Substance Use Prevention Month
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.
Toolkit
Showcase prevention’s positive effects in your community — and inspire action!
Post on your social media channels.
Post Copy – All Platforms: It’s #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth! Download our toolkit to tell the good-news story of prevention: www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/prevention-month
Download & Share
Week 1: Graphic 1 with Logo (PNG | 389 KB)
Week 1: Graphic 1 without Logo (PNG | 376 KB)
Post Copy – All Platforms: Shout-out to Prevention Specialists and everyone who is saving lives! What’s your #MyPreventionStory? www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/prevention-month #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth
Download & Share
Week 1: Graphic 2 with Logo (PNG | 239 KB)
Week 1: Graphic 2 without Logo (PNG | 229 KB)
Post Copy – All Platforms: Your voice has power. Share your #MyPreventionStory during #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth: www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/prevention-month
Download & Share
Post on your social media channels.
Post Copy – All Platforms: Prevention gives us an opportunity to get ahead of challenges. So that individuals, families, and communities can be healthy and thrive. #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #PreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory
Download & Share
Week 2: Graphic 1 with Logo (PNG | 276 KB)
Week 2: Graphic 1 without Logo (PNG | 266 KB)
Post Copy – All Platforms: Prevention works by strengthening protective factors and reducing risk factors ― in individuals, families, schools, communities, and society. #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #PreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory
Download & Share
Post on your social media channels.
Post Copy – All Platforms: Prevention works by strengthening protective factors and reducing risk factors ― at multiple levels. #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #PreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory
Download & Share
Week 3: Graphic 1 with Logo (PNG | 118 KB)
Week 3: Graphic 1 without Logo (PNG | 112 KB)
Post Copy – All Platforms: Early prevention is critical. #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #PreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/prevention-month
Download & Share
Post on your social media channels.
Post Copy – All Platforms: Do the youth in your community know that most of their peers don’t use substances? Check out SAMHSA's stats. Learn about social norms: www.hidta.org/adapt/prevention-intervention-resource-center #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #PreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory
Download & Share
Week 4: Graphic 1 with Logo (PNG | 226 KB)
Week 4: Graphic 1 without Logo (PNG | 215 KB)
Post Copy – All Platforms: October is #PreventionMonth. Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all ages. Prevention and early intervention strategies can reduce the impact of substance use in America’s communities. You’re not alone. Help is available: samhsa.gov/find-help #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth #MyPreventionStory
Download & Share
Use as the cover image (or header / background image) — on your social media sites.
Facebook:
Download
Facebook Cover Photo with logo (PNG | 120 KB)
Facebook Cover Photo without logo (PNG | 114 KB)
LinkedIn:
Download
LinkedIn Cover Photo with logo (PNG | 210 KB)
LinkedIn Cover Photo without logo (PNG | 197 KB)
X (Twitter):
Download
X (Twitter) Cover Photo with logo (PNG | 224 KB) (PNG | 210 KB)
Use on your website — as a homepage slider or as a webpage banner.
Upload to your virtual meeting platform, as your background.
Download & Share
Save in your email platform, as your signature.
Download & Share
Email Signature 1 (PNG | 56 KB)
Email Signature 1 Instructions (DOC | 52 KB)
Apply a frame to your social media profile picture throughout October.
Include this badge in your promotional materials and website.
Download
Download and print these 8.5”x11” flyers – or share digitally.
