Jeff Breedlove. Through his work at the community, state, and national levels, he continues to champion meaningful change and strengthen prevention efforts across Georgia.

Jeff currently serves as Chief of Communications and Policy for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and brings experience in public service and advocacy. His background includes roles with the Georgia State Senate, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, and as Chief of Staff for DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester, as well as service on national legislative committees. In addition to his professional work, Jeff contributes to several organizations, including the MARR Addiction Treatment Center and the Georgia School of Addiction Studies, while also mentoring youth through his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America.

A respected leader and dedicated advocate, Jeff’s impact extends far beyond his professional roles. He is known for his willingness to mentor others, share his expertise, and lead by example in every space he serves. His unwavering commitment to prevention and community well-being reflects the true spirit of a Champion of Change, helping to drive progress and promote healthier futures for individuals and communities statewide.

Legislative Updates

HB 219 Sponsored by Representative Ron Stephens
Summary: to authorize the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired healthcare professionals; to authorize the Georgia Board of Nursing to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired healthcare professionals.
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

SB 427 Sponsored By Senator Ben Watson
Summary: relating to medical practice relative to physicians, so as to provide for limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; to provide for definitions; to provide for qualifications and conditions; to provide for penalties, license sanctions, and enforcement; to provide for one or more medical directors; to provide for annual reports; to provide for rules, regulations and procedures; to provide for conditional automatic repeal.
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

SB 535 Sponsored By Senator Kay Kirkpatrick
Summary: relating to mental health, so as to provide for the re-creation of community service boards; relating to meetings open to the public, limitation on action to contest agency action, recording, notice of time and place, access to minutes, and teleconferences, so as to revise a provision authorizing community service boards to conduct teleconference meetings under certain circumstances
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

SB 220 By Senator Matt Brass
Summary: to rename low THC oil as medical cannabis; relating to offenses against the public health and morals, regulation of controlled substances, and general provisions relative to the Department of Public Health, respectively, so as to clarify and revise criminal penalties
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

SB 395 Sponsored By Senator Kay Kirkpatrick
Summary: relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to require a physician to submit certain information to the Georgia Composite Medical Board when certifying an individual as eligible for the Low THC Oil Patient Registry; to provide for annual reporting; to authorize the Department of Public Health to disclose certain information
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

SB 33 Sponsored By Senator Kay Kirkpatrick
Summary: the “Georgia Hemp Farming Act,” so as to provide limits on the total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; to revise provisions concerning the certificate of analysis applicable to consumable hemp products
Status: PASSED – awaiting signature of Governor Kemp

HB 419 Sponsored by Representative Lee Hawkins
Summary: to authorize the placement and use of opioid overdose reversal medication on the campuses and facilities of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia; to provide for training and implementation.
Status: added to another Bill; policy PASSED – waiting to be signed

HB 657 Sponsored by Representative Lisa Hagan
Summary: to provide for a legal definition of a recovery community organization
Status: FAILED

SB 526 Sponsored By Senator Randy Robertson
Summary: to provide for the licensing and regulation of recovery residences; to provide for minimum standards; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for applications for licensing; to provide for provisional licensing; to provide for compliance; to provide for the denial, suspension, or revocation of licenses; to provide for enforcement actions; to provide for confidentiality; to provide for inspections; to provide for procedures and penalties relating to unlicensed recovery residences; to provide for definitions; to provide for conforming changes; to provide legislative findings.
Status: FAILED

SB 277 Sponsored by Senator Blake Tillery
Summary: to revise statutory definitions of drugs to include alcohol and its derivatives for specified purposes.
Status: FAILED

HB 326 Sponsored By Representative Michelle Au
Summary: relating to state employees’ health insurance and benefit plans, so as to mandate that the state health benefit plan provide coverage for qualifying nonopioid pain management drugs that is in parity with its coverage for opioid pain management drugs; to provide for definitions; to provide for parity with regard to annual deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, exclusions, reductions, other limitations, or utilization review.
Status: FAILED

SB 450 Sponsored By Senator Kenya Wicks
Summary: relating to state public library activities, so as to authorize the possession of opioid antagonists in public libraries; to define a term; to authorize public libraries to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists; to authorize public library personnel to administer opioid antagonists and carry opioid antagonists on their person; to provide for immunity; to provide for activation of the emergency medical services system and notification of emergency contacts.
Status: FAILED

HR 1049 By Representative Carolyn Hugley
Summary: Recognizing Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day in Georgia Designating the Wednesday of the last week in October of each year as “Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day” in Georgia.
Status: FAILED

HB 612 Sponsored by Representative Katie Dempsey
Summary: relating to insurance, so as to create a Parity Compliance Review Panel; to provide for oversight and enforcement of the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act.
Status: FAILED

SB 131 Sponsored By Senator Mike Hodges
Summary: relating to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to provide for the establishment of the Georgia Health Care Professionals Data System; to provide for definitions; to provide for collaboration with state licensing boards; to provide for a publicly accessible website; to provide for collection of data from state licensing boards; to provide for specified data; to provide for seeking of funding sources.
Status: FAILED

HB 1262 Sponsored By Representative Eddie Lumsden
Summary: relating to insurance, so as to increase the number of monetary penalties the Commissioner of Insurance is authorized to impose for violations of the Georgia Insurance Code relative to mental health parity, general enforcement authority, surprise billing, and prepaid legal services plans.
Status: FAILED

HB 291 Sponsored By Representative Darlene Taylor
Summary: relating to health, so as to provide for the certification of community health workers; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee; to provide for membership, powers, and duties of the committee; to provide for the approval of training programs; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Status: FAILED

SB 254 Sponsored By Senator Bill Cowsert
Summary: the “Georgia Hemp Farming Act,” so as to provide milligram limits on delta-9-THC in consumable hemp products
Status: FAILED

HB 1248 Sponsored By Representative Derrick Jackson
Summary: relating to crimes and offenses, as to provide for the regulation, licensure, taxation, and use of cannabis; to authorize counties and municipal corporations to adopt certain ordinances; relating to ordinances for governing and policing of unincorporated areas of county, as to authorize counties to adopt ordinances governing and punishing the possession of two ounces or less of marijuana
Status: FAILED

HB 496 Sponsored By Representative Jasmine Clark
Summary: relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to provide for limitations on stops, searches, seizures, or arrests regarding the scent of marijuana, cannabis, or hemp on its own
Status: FAILED

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