SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
October is Substance Use Prevention Month — and we’re Telling the Prevention Story. Join us, as partners in prevention!
- To inspire action, each of us can share how prevention is improving lives in our communities.
- We aim to prevent substance use in the first place, prevent the progression of use, and reduce harms. And we have the prevention playbook to do so.
- Prevention science (with decades of research and community-based experience) shows that prevention works.
- Prevention strengthens protective factors and reduces risk factors ― in individuals, families, schools, communities, and society.
- Prevention helps us get ahead of substance use and mental health challenges — so that youth, families, and communities can thrive.
Prevention Month lifts up the national conversation — to showcase prevention’s positive effects on communities across the country.
Read more and find the Toolkit at: https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/substance-use-prevention-month
SUICIDE PREVENTION
The 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) is a bold new 10-year, comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to suicide prevention that provides concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in the suicide prevention field. This coordinated and comprehensive approach to suicide prevention at the national, state, tribal, local, and territorial levels relies upon critical partnerships across the public and private sectors. People with lived experience are critical to the success of this work.
The National Strategy seeks to prevent suicide risk in the first place; identify and support people with increased risk through treatment and crisis intervention; prevent reattempts; promote long-term recovery; and support survivors of suicide loss
ADVOCACY
Voices for Prevention has established relationships with other advocacy organizations across the state. They are doing impactful work and we want to share some of their efforts. We hope that you will engage in the work they are doing. Working together is how we will make major headway in substance use policies across our state.
Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy
https://gamarijuanapolicy.org/
Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy is a non-profit corporation of individuals and organizations utilizing science and credible research in opposing the expansion of laws and policies in Georgia regarding the use of cannabis in various non-standardized, un-tested, and un-dosed forms for medical and recreational purposes.
Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy has its Annual Summit on Wednesday, November 6. The summit will be “in person” from 10 am to 12:30 pm, at Talbott Recovery, 5355 Hunter Road, Atlanta, GA 30349. There is a small registration fee, and CEU credits (for both PCCG and GACA) are available. The featured speaker will be Georgia Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, and our panelists will be a mom whose son used Delta-8 THC, a youth from Forsyth County, and mental health and law enforcement professionals. You can see more, and register, AT THIS LINK. Or, you can just register for GRMP’s newsletter AT THIS LINK.
Georgia Alcohol Policy Alliance
https://www.gaalcoholpolicy.org/
The Georgia Alcohol Policy Alliances seeks to establish a statewide alcohol policy framework that balances business interests, public health, personal liberties, and social equity, and provides a statewide process to evaluate data, scientific research, and best practices, and to consider changes to alcohol policy.
Georgia is joining six other US states in seeking to lower the blood alcohol content limit that defines “legally impaired” from .08% to .05%. One other US state (Utah) and over 100 other countries, have already lowered their BAC levels to .05%. The number of lives lost to drunk driving has risen 43% to 507 lives in the last three years in Georgia, but this policy could save 56 lives in our state next year. You can read more, and even download the policy brief, AT THIS LINK. Or, you can just register for GAPA’s newsletter AT THIS LINK.
The information above was provided by Michael Mumper, Executive Director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy, and Board President at Georgia Alcohol Policy Alliance. He can be reached at mmumper@GaMarijuanaPolicy.org.
Let’s Be Clear Georgia
https://www.clearga.org/
LBCG is excited to announce the addition of an Advocacy Series of rack cards to our website. These are downloadable for professionals, coalitions, or concerned citizens to use to discuss topics at the local level. They can be found under the “Resources” tab. We also have some that are already printed that can be mailed upon request. Organizations that choose to download and pay for printing are allowed to add the organization’s logo. However, if we mail the rack cards, they will not be customizable. LBCG is working diligently to inform adults and youth about the day-to-day changes in hemp-derived intoxicants and the state policies concerning these products. This includes sharing why closing the Delta-8 loophole is one way to protect youth and young adults from negative harms. LBCG is co-hosting a webinar with GRMP on Impaired Driving on Nov. 21st. Lastly, planning for the Annual Marijuana Prevention Summit is underway. This will be held virtually in January 2025.
