National Prevention Week  is a public education platform created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day.This year’s themes included preventing youth prescription drug, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use as well as suicide prevention. Partnership Douglas County works year round to prevent substance abuse of all kinds and is proud to work with SAMHSA and other community non-profits to keep our youth happy and healthy.

National Prevention Week happens in May because it is near the start of summer, an important time for school, communities, and prevention professionals to re-focus on prevention. Adolescents and full-time college students most often use substances for the first time during June or July, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

If you would like to learn more about National Prevention Week, visit samhsa.gov/prevention-week/about