We are excited to introduce Huyen Truong as our new Prevention Program Manager. In addition to managing Prevent Coalition, Huyen will support Student Assistance Professionals and Community Prevention Coordinators throughout the southwest Washington region. Prior to this role, Huyen was Coordinator for the EPIC coalition serving Longview, Washington, where she implemented strategic prevention plans and community-wide environmental change strategies.

Huyen is a long-time employee of ESD 112 with extensive experience in direct service to youth, including work as a Student Assistance Professional and Youth Workforce Specialist. Her deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by communities in southwest Washington will be instrumental as she works to advance our mission.

Prevent welcomes Mandy Feeks to the team as a Community Prevention Project Coordinator. Mandy will coordinate activities associated with a Carelon Opioid Prevention Grant, as well as SAMSHA STOP Grant. She currently promotes opioid prevention in Clark County through partnerships with middle and high schools.

Mandy has a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in health promotion, education, and behavior. She comes with nearly 10 years of professional experience in multiple segments of public health practice and a passion for improving health outcomes in communities.

Over 760 Clark and Klickitat county residents safely disposed of 2,574 pounds of unused medications and syringes during a multi-site drug take-back event on Saturday, October 26th.

“It’s inspiring to see the community come together to dispose of medicines properly,” said Kelley Groen-Sieckmann, coordinator with Central Vancouver Coalition.

Read the full story at www.esd112.org/news

Links to year-round disposal site information (by county):

- Clark Year-Round Disposal Flyer

- Klickitat Year-Round Disposal Flyer

- Skamania Year-Round Flyer

Current tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest recorded level in 25 years. This is according to newly released data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). Within the past year alone, at least half a million fewer students are using tobacco products.

However, disparities persist. For the 11th year in a row, e-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among youth who reported current tobacco product use, and during 2023-2024, current use of any tobacco product increased among American Indian or Alaska Native students, and current use of nicotine pouches increased among White students.

Click here or on the CDC logo to read the full news release on CDC.gov.

House Bill 2112 went into effect in June 2024 and requires all public and private colleges and universities in Washington to provide fentanyl prevention education and resources to students. The law is meant to protect students amidst a growing opioid crisis in the state.

Nearly 90% of Instagram posts by tobacco companies violate either federal regulations or guidance on youth marketing.

The vast majority of Instagram posts by tobacco brand-owned accounts did not follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations regarding warning labels, and many included content likely to appeal to young people, according to a study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Instagram imposes few restrictions on tobacco content, and its enforcement of these restrictions is minimal, according to the study authors.

Click here to read the full article by Truth Initiative.

The Washington State Attorney General's Office (AGO) is recruiting youth, ages 12-25, who live in Washington State to serve on a statewide youth advisory group for HearMeWA. HearMeWA is a free statewide program for youth up to age 25 who are dealing with a range of challenges, from stress and anxiety to threats and abuse. HearMeWA receives and responds to tips about risks or potential risks to youth safety and well-being.

Youth on the advisory committee will be asked to attend meetings, provide input on branding and advertising, speak about issues affecting youth, and represent the campaign at events. There will be leadership and personal development opportunities. Youth who are motivated and committed to learning and addressing issues related to youth, have a vision for the future and are not afraid to voice their opinions in a respectful way are highly encouraged to apply.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

Click here to learn more and apply!

Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Following the success of last year’s Calming Videos of Washington State project, the You Can campaign is again partnering with Washington youth to co-create authentic, peer videos—this time to highlight all the ways teens practice self-care. This is a chance for Washington teens to show how they practice self-care, spark ideas for others, and be compensated for their efforts.

What You Can needs:

• A vertical video that’s 20-45 seconds long and shows a self-care activity that brings you joy or helps you relax. For example, arts and crafts, sports or exercise, indoor and outdoor activities, or individual and group activities.
• The teen's first name, age, city or state, email address, and Instagram username.

What participants will get:

• A $20 Amazon gift card per each submission that meets the required guidelines.
• One entry in a random drawing for five prizes of one $100 Amazon gift card.

Who can participate?

