Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use convening more than 2,000 to attend SAMHSA’s national opioids Prevention Day event

Amid nation’s crisis, free trainings to emphasize youth-supporting best practices

On Monday, February 5, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will host its 14th Annual Prevention Day at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. More than 2,000 people have registered to participate.

This year’s Prevention Day will focus on the theme “The Power of Prevention: Applying the Past, Navigating the Future,” and it will promote prevention strategies to strengthen local communities, as part of the federal response to the opioid crisis. During the livestreamed afternoon plenary session, Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, will discuss SAMHSA’s response to the opioid public health crisis. The event will be held in conjunction with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 28th Annual National Leadership Forum.

SAMHSA’s Prevention Day is open to the public at no cost, and participants may choose from multiple presentations and may review new resources to address substance abuse prevention programming. Technical assistance will be available throughout the day and will include training on a variety of prevention topics – including underage drinking; prescription drug misuse; and youths’ marijuana use. There will also be discussions on applying new research on mental health and well-being for students nationwide to such topics as bullying and suicide prevention.

 

WHO:

Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use

Frances M. Harding, Director for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

WHAT:

SAMHSA’s 14th Annual Prevention Day.

For plenary information, please visit: 

http://www.cadca.org/SAMHSA-sessions (session titles link to descriptions).

WHEN:

Monday, February 5, 2018

8:30 am - 4:45pm., EDT.

The Assistant Secretary is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m.

WHERE:

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

201 Waterfront St,

Oxon Hill, MD 20745

HOW:

To register to attend Prevention Day, please contact Ammie.Bonsu@samhsa.hhs.gov 240-276-2405 or register on site. Pre-registration is encouraged.

 

The closing plenary of Prevention Day will be streamed live on February 5 beginning at 3 p.m. EST at https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention-week.

Click here for Addressing the Challenges of the Opioid Crisis and Serious Mental Illness one-page flyer that is being distributed at SAMHSA’s Prevention Day on February 5, 2018.

Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.

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