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A Division for Advancing Prevention & Treatment (ADAPT) provides substance use prevention Training and Technical Assistance to High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
communities across the nation. The Prevention Post keeps HIDTA communities
up-to-date with the latest advances and opportunities in the field.
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Dear HIDTA Communities & Prevention Partners,
What does the phrase "Engage with intention." conjure up for you?... A nudge to pause before acting?... A focus on purpose?... A consideration of priorities?... For me, it is all of these things and more. In fact, it reminds me of a saying we are all familiar with:
MAKE IT COUNT!
Commonly interpreted as maximizing the value of our actions and choices, being mindful, or living with purpose, this saying suggests that every moment has potential and can be used wisely to create meaningful, significant outcomes. Wow! Sign me up!
I know with 100% certainty that many of you already live this mindset. The ADAPT team has had the extraordinary pleasure of getting to know your hearts for prevention over the last 6 years. We see the big ideas, the commitment to outcomes, the creativity when resources are limited, the hunger to learn new skills...you are out there every day seeking to understand, setting goals, doing and overcoming hard things, honoring values, and making your prevention efforts count in big and small ways. We truly do SEE you!
In this issue of the Prevention Post you will find remarkable examples of your peers and familiar organizations engaging individuals, groups, communities, states, regions, and even the nation with intention. From building health-promoting relationships with youth to conducting needs assessments to training on evidence-based strategies to launching a national campaign (starting next week!) and everything in between, this issue brings forward some of the best from HIDTA prevention initiatives across the country and their partners.
I leave you with a stanza from a poem I wrote when building a Connection Paradigm with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. It reminds me of so many of you. Thank you for role modeling what it means to engage prevention with intention!
May I pay attention to the stirring deep within,
Silence all distractions, all the noise, and begin,
To connect with intention, to see and be seen,
Engage in ways that matter, practice humility...
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Lora Peppard, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Director of ADAPT
Deputy Director for Treatment & Prevention
Washington/Baltimore HIDTA
| | Appalachia HIDTA Meets Unique Prevention Needs by Training Trusted Adults and Thoughtfully Assessing Prevention in High-Need, Low-Resource Rural Communities | | |
West Virginia Training Series
In January and February 2026, Appalachia HIDTA offered a three-part prevention training series to bring evidence-informed relational strategies to trusted adults within the community to support them in strengthening connection, building protective beliefs, and promoting youth well-being across home, school, and community settings.
The development and delivery of the training series, titled “Strengthening Your Role as a Trusted Adult”, was led by Jostin Holmes, West Virginia’s Public Health Analyst for the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS). In collaboration with ADAPT, Jostin thoughtfully crafted the trainings to inspire trusted adults to engage in a way of being with youth that is grounded in the Health-Promoting Relationships Paradigm and cultivates protective beliefs that enable youth to be well.
Attendee feedback spoke to the value of coming together to explore the important role of trusted adults in promoting youth well-being and ways to manage substance use risk in youth through relationships. Attendees discussed applying the concepts in their daily lives across the training series, such as intentionally thinking through how they are fostering specific beliefs through their conversations with youth. The evaluation echoed the value attendees found in the training series:
- "Every single bit of this information was useful to me in my life with my children and with others."
- "I've already applied a ton of this information to my everyday life...This training has changed my life in how I respond to my kids."
- "Would recommend to all adults."
Discussions are already taking place to conduct a booster training to support trusted adults in advancing their efforts to engage health-promoting relationship concepts. Congratulations to Jostin, ORS, and the Appalachia HIDTA for advancing prevention efforts in their region!
West Virginia Prevention Project
Recognizing the need for a more tailored, locally grounded approach to prevention in rural communities, the Appalachia HIDTA partnered with ADAPT and West Virginia prevention leaders to better understand the facilitators and barriers to evidence-based youth substance use prevention strategies. The project sought to learn what is working, what is getting in the way, and how to support rural counties in addressing emerging concerns such as marijuana, vaping, and fentanyl use among youth, while recognizing that rural communities have unique challenges and strengths.