• This video project is open to everyone in Washington state, ages 12- to 18-years-old.

What is the deadline for submissions?

• All submissions must be sent by Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Visit You Can's Self-Care Video Project webpage for more details and to access the video submission link.

A flyer is available for promoting the project - click here!

Washington state is one of 6 states that are the focus of a new research study about how home delivery and digital advertising may affect alcohol use risks among young adults: the Alcohol Delivery + Digital Advertising = AD+DA study.

The research team – led by City University of New York (CUNY) and other research partners - is working with Washington to get information from young adult volunteers in our state. They need help to recruit young adults from our state to participate in the study. Basic requirements are:

• Must live in Washington State
• Ages 21-26
• Access to a smartphone
• Do not have current problems with alcohol use
• Live in an area where alcohol delivery is permitted

Volunteers will receive up to $110 in gift cards for being in the study. They will be asked to fill out two short surveys and to document ID checking that happens when they receive a legal home delivery of alcohol (they will be asked to purchase this on their own).

Young adults who are interested can register by clicking here or visiting https://tinyurl.com/AlcDeliv

If you have questions, you can contact the research team directly at [email protected]

Truth Initiative launched a new campaign, Outsmart Nicotine, aimed at preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all, fostering a healthier, addiction-free future.

Outsmart Nicotine builds on the equity and impact of the truth® campaign and is designed to redefine quitting and help young adults break free from nicotine addiction by pairing science-backed solutions with creative storytelling that normalizes quitting as a shared challenge rather than a solitary struggle. At its core is an enhanced EX Program, which now incorporates Truth Initiative’s proven-effective text message quit program, This is Quitting, to meet the unique challenges faced by young people today.

Learn more about the campaign by reading the news article on the Truth Initiative website.

A Partner Toolkit is available and includes sample social media posts and graphics you can use to share this information with your audiences.

Live Vape Free is a service provided by RVO Health that offers judgement-free support and powerful resources to help people kick vaping to the curb. There is no cost to use the program and no specific time requirement. Support provided includes 24/7 text support, free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), engaging lessons, and timeline development.

Live Vape Free just refreshed their website - click here to check it out!

Truth Initiative released an infographic and informational article that presents an overview of key aspects of e-cigarettes, including use data, health effects, marketing practices, and regulations based on research and evidence available at the time of publication.

Click here to learn more at truthinitiative.org.

The Awkward Conversations podcast series will give parents the tools they need to help their children lead drug-free lives. Jodie Sweetin of "Full House" and "Fuller House" and guest experts and celebrity parents will cover topics like building resilience, prevention through creative expression, and more.

Season four currently has 15 episodes available with practical tips, heartfelt narratives, and clear strategies. Each episode is designed to equip you with the tools you need to navigate the highs and lows of parenting, helping you foster a safe and healthy environment for your children.

The podcast series is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with the Elks Drug Awareness program.

Click here to view the Awkward Conversations season four playlist.

Focus On is a prevention campaign that educates high school students about the reality of underage drinking in Washington. It was developed by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) using data from the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. The campaign spotlights positive social norms, outlines the risks and consequences of underage drinking, refusal skills, and encourages teens to choose healthy ways to deal with stress, anxiety, and boredom. These resources are available at focusonyouwa.org.

A toolkit is available to assist with promoting the campaign. Visit https://socialpresskit.com/focus-on to access campaign materials, social media graphics, and campaign videos

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) created a toolkit consisting of interactive activities to help parents, caregivers, and teachers introduce and reinforce key messages about peer pressure, resistance skills, and other important topics related to underage drinking. The engaging activities are designed for middle schoolers ages 11 to 13. They can be used at home, in classrooms, or in after-school programs. Content is divided into sections, each section comes with a guide for the adult facilitator, handouts, role-playing exercises, and more.

Click here or on the image to visit the resource website.

In 2018, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched You Can, the statewide cannabis prevention and education campaign to educate youth (ages 12-17) about the health effects and consequences of using cannabis. Informed by audience research and insights from partners, the campaign has evolved to include a focus on enhancing protective factors and increasing resilience to help youth resist drugs. Materials now also promote healthy coping skills, emotion regulation, and strategies for developing supportive relationships.

