Montgomery, Ala. – According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 59.3 million Americans ages 12 and older used illicit drugs in the last recorded year. In Alabama, for ages 18 and older, an estimated 351,000 people have alcohol use disorders, while 234,000 Alabamians suffer from serious mental illness.
National Prevention Week is celebrated May 8-14, 2022 to increase public awareness and engagements surrounding mental health and/or substance use disorders. The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH), Office of Prevention is proud to partner with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to offer learning opportunities during this week.
National Prevention Week is the perfect time to invest in prevention. Community leaders and prevention specialists are standing up to prevent misuse of illegal drugs, opioids, marijuana, tobacco, alcohol and prevent suicide and mental illness. National Prevention Week provides a chance for schools, communities and prevention professionals to re-focus on their efforts.
Throughout National Prevention Week, ADMH’s Office of Prevention is offering virtual opportunities to participate. The daily themes will focus on substance use and mental health disorders. In addition, important fact sheets and webinars will be shared with staff and the public.
The 2022 daily themes are:
· Monday, May 9: Strengthening Community Resilience: Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention
18th Annual SAMHSA Prevention Day Presentation at 10:00 a.m. – Register here.
Topic: National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data in Alabama
Presenters: Brandon Folks & Erin Burleson
· Tuesday, May 10: Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Mental Health in Youth
· Wednesday, May 11: Preventing Suicide: Everyone Plays a Role
Suicide Awareness & Prevention Presentation
Virtual QPR Training- Cheryl Dodson, ASPARC at 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
https://mhalabama.zoom.us/j/81765528875
Meeting ID: 817 6552 8875
· Thursday, May 12: The Talent Pipeline: Enhancing the Prevention Workforce
Word Search: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Mlg9rbRNpM0zdykM9BNybunzO60pCC3N/edit.
· Friday, May 13: Prevention is Everywhere: Highlighting Efforts Across Settings and Communities
Walk Around the Capitol / Drunken Goggles Simulation Activity
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Alabama State Capitol (South Lawn)
Through National Prevention Week, people become more aware and able to recognize the signs of mental health and substance use disorders. Equally important, community members from all walks of life learn how they can help build community, strengthen resilience and create hope to keep those around them—and themselves—healthy and safe.
To learn more about National Prevention Week, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention-week.