ADAPT's Brian Bumbarger and Summer Jeirles worked alongside regional and local prevention partners in West Virginia to conduct an assessment across two HIDTA-designated counties. Multiple sources of data were collected and integrated, including findings from a Community Readiness Assessment, input from prevention leaders and regional partners, and in-depth interviews with community and coalition members. These varied perspectives painted a rich picture of both rural challenges to adoption of evidence-based strategies along with an understanding of ways these communities uphold their deep commitment to supporting their youth and families through prevention programming. Findings were summarized to help inform West Virginia’s strategic priorities and approach.
One of the most practical and actionable lessons learned is that readiness for prevention in these communities is not primarily about knowledge or motivation, it is about stable infrastructure to support prevention work. Communities demonstrated a genuine commitment to youth well-being and prevention, but continue to face obstacles related to staffing, unstable or inflexible funding, and systems that may not reflect local needs. In rural and under-resourced counties where the infrastructure for prevention was more fragile, implementing evidence-based strategies was more likely when efforts were co-designed with local partners, supported by flexible funding that allowed them to fit strategies to local needs, and ongoing coaching and support were available. This project reinforced that when these conditions are in place, rural communities are well-positioned to pursue prevention goals.
| | Northwest HIDTA Concludes Project on Law Enforcement & Prevention | | |
Article written by Eliza Powell, NW HIDTA Prevention Coordinator
The Northwest HIDTA works with partners every day who recognize that sustainable progress in substance use prevention requires deliberate collaboration across sectors. Many of these partners have questions about where to begin building these relationships and what best practices are currently in use to facilitate collaboration. This led us to ask: What outcomes can result from prevention/law enforcement partnerships? How are those outcomes most effectively achieved? And how can Northwest HIDTA help? Thus, the Law Enforcement & Prevention: Action-oriented Relationship Development (LEPARD) project began.
The first step we took in this effort was to conduct a needs and strengths assessment. We held focus groups and interviews with prevention professionals, law enforcement partners (including school resource officers), and health department staff. ADAPT was an instrumental partner, assisting with planning key activities and conducting a literature review to inform our approach and the most meaningful questions to ask in our assessments.
Through these efforts, we learned that relationship-building alone does not produce prevention outcomes. However, jointly constructed action-based systems of collaboration, grounded in prevention science, can lead to meaningful results. We also found that law enforcement partners bring unique and diverse strengths to prevention, including reach (for example, school resource officers often develop trust with high-risk youth), influence as credible community messengers (especially in rural areas), and authority to conduct specific prevention interventions (such as alcohol sales compliance checks). Though many law enforcement partners, especially school resource officers, police chiefs, and sheriffs, are interested and willing participants in prevention efforts, they importantly recognized a need and desire for foundational and ongoing prevention training focused on best practices.
What's next? The Northwest HIDTA will be summarizing our findings in a report which will be used to inform specific support activities for fostering evidence-informed prevention-law enforcement collaboration.
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Readiness Matters
Every day, communities across the nation are working diligently on prevention efforts. However, it’s crucial to pause and ask ourselves: Are we truly ready? “Readiness” for prevention describes how willing and able an organization or community is to effectively implement a prevention strategy.
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The West Virginia Prevention Project (see HIDTA Spotlight above) showed that while motivation is often strong, readiness can be suppressed by limited staffing, lack of consistent resources and support, and fragmented systems. When these pieces aren’t aligned, even strong evidence-based strategies can struggle.
The good news is that communities do not need to wait until the conditions in the community are perfect (because they never will be!). “Getting to readiness” isn’t about delaying action, it’s about making smarter decisions. It’s about supporting leaders in considering fit, timing, and resources needed so that efforts are dedicated toward strategies that stand a chance to work, and this reduces the risk of short-lived efforts and burnout.