Check out campaign website at www.youcanwa.org. A social press kit is available with downloadable resources you can use in many communication platforms. Click here to access the social press kit.

HearMeWA is a program for young Washingtonians up to age 25. Youth experiencing stress, anxiety, bullying, violent threats, sexual abuse, or anything that makes life hard, can connect with a crisis counselor for secure, free support 24/7. This resource is provided by the WA State Attorney General’s Office (AGO).

Youth can request help for themselves, friends, or classmates online, by phone, or in the app to be connected with a trained crisis counselor within minutes. Adults concerned about youth can also send a tip online or by phone at 888-537-1634.

Learn more about this resource at hearmewa.org.

The holiday season can be filled with joy and celebrations. This time of year can also trigger difficult emotions, thoughts, or behaviors—which can affect your mental health and use of substances (including alcohol). Let your friends, family, and communities know that confidential support is available 24/7 for both mental health and substance use.

Click here or on the image with this story to access the SAMHSA toolkit webpage with premade social media graphics and posts for multiple platforms.

Nicotine pouches are smokeless commercial tobacco products, like snus and tobacco chew, that contain nicotine, whether naturally or synthetically derived. The pouches are not nicotine replacement therapeutic products.

Are they that bad? Are they rising in popularity among youth? A fact sheet, produced by the Public Health Law Center, contains answers to these and other frequently asked questions about nicotine pouches.

Click here or on the image with this story to read more!

The National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco and Cancer Control (NBHN) has published a new resource titled, “Won’t You Be My Tobacco-free Neighbor?” This guide supports organizations and their neighbors in collaborating on tobacco-free initiatives by providing meaningful engagement strategies, effective messaging and solutions for addressing common barriers. It explores building community support, emphasizing the collective role of behavioral health organizations and their neighbors in fostering healthier environments and building tobacco-free communities.

Click on the image with this story to view the guide.

The Athena Forum website recently received a full update. Key changes include a new logo and imagery, updated website design and layout, content translation, improved search function, and increased filtering options.

Past visitors to the updated website will find all the prevention resources they are accustomed to such as substance use prevention resources, links to training and prevention 101, CPWI resources, prevention contacts, funding opportunities, and news announcements.

Click here or on The Athena Forum logo to visit the website.

Washington Poison Center posted the webinar recordings and slides from their 5th annual Overdose Awareness Series. This year's event featured 18 presentations delivered by Poison Center staff and external experts.

• Topics covered: overdose prevention, naloxone use, drug effects and withdrawal, recovery, harm reduction, suicide intervention and prevention, nationwide trends, over-the-counter overdoses, safety through connection, available resources in Washington State, and more.

• Substances covered: buprenorphine, meth, cannabis, xylazine, fentanyl, VX, opioids, alcohol, and more.

You can access the webinar library at wapc.org/2024-overdose-awareness-series.

The 2025 legislative session is almost here! If you are new to the legislative process, or just looking for a refresher, this fact sheet is designed to help those interested in state commercial tobacco control policy better understand how legislatures typically operate, what to look for in bills, and the most effective ways to publicly engage with the legislature. Its purpose is to provide the public health community with the tools needed to effectively track and shape commercial tobacco control policy.

Click here or on the image with this story to view the guide.

Grant County Health District developed a toolkit to help everyone better understand the legislative process. Support and endorsement for the guide was provided by the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP).

This toolkit is meant to serve as an educational resource and includes a compilation of knowledge, definitions, experiences, and guidance from several well-known professionals doing prevention in Washington state.

Click here (or the image) to view the toolkit.

The Rural Network recently released their 2024 Annual Report. The report provides an overview of the coalition and a detailed look at the activities, goals, and accomplishments from the past year.

The Rural Network also released a separate "Outcomes" report which highlights the impact and reach of the Rural Network over the past fiscal year (July 2023 – June 2024). So much great work has been accomplished, and the Rural Network continues to grow and succeed because of the participation and contributions of all members!

Click here or on the report image to access these reports.

