Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse Toolkit

SAMHSA created the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse planning and promotional materials to help entities of all shapes and sizes design and implement impactful, prevention-focused events and activities. From getting started to putting your event out there for the world to see, the information and assets below will be your strategic guide.

Youth-led activities and events are always encouraged. Consider involving youth at the start of your process to gain their insights and ideas and invite their leadership of the activity.

Planning Your Event

Crafting a good plan is the best way to ensure a successful event. Below we have collected all that Communities Talk hosts need to think through their event and get it into gear.

Five Steps for Planning Your Event

1. Review SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework and assess your community’s needs. Consider how you can apply this framework to your Communities Talk activity.
2. Define your goals and objectives. Use your community assessment to spark discussions about what your community needs most and who can be part of the solution. Are you creating awareness about an issue? Are you inviting feedback on public policies related to underage drinking or marijuana? Are you launching a new prevention tool or program to combat fentanyl overdoses? Be specific and stay on point throughout the planning process.
3. Organize a planning committee. Consider collaborating directly with youth and young adults to sketch out the activity content and messaging, as well as with different sectors of the community such as:
   • law enforcement
   • elected officials
   • faith-based organizations
   • businesses
   • schools
   • parent groups
   • health care professionals
   • local colleges and universities
4. Determine your activity type, day, time, and location. Communities Talk activities should take place anywhere a community gathers, virtually or in-person, to have an open discussion.
   Example: Community and youth-led groups in Oregon held a community forum on fentanyl and drug awareness at the local high school to explore substance misuse policy/legislation (e.g., social host laws; liquor license laws and regulations). Speakers spanned all sectors of the community with the goal to have “frank conversations” about the substances impacting their community and how they can support each other so that youth don’t turn to substances, no matter what they are going through.
   Read more Prevention Stories for ideas on what you can do.
5. Prepare to capture the moment. Arrange for a photographer, even if an amateur, to get photos or videos of the day. Having this element will help bring your Prevention Story to life! Make sure the footage shows the full breadth of your event, from who participated to where it was held. Below are a few tips for doing this well:
   • Visual Storytelling Tip Sheet (PDF | 935 KB)
   • Capturing Video Like a Pro (PDF | 1.3 MB)

Planning Calendar

Communities Talk activities should be organized at a time when they will have the most impact. Where and when can you bring together stakeholders to start or continue a dialogue on prevention? Where might it gain the most traction in your community?

Activities can be held any time of year but should be completed by November. Your activity could intersect with these seasonal opportunities:

• March
  College/University Spring Break
  National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW)
• April
  Alcohol Awareness Week
  National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
• May
  Graduation season
  National Prevention Week
  Mental Health Awareness Month
• August
  Back to campus / College move-in
  International Overdose Awareness Day
• September
  National Recovery Month
• October
  Homecoming
  National Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Month
  Red Ribbon Week

Questions? Email us at info@communities-talk.com.