One model for thinking about and improving readiness comes from the R=MC² framework from the Wandersman Center Readiness Guide. Tools like the Readiness Thinking Tool can help teams quickly reflect on strengths and gaps, such as leadership, partnerships, and resources. Taking even a few minutes to assess readiness can make the difference between starting something new and sustaining something that works.
| | Engage with Intention: HPR in Action! | 12-Week Campaign Focused on Relationships Launches during National Prevention Week! | |
Engage with Intention: HPR in Action! is a 12-week campaign that equips trusted adults (parents, educators, coaches, mentors, coalition leaders, law enforcement, and others in the community) to build health-promoting relationships with youth ages 11–18. A health-promoting relationship (HPR) is defined as a way of being that enables health and well-being in youth by cultivating protective beliefs. Grounded in the Health-Promoting Relationships Paradigm, the campaign will guide recipients in an intentional way of being that cultivates five core protective beliefs in young people: “I am seen and loved,” “I matter,” “I can influence my life,” “I can overcome hard things,” and “I have support.” These beliefs serve as powerful protective factors, reducing risky behaviors and mental health challenges while promoting resilience, connectedness and overall flourishing.
Each week you will receive guided self-reflection exercises (beginning with the HPR Mindset Self-Check), simple yet powerful daily practices you can apply in real-life moments with youth, and ready-to-use youth activities. You’ll also explore the four key strategies of the HPR Way of Being - Create the Environment, Facilitate Connection, Engage Micro-Skills, and Grow Abilities in Youth - transforming everyday interactions into intentional opportunities for deeper connection and positive growth.
Engage with Intention: HPR in Action! launches the second week of May during National Prevention Week. Join us to strengthen your relationships with youth, enable them to be well, and make every moment count.
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| | San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA Hosts 2-Day Youth Prevention Institute | |
The San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA offered its first Youth Prevention Institute April 28-29, 2026, in partnership with ADAPT and the Pacific Southwest PTTC. This event attracted over 190 registrants from 22 states and Pacific Islands!
Over two days, participants were immersed into the science behind how relationships with trusted adults shape the lives of youth. Through hands-on, interactive sessions, participants practiced newly learned strategies for cultivating protective beliefs in youth - beliefs that prevent mental and behavioral health risks and promote flourishing. Participants left equipped with a health-promoting relationships (HPR) mindset and practical tools to engage in an HPR way of being with youth that includes creating a positive environment, facilitating connection, engaging positive words and actions, and growing abilities in youth.
Congratulations to the San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA and PTTC teams for facilitating a successful prevention training!
Pictured below: Members of the San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA and ADAPT Teams.
| Stay tuned, as additional Youth Prevention Institutes are being planned for 2026. | ADAPT Launches Prevention Communications Department | | |
In March 206, ADAPT announced the launch of a Prevention Communications Department to support HIDTA communities in prevention messaging. The department will be led by Dr. Patty Ferssizidis, ADAPT’s Associate Director. Patty is a trained expert in social norms theory and application and has worked in the field of prevention for over 10 years. She has supported development of several prevention messaging tools, learning communities, webinars, and other resources to prevent substance use in youth in her work with ADAPT.
ADAPT looks forward to thoughtfully building out this highly requested form of technical assistance!
| | | SAMHSA's 2026 National Prevention Week | | |
National Prevention Week (May 10-16, 2026) is an opportunity to celebrate the power of prevention and inspiring stories of people making a difference in communities across the nation who are working to prevent substance use and misuse and promote positive mental health.
For more information and resources to support you in celebrating National Prevention Week 2026 in your community, access SAMHSA's resource page HERE.
| | To view subscription links to all previously listed resources in this section, such as substance use prevention newsletters, click HERE and scroll to GET CONNECTED. | | Public Health/Public Safety Updates | | Drug Supply Trends Across HIDTA Areas of Responsibility: 2024 - 2025 | | |
The Drug Threat Analysis Group reviewed drug seizure data reported by HIDTAs for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2024 and 2025. Because this analysis is based on seizures, it reflects HIDTA's area of record, not the full number of drugs in circulation, and should be viewed in that context.