Whether you have recently joined the Rural Network or are still thinking about it there is a resource available that will answer your commonly asked questions - our New Member Orientation Guide!

This guide describes our mission, vision, funding, 7 core principles, who we serve, and how to get involved. It also describes what our meetings are like and why you should join!

Learn all the details at smore.com/8eqhp

If you are interested in joining one or more activities below, please contact Abigail Wells, Rural Network Coordinator ([email protected]) or [email protected]. More information about these activities and the work of the Rural Network is available on the Rural Network website.

www.preventcoalition.org/rural

The full membership meets monthly on the last Tuesday from 2-3:30pm. This meeting is meant to engage network members, build connections across isolated communities, provide training to members and bring in guest speakers, we do policy work and have guest legislators come to meet rural volunteers, and we also do community-of-practice style activities where members share their experiences with one another or tackle tough issues collaboratively. These meetings are usually held virtually and open to the public, anyone is welcome to join.

This group meets monthly to prepare, design and plan for a statewide gathering of rural prevention professionals which happens every 2 years in Yakima, called the Rural Conference. We just finished our second conference in September! It's not too early to use what we learned to start planning for the next one. This committee gets to design theme, branding elements, activities that happen at the conference, agenda, speakers and more. This workgroup is hosted by the Rede Group, an event-planning subcontractor of Rural Network. The committee meets on a rotating schedule based on volunteer availability each month.

Beginning in November our book club will feature a book focused on equity. The Rural Network members have chosen the book “Dividing Paradise: Rural Inequality and the Diminishing American Dream” by Jennifer Sherman. Jennifer was a keynote speaker for the Rural Conference held during September 2024. Interested in participating? Have a good author to suggest for our next book? If you are interested, please reach out to Abigail Wells at [email protected].

This is our newest Committee. It is tasked with reflecting and brainstorming about member engagement. The committee will discuss recruiting for opportunities, barriers to Rural Network participation, strategies and activities to build capacity and membership across rural communities, as well as feedback received about participation. The Engagement Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month from 10am-11am.

We are looking for more members! If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Abigail Wells at [email protected].

Our leadership team guides the work of the Rural Network, reflects on action plan progress, plans monthly meeting agenda, and evaluates the progress and outcomes of the program. We’re looking for more members to guide the work and get involved to increase our Steering capacity and keep the work sustained/strong. We meet monthly on the 1st Thursday from 10am-11:30am (PT) and are hoping to add 3-4 more members.

We have a Toolkit Workgroup meeting that is currently on pause due to funding delays and contract negotiations. This committee will eventually be run by the Montana Institute and is in charge of creating a Positive Community Norms (PCN) Campaign for rural communities statewide. Last year, this committee updated the Find Your Good campaign and created new messaging/media based on a rural youth survey they created and promoted.

Our staff holds a placeholder for an hour every month for people to come and brainstorm, bounce ideas off one another, or otherwise receive support or Technical Assistance from any/all our staff team. Sometimes you need a like-minded Coordinator to generate ideas, double check their action plan, troubleshoot a difficult sector representative, etc. We’re here to support you at these monthly time slots. Email Abigail Wells ([email protected]) or [email protected] to reserve this time with us.

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

CANCELLED

Rural Network Steering Committee

Thursday, January 2, 2025

10:00-11:30 a.m.

Virtual Meeting

Develop the plan, guide the implementation, evaluate the results.

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

2-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call

Regular monthly meeting for Rural Network Members.

Rural Network Office Hours

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

1-2 p.m.

Virtual Meeting

For Rural Network members to receive technical assistance

Rural Network Steering Committee

Thursday, February 6, 2025

10:00-11:30 a.m.

Virtual Meeting

Develop the plan, guide the implementation, evaluate the results.

All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Relevant events and training not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

Montana Institute

2025 Montana Winter Institute: "The Transformative Power of Positive Leadership."

Virtual

January 13-17, 2025

Cost: $149

Event website: Click here for event information.

This event will be held online for one hour each day during the week of January 13th-17th (Noon-1pm CT). The purpose of the annual Montana Winter Institute is to introduce participants to a specific application of the Science of the Positive Framework. Each day will feature a different speaker.

