Psychosis, Addiction, Chronic Vomiting: As Weed Becomes More Potent, Teens Are Getting Sick
With THC levels close to 100 percent, today’s cannabis products are making some teenagers highly dependent and dangerously ill.
Click here to read the full article (nytimes.com).
FDA Rolls Out Several Actions on Commercial Tobacco Products
Law Amended to Include Non-Tobacco Nicotine (NTN) aka Synthetic Nicotine
Tobacco Product Standards for Menthol in Cigarettes and Cigar Flavors - The public may now submit comments on proposed rules through August 2, 2022. Help shape tobacco regulation! The Public Health Law Center (PHLC) has analysis and resources for those who wish to comment, including webinar recordings and background information for menthol cigarettes and flavors in cigars.
Data Shows Increase in Self-harm & Suicide Among Washington Youth
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Racial and ethnic minority communities face unique struggles regarding mental illness in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for racial and ethnic minority groups to get access to mental health and substance-use treatment services.
Throughout the month of July, the Health and Human Service (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is promoting tools and resources addressing the stigma about mental health among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Visit this web page during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month for shareable social media messages, downloadable graphics, information and health resources that can be used to educate your communities.
Parent Vape Education Night
CORE Health of Longview, WA is providing a Parent Vape Education Night at their CORE Ascent Youth Center. Food and a child activity will be provided.
Where: In-Person: 1400 Commerce Avenue, Longview, WA 98632
When: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 and Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - 5:30PM-6:30PM
How to Register: Please RSVP at ascent@choblv.org
More Information: Contact Leah Parsons, Community Relations Coordinator, leahp@choblv.org.
Website: corehealthascent.org
Printable Flyer: Click Here!
National Suicide Hotline
Visit SAMHSA's 988 information website for a communication toolkit, FAQ's, and more.
LGBTQ Fact Sheets for Prevention Professionals
- LGBTQ Youth and Vaping
- LGBTQ Suicide Prevention
- LGBTQ Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies
Along with plenty of data these fact sheets highlight risk and protective factors unique to these communities. They can be accessed from the PTTC Central East website (click here!)
NIAAA Expands Outreach to Diverse Audiences with New Factsheet Translations
In support of policies to expand access to educational materials, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) now offers some of its popular evidence-based factsheets on alcohol and health in 17 languages.
Website Upgrade for StopOverdose.org
A new version of the website StopOverdose.org is now live. Upgraded features include:
- Improved navigation and organization
- Better accessibility
- Translation into 20 different languages (by Google Translate)
The website continues to offer education and resources for individuals, professionals, and communities in Washington State who want to learn to prevent and respond to overdose and improve the health of people who use drugs. There is also a search tool to find naloxone (Narcan) near you.
Rural America Lost Population Over the Past Decade for the First Time in History
Many rural areas have been hit hard over the past decade by globalization, a rapidly changing U.S. economy, job instability, and high unemployment. The net result has been migration losses and low fertility. As a result, only about a third of nonmetropolitan (rural) counties gained population between 2010 and 2020. The other two-thirds lost population. In some cases, the losses were modest, but nearly one in three rural counties have experienced chronic population decline. And, for the first time ever, rural America as a whole lost population between 2010 and 2020.
A review of the 2020 U.S. Census by staff at University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy identified the following key findings:
- Racial diversity increased in nonmetropolitan America over the past decade, though the population remains 76% non-Hispanic White.
- Diversity increased in rural America, even as the rural population declined.
- The rural child population is more diverse than the adult population.
- Growing rural diversity presents both challenges and opportunities for rural communities, people, and institutions.
Rural Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Provided by the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), the toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing suicide prevention programs in rural communities across the United States. There are seven toolkit modules with resources and information focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural suicide prevention programs.
Data for Rural Health Equity Training Series
This training provided by Northwest Center for Public Health Practice and University of Washington School of Public Health is for public health professionals serving rural communities in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) and transferable to a variety of public health contexts. The training series includes three self-paced learning modules followed by two live, interactive workshops. Participants will cover the following learning objectives:
- Consider how community or population-level data can support decision-making to address health inequities.
- Apply tools and methods to prioritize public health program and policy options for addressing health inequities.
- Describe how data can support decision-making for addressing key community health inequities.
Where: Virtual
When: August 24, 2022 to September 22, 2022
Duration: 7 hours
Cost: $350 (scholarships available!)
Registration Deadline: Registration closes JULY 22, 2022
Registration and Event Website:
Registration Open: Rural Prevention Conference
“Connection & New Beginnings”
Prevent Coalition and the Rural Network are hosting this in-person gathering of rural prevention professionals, educators, and passionate volunteers. The Rural Prevention Conference will bring together and engage people focused on issues of great importance to rural communities.
Experience two days of learning, networking, and solution building. Get an overview or take a deep dive into all aspects of rural prevention with an opportunity to share, learn, and discover new strategies to better engage rural communities and partner with them more effectively. This conference is designed for community leaders, residents, and professionals who seek to create a stronger Washington State.
Where: In-Person - Yakima Convention Center, 10 N 8th St, Yakima, WA 98901
When: Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 12 – 4 p.m.
& Friday, September 23, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Event Website: Click here to visit event website
Registration: Click here to register
Flyer: Click here to download.
More Information: Email preventcoalition@esd112.org.
Rural Grant Progress
- Evaluation: Click here to take the annual evaluation survey for the Rural Network.
- Outcomes: We're compiling our annual outcomes for the year. They will be live one our website once they are finalized.
- Conference: Registration is open! We will update the agenda as we get confirmation from key speakers. Click here to access.
- Training: Thank you for attending the Cultural Competency for Rural Communities training series. Access materials and minutes at the culture web page.
- Recruitment: Welcome to the Rural Network! In 2021-22, we gained 40 new members.
- Steering: Welcome Brisa Sanchez to the Steering Committee!
- Toolkit: We hosted a workgroup meeting in June to discuss adding rural elements to the Find Your Good campaign.
- Photo Toolkit: Published! You may still submit more photos.
- Story Toolkit: Published! You may still submit more stories.
Two Opportunities Available for SAPST
Grounded in current research and SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), the Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST) provides foundational knowledge and skills necessary to implement effective, data-driven prevention interventions that improve substance-related outcomes, reduce behavioral health disparities, and improve wellness.
The Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network is offering this innovative training in a virtual format that blends a pre-requisite self-paced online course with a combination of live interactive sessions. Individual homework assignments will be completed before and between the live sessions.
Offered Twice:
Option 1: July 11, 14, 18 and 21, 2022
Details: Click here for July session application and details.
Registration Deadline June 27, 2022
Option 2: September 12, 15, 19, and 22, 2022
Details: Click here for September session application and details.
Registration Deadline August 22, 2022
Region 10 Opioid Summit
The Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) Opioid Summit is an opportunity for professionals from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Indian Nations, urban Indian health programs, and recognized American Indian organizations to meet and explore ways to address the opioid crisis. This event will be held virtually.
Where: Virtual
When: August 3-4, 2022
Cost: Free!
Registration Deadline: 5 p.m. on July 22, 2022. Click here to visit the registration website.
More Information: https://region10opioidsummit.org/
2022 National Prevention Network Annual Conference
This year's conference theme, "The Power of HOPE: Healthy Opportunities for Prevention to Empower Change."
Where: Virtual
When: August 23-25, 2022
Registration Deadline: Early bird registration ends July 15th
More Information: http://npnconference.org
Cannabis Action Conference, Sept. 20-21
Where: Virtual
When: September 20-21, 2022
Registration Deadline: Earlybird registration ends September 1st.
More Information: https://www.ph-mjsummit.com
2022 Prevention Summit
The Prevention Summit is an enriching training and networking opportunity for youth, volunteers, and professionals engaged in health promotion and the prevention of substance misuse, violence, and other high-risk behaviors, in a setting that promotes cultural humility. The 2022 is still under development. More information will be available in future newsletters, or visit the event website for updates.
Where: Virtual and in-person - Yakima, WA
When: November 8-9, 2022
Registration: Not yet open (as of June 5, 2002)
More Information: Visit event webpage (preventionsummit.org)
Connection is the Best Prevention
Supported by the fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent is a regional coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration, awareness, and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington. Prevent also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington state. As a community mobilizer, the coalition creates a culture promoting healthy choices; advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empowers and nurtures youth; and facilitates positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive.