Register for Our Upcoming Virtual Summit
Folks from across the Southeast will come together to discuss the implications and challenges of advancing equity and substance misuse prevention in specific communities. Focusing on unique, traditionally underserved communities across the region, panelists and presenters will touch on the issues impacting their communities and what it means for the prevention field as a whole.

The Southeast Regional Summit on Prevention & Equity is on March 5 starting at 8:45 a.m. Register today to save your spot! A certificate of attendance will be available to all.
Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention: Understanding the Basics
This free foundational course serves as the required introductory module for the Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST). This self-paced course offers practitioners new to the field of prevention or working in related fields, an introduction to the history of prevention, key concepts and definitions, specific drug effects, and an exciting glimpse into the effects of substance use and addiction on the brain.

Participants will learn about:
  • Basic terminology and facts
  • History of substance use and prevention in the United States
  • Addiction and the brain
  • Effects and health risks of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

Continuing Education Hours: Participants will earn five (5) hours of continuing education hours after completing a short quiz at the end and receiving a passing score of 80% or higher. 
Announcing the COVID-19
Health Equity Task Force
Some of our most vulnerable communities are struggling for parity as the coronavirus pandemic progresses. Disparities applying to testing, infection rates, hospitalizations, and mortality have been apparent depending on variables like race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and location. President Biden has announced the creation of a task force to address health and social inequities related to COVID-19 and to recommend a substantive course correction.

The COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force is expected to issue recommendations that will ensure equitable allocation of resources and relief funds, deliver effective outreach to underserved and minority populations, and improve cultural proficiency within the federal government. In addition, the task force will recommend efforts to improve data collection and use, and devise a long-term plan to address data shortfalls related to communities of color and other underserved populations. The task force will also address how to prevent such inequities in the future.
Happenings in the Southeast
Changing Course to Environmental Strategies in a State Prevention System
A team of researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine, where the Southeast PTTC is housed, recently published research showing how one state planned and implemented a shift to a much greater focus on environmental strategies in the statewide substance misuse prevention system. This research will be of special interest to those involved in substance misuse prevention at the state level.
Transforming Communities with Durham TRY
Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) is a coalition of coalitions formed to prevent risks that occur as a result of adverse experiences. Established in 2000 and based in Durham, North Carolina, the organization operates nationally and internationally. The TRY Resilient Community Resilience Model seeks to transform communities using the public health model at the grassroots level. It taps into the expertise of caring people: youth, young adults, businesses, faith, law enforcement, community, health, schools, parents, and local government to bring their voices and actions to implement strategies within spheres of influence. Relationships are hard. The process of establishing trust is messy. Silos rooted in institutional racism seem unsurmountable. People will leave but the servant leaders remain.

Key lessons learned by TRY include:
  1. Relationships are key. Attend community meetings because you care about the community and not only because you need to check a box.
  2. Coalition facilitators do not have all of the answers. Allow members to do what they feel that they do best. “I will communicate with lawmakers.” “I will provide information to parents.” 
  3. “If I don’t see me. I must not be included.” An intervention focused on Black people when Black people were not at the vocal table or problem-solving is not sustainable.
  4. Youth are not mini-adults. TRY engages youth as Peer Health Ambassadors (PHA). Adults provide guidance. PHAs engage at least five diverse members to participate as a team. Teams create masterpieces (video, image, social media) to bring coolness to prevention.
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