LBCG will hold youth listening sessions across the state to hear from youth about products they see marketed to youth, used by youth, and the impact these products have on their peers. If you have a group of 6-8 youth between ages 14-17, please contact LBCG and you will be provided more detailed information.
The information above was provided by Charlotte Spell, Executive Director of Let’s Be Clear GA. She can be reached at cspell2011@gmail.com.
YOUTH
We are so excited to develop and promote the voices of youth advocacy across the state. One such voice is Vinayak Menon. He spoke at our 2022 Substance Abuse Prevention Day and his words still resonate so powerfully. Vinayak is now in his first year at Princeton, but while at Lambert High School (Suwanee, GA), he gained national attention in his efforts to combat the opioid crisis in his community.
In his 2022 address, Vinayak stated: “Youth who are disproportionately affected by this crisis can not only be part of the solution but pave the way to a safer, healthier, and more vibrant Georgia when youth become advocates. Youth advocacy is a powerful force. It’s a process by which youth can take a platform, can take a seat at the table, and have their voices heard. It’s an opportunity for youth across our state to truly give back to their community and take charge of prevention.”
We hope that the youth in your communities can take their prevention efforts to the next level and become advocates for their communities, their peers, and themselves. At V4P, we want to empower youth voice and provide a platform for them to speak and share.
Listen to Vinyak’s full speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7h21wfHxJ4&t=1s
If you have youth in your community who you want us to highlight for the advocacy work they are doing, please contact us. We would love to help bring their voice forward to be heard by their peers and leaders across Georgia.
Member Spotlight
Name- John Bringuel
Organization- The Council on Alcohol and Drugs
Job Title- Prevention/Intervention Program Manager
Description of organization and role within the organization.
- The Council on Alcohol and Drugs is a 50-year-old nonprofit, 501(c)3 substance abuse prevention and education agency that develops programs and materials based on the most current research on drug use and its impact on community. My role within The Council is provide leadership support for all prevention and intervention programming.
What is your favorite thing about working in the field of prevention?
- Being “present to hear and feel” people’s story.
What is one piece of advice to those who work in the prevention field?
- Stay focused on building your Emotional Intelligence while serving others.
Any events your org. has coming up that you want to promote?
- Prevention Trainings in Oct. and throughout FY2025 for Community Professionals.
Any other comments?
- While “voices” are important to hear, creating positive constructive “connections” through Education, Service, and Sacrifice are what is truly “heard”
Share with V4P
Our readers come to V4P to hear and learn what is happening in the world of suicide prevention and substance abuse prevention. We strive to gain as much information as possible to share with V4P members and others across the state because knowledge is power.
V4P wants to hear from you! We invite you to let us know if you are having any future advocacy events, whether it’s a webinar or virtual event that is open to the public that you would like to share. We call on our youth to send in articles and input for ways we can advocate for suicide prevention and substance abuse prevention. If you know of any Office of Behavioral Health Prevention and Federal Grants (OBHPFG) provider activity updates for the state of Georgia, please share them. We encourage all members to let us know if you have any accomplishments of individual members and member organizations that you would like to announce. Click the link below to share and we look forward to hearing from you
V4P Free Membership
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
2024
- Bullying Prevention Month – October
- Red Ribbon Week -October 23 – 31
2025
- Prevention Days Virtual Kickoff Event- Thursday, January 9th – 5:30pm
- Substance Use Prevention Day- February 27, 2025
- Suicide Prevention Day- March 20, 2025
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT
There’s a movie called, Drumline. The movie follows a young man who attends a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) with the dream of being the top drummer on the drumline. One of the mantras of the band is “One Band, One Sound.” Essentially, that mantra is about everyone playing their role so that the band’s sound is unified.
At V4P, we seek to bring that same mantra to the world of prevention in our State. One Band, One Sound. As our mission statement, says, we want to bring all of our voices together “to build a unified, statewide voice for substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention by collaborating with a diverse group of individuals and organizations.”