These are the states and territories that have shared a link with SAMHSA:
Alabama
- Prevention — Alabama Department of Mental Health
Alaska
- Prevention & Early Intervention — Alaska Department of Health
Arkansas
- Rise Above Alcohol & Drugs (RAAD) — Prevention Arkansas
Georgia
- Behavioral Health Prevention – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Georgia Strategic Prevention System (GASPS) Data Warehouse – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Georgia Strategic Prevention Services Hubsite – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Help Solve Georgia’s Opioid Crisis – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Prevent Suicide GA – Imagine a Future Without Suicide – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Turning the Tide on Opioids in Georgia – Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust
Hawaii
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse – Prevention – State of Hawai’i Department of Health
- Strategic Prevention Framework – University of Hawai’i Center on the Family
Idaho
- Prevention Idaho – Idaho Office of Drug Policy
Illinois
- Prevention First – Prevention First
Kansas
- Kansas Prevention Collaborative – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Michigan
- Substance Use Prevention – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Mississippi
- Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition – Jackson State University
Missouri
- Missouri Substance Use Prevention – Missouri Prevention Network
- Prevention – Missouri Department of Mental Health
New Mexico
- A Dose of Reality – New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Office of Substance Abuse Prevention
North Dakota
- Promotion and Prevention – North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
Ohio
- Build a Culture of K-12 Wellness – Miami University School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention
- Ohio Adult Allies – Ohio Adult Allies
- Ohio’s Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention & Promotion – Ohio University
- Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation – Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
- Prevention Action Alliance – Prevention Action Alliance
- The Ohio Coaching and Mentoring Network – Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Oklahoma
- Prevention – Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Pennsylvania
- I Am Prevention – Commonwealth Prevention Alliance
Rhode Island
- Promoting Positive Change in Rhode Island Communities – Rhode Island Prevention Resource Center
South Carolina
- Just Plain Killers – South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
- Open Conversation SC – South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
- SC Out of Their Hands – South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
- Or visit this South Carolina website and scroll down to link to “Out Of Their Hands"
South Dakota
- Avoid Opioid Prescription Addiction – South Dakota Department of Health and Department of Social Services
- South Dakota Suicide Prevention – South Dakota Department of Health
- South Dakota Behavioral Health – South Dakota Department of Social Services
Texas
- Prevention and Behavioral Health Promotion – Texas Health and Human Services
- Texas Targeted Opioid Response – Texas Health and Human Services
- Texas Targeted Opioid Response Dashboard – Texas Health and Human Services
- Turn To – Texas Health and Human Services
Utah
- Prevention – Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Washington
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Mental Health Promotion – Washington State Health Care Authority
- The Athena Forum – Washington State Health Care Authority
West Virginia
- Bureau for Behavioral Health Clearinghouse – West Virginia Department of Human Services
- Help and Hope WV – West Virginia Department of Human Services
- Stigma Free WV – West Virginia Department of Human Services
Blogs
Blogs
SAMHSA will be releasing blog posts throughout Substance Use Prevention Month.
Proclamation on Youth Substance Use Prevention Month
Proclamation on Youth Substance Use Prevention Month
The President proclaims October 2024 as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month.
Events
Events
Join us at these virtual events:
- Bringing Prevention to the People: Success Stories — Oct. 16, 2024 (3 - 4 p.m. ET)
- States Telling the Prevention Story — Oct. 30, 2024 (3 - 4 p.m. ET)
Registration information to follow.
Get Involved
- “Talk. They Hear You.”® ― This campaign helps parents and caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage substance use.
- The mobile app shows how to turn everyday situations into opportunities to talk with kids.
- Screen4Success ― A 10-minute online screening tool to look for signs of risk in yourself, your child, or someone you care about — and find resources.
- SAMHSA’s 21st Prevention Day (Feb. 3, 2025) ― Learn what’s new and innovative, at this free event.
- National Prevention Week (May 11-17, 2025) ― A platform for communities and organizations to showcase your prevention activities.
- Share your #MyPreventionStory (on social media) year-round.
- Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse ― Offers resources (including stipends) to plan local events.
- Voices of Youth ― Welcomes youth and young adults as agents of change.
Learn More
Prevention Planning
- Strategic Prevention Framework (PDF | 3.3 MB) (also in Spanish) — 5 steps to plan effective solutions
- Focus on Prevention — manual with tips, checklists, timelines, and samples
- Substance Use Prevention Communications Toolkit — toolkit for communicating with youth (using social norms and framing)
- Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults — review of evidence-based policies, programs, and practices (with examples)
- Community Engagement: An Essential Component of an Effective and Equitable Substance Use Prevention System — strategies (with examples)
- Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development — registry of evidence-based programs
- Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit — helps anyone see how to help address the overdose crisis
- Harm Reduction Framework — a roadmap of best practices, principles, and pillars
Training and Technical Assistance
- Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network
- Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC)
- Tribal Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Center
- Native Connections Training and Technical Assistance
- Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center
- National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery