Each month the PTTC Post communicates tips and information on best practices along with features, information about national professional development events and funding opportunities, links to state-of-the-art online resources, and other electronic publications relevant to the field. 

April is Alcohol Awareness Month and this month’s PTTC Post focuses on promoting awareness and providing education on preventing underage alcohol use and preventing alcohol misuse for all populations. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2021 Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking indicates that prevention strategies are most effective when implemented as part of a multifaceted approach that includes parents and families, law enforcement, health care providers, community organizations, schools and universities, local and state governments, and the federal government (SAMHSA, 2022).  Implementing multifaceted prevention programs requires staying connected to and building relationships with the populations who are the focus of the program.  For alcohol awareness month this includes paying attention to specific risk and protective factors associated with alcohol use and alcohol use disorders.

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National Prevention Week is a national public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. You can get involved leading up to National Prevention Week and beyond by sharing your #MyPreventionStory on social media, downloading SAMHSA's planning toolkit, promoting National Prevention Week, and telling us about your own prevention event.

Now Available! Introduction to Prevention Core Competencies for Prevention Professionals professionals.

The course will introduce practitioners to the essentials of substance use and misuse prevention. It is based on the Prevention Core Competencies published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The six-module, self-paced course provides a foundation for service delivery based on prevention science and evidence-based practices. It strengthens the understanding of effective planning and implementation and encourages the pursuit of more specialized training and professional development.

Module 1 is available now. Subsequent modules will be released throughout the year (2023). 

You MUST complete all 6 modules to receive a certificate of completion and credit for finishing the course. 

Visit PTTC’s e-learning platform HealtheKnowledge.org to enroll in the course.

The same one-stop source you know and trust for suicide prevention programs and interventions, the BPR is guided by a new vision—to increase health equity through expanded access and representation. 

Have a program or intervention that works to prevent suicide? Know of an upstream effort that works to prevent suicide risk? We welcome applications for programs and interventions that incorporate national frameworks, best practices, and culturally relevant approaches, including those from other fields. Consult our application guide and apply today.