DTAG reports results as estimated potential lethal doses, so different drugs can be compared on the same scale. It takes the amount of each drug seized, estimates how many lethal doses are in that amount, and adjusts for purity. This converts raw seizure weight into a common measure of potential harm.
Total estimated lethal doses increased from about 1.45 billion to 1.56 billion, an increase of roughly 115 million. Fentanyl remained the leading substance, making up 53.4 percent of all estimated lethal doses in 2025 and showing the largest increase, adding about 93 million doses. Cocaine had the fastest growth, rising 64.1 percent from about 95 million to 156 million doses and increasing its share from 6.6 percent to 10.0 percent. Methamphetamine was the only drug to decline, dropping 6.8 percent and decreasing by about 41 million doses, but it remains the second largest category at 35.7 percent of the total.
National Lethal Dose Estimates by Drug Type, FFY 2024 to FFY 2025
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Note: Lethal doses calculated from seizure weight adjusted for purity. Source: HIDTA Performance Management Process (PMP) data system.
Key Takeaway
Fentanyl is increasing again across HIDTA AORs after recent declines. Methamphetamine has decreased, but it remains a serious threat in areas where it is most common.
Looking at seizures in terms of estimated lethal doses instead of raw weight provides a clearer picture of danger, since a small amount of fentanyl can be far more dangerous than the same amount of cocaine or methamphetamine.
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As of February 2026, over 5,500 agencies across the country are utilizing ODMAP to collect and view data on both suspected fatal and non-fatal overdoses in near real-time. This represents over 38,000 users, tracking over 3.4 million suspected overdoses since ODMAP’s launch in 2017.
A current overview of ODMAP can be viewed HERE.
The Spotlight Series, which highlights agencies and how they use ODMAP in their work, can be viewed HERE. The ODMAP team is actively working on producing additional Spotlights for the first quarter of 2026 to recognize stakeholders and illustrate the innovative ways in which they employ ODMAP to positively impact their communities. Reach out to the ODMAP team if you are interested in being considered for a spotlight!
Additional Resources
| | Resources/Science from the Field | | Prevention Playbook: Strategy, Action, and Community Change | | |
The South Southwest PTTC recently released held a webinar on community-driven strategic planning activities that can be used by prevention professionals, coalitions, and other community members to guide substance use prevention efforts. The approach focuses on revealing root causes and mapping complex systems to uncover leverage points for change.
The webinar recording and associated materials can be found HERE.
| | Prevention-Related Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study | | |
The longitudinal Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study out of the National Institutes of Health studies environmental, social, genetic, and other biological factors that affect brain and cognitive development and that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory. Since the onset of the study in 2015, over 1670 publications have been written to share findings. A recent article by APSI summarizes findings from the ABCD that have implications for prevention professionals.
A summary of these findings can be found HERE.
| | Integrating Substance Use Disorder Prevention with Physical Health Care | | |
A report released out of SAMHSA explores how states are working to integrate substance misuse, abuse, and addiction within physical health care settings, particularly for adolescents. The report provides an overview of substance use prevention integration activities, challenges and barriers, case study examples, and suggested strategies to support substance use disorder prevention integration. Discussions held in 2024 and 2025 indicate support for integration, with pediatric primary care and school-based health centers as the most common care settings with substance use disorder prevention interventions.
Access the full report, along with a webinar recording describing this new resource, HERE.
| | Reported Substance Use in U.S. Adolescents Remains Low and Stable | | |
For the fifth year in a row, substance use among adolescents in the U.S. have remained low and stable for the substances most frequently used by youth – marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine. This data comes from the 2025 Monitoring the Future Survey, an annual survey of drug use behaviors and attitudes of over 23,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders.
Read all the key findings HERE.
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