CADCA

35th Annual National Leadership Forum

Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

February 3-6, 2025

Cost: $745 (member), $955 (non-member), until Dec. 11th.

Event website: Click here to learn more and register!

CADCA Forum provides training from top experts in the field, Information, tools and strategies to take your prevention work to the next level, the latest science, news and trends on substance misuse issues, the opportunity to network with thousands of advocates passionate about prevention, and specialized youth leadership training. You may also consider attending SAMHSA's 21st Annual Prevention Day that will be held on February 3, 2025.

Rede Group

Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Trainings

Scholarship opportunity to receive TTS training with nationally respected trainer. Trainings will prepare you to test for the certification. This opportunity is valued at over $1200.

Sign up for this opportunity here: TTS Training Program Sign up Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Cost: Free with scholarship award.

Training Dates:

• February 4 – 6, 2025 | Mayo Clinic
• February 24 – March 4, 2025 | Duke/UNC

Stanford Medicine

6th Annual Teaching Cannabis (& Other Drugs) Awareness & Prevention Virtual Conference

Virtual/Online

April 9-10, 2025, 8am-2:30pm (PST)

Cost: TBA

More Information: Visit the conference webpage.

The conference will focus on the intersection of cannabis, tobacco/nicotine, and vaping, both singular and co-use of these products by youth. The Stanford team also hopes to expand the conference to include information about fentanyl/opioids, alcohol, hallucinogens, and other substances. Learn the latest research, reasons for use, health effects, and the latest available lessons available for teaching to elementary, middle- and high school-aged youth.

National Conference on Tobacco or Health 2025

In-person, Sheraton Grand, Chicago, IL

August 26-29, 2025

Cost: $795 until December 30, 2024. Increases to $995 after.

Event Website: Click here to learn more and register.

The National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) is one of the largest, long-standing gatherings for top United States tobacco control professionals. The convening attracts a diversity of public health professionals committed to best practices and policies to reduce tobacco use—the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States.

NW PTTC

Ethics in Prevention Foundations

(Virtually moderated 6-hour course)

Repeats monthly, visit website for next session!

No Fee, Limited Space Available

This two-week, asynchronous moderated course, adapted from the original SAMHSA Center for Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) course, explores the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics. The course also introduces a decision-making process to help practitioners apply this code to a variety of ethical dilemmas, and an online discussion area to facilitate discussion with other course participants. Course meets requirements for prevention specialist credentialing.

View ongoing training and events at https://pttcnetwork.org.

NW PTTC

Special Topics in Prevention of Substance Misuse

(Self-paced courses)

A large selection of online, on-demand courses that explore special topics in prevention of substance misuse that will better-equip prevention professionals & coalitions to serve their communities.

Access the courses via the HealtheKnowledge.org website.

NW PTTC

Pharmacology for Prevention Professionals

(Self-paced course)

Explore the basics of how substances impact major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with different substances. Certificates of 1.5 hours for each of the following four courses: Basics of Pharmacology and Alcohol, Basics of Pharmacology and Opioids, Basics of Pharmacology and Psychostimulants (Cocaine & Methamphetamine), and Basics of Pharmacology and Cannabis.

Learn more and enroll via the HealtheKnowledge.org website.

CADCA

Training and Events Website

Free!

Explore the library of webinars available, both archived and coming soon. Hosted by CADCA trainers covering topics related to starting and operating a community coalition, prevention, and more.

Visit the CADCA TRAINING & EVENTS website.

CADCA

Webinar Wednesday Series

Free!

Register for an upcoming Wednesday webinar or view archived recordings on your own schedule.

Visit the CADCA WEBINAR WEDNESDAY SERIES website.

Supported by fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent Coalition is a regional coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration, awareness, and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington. Prevent Coalition also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington state. As a community mobilizer, our coalition creates a culture promoting healthy choices; advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empower and nurture youth; and facilitates positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive.

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.PreventCoalition.org
Location: 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-952-3457
Facebook: Facebook.com/PreventCoalition
Twitter: @supportyouthnow