Wellspring Centre for Prevention will join schools and communities across the county in celebrating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Prevention Week 2023 to increase public awareness of, and action around, mental and substance misuse disorders.

Each year, SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week showcases the work of communities and organizations across the country dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. National Prevention Week celebrates these year-round initiatives, and the possibilities prevention brings. This year, National Prevention Week will take place May 7–13.

“SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week is an opportunity for us to join communities across Middlesex county to celebrate all those who make a positive impact on substance misuse prevention,” ShaRonda Amon, Coalition for Healthy Communities Program Coordinator. “Substance misuse prevention begins with each of us, and we all have the power to foster a healthier future for ourselves and those we care about.”

SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week echoes a key message of the 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: We can shift the way society thinks about substance misuse and substance use disorders while identifying actions that individuals and communities can take to prevent and treat these conditions. Wellspring is proud to be one of many encouraging people to raise awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion in their communities as part of National Prevention Week.

The main goals of National Prevention Week are:
•    Involve communities in raising awareness of substance misuse and mental health issues, implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs;
•    Foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health; and
•    Promote and disseminate quality substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications.

While prevention works, we recognize that the term can be challenging to define. This year’s National Prevention Week tagline, “A Celebration of Possibility,” is about communities coming together to celebrate the possibilities and brighter futures that exist thanks to the ongoing work of prevention happening across the country.

SAMHSA is working to change the prevention landscape by providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action and story-sharing. By showcasing the work of our partners in prevention, we can confront the societal challenges surrounding substance misuse together while celebrating stories of prevention.

For more information about National Prevention Week to discuss events your organization, or to request materials for your school, please reach out to Mara Carlin, Prevention Programming Director at 732-254-3344 ext. 113 or email at [email protected].