The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced 150 new grants for its Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.  The DFC Program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, DFC-funded coalitions…

PREVENTION ALLIANCE OF TENNESSEE ISSUES ALERT ON MARIJUANA AND VAPE PRODUCTS NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Prevention Alliance of Tennessee issues an alert after several instances of marijuana and vape products have led to illness, hospitalization, and in some cases, death. 6 deaths and nearly 500 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses in 33 states are suspected…

Building Relationships with Local Alcohol and Tobacco Retailers There are many ways you can build the ever-so-important relationship between your coalition and your local retailers.  Here are some tips: Involve store owners and managers in planning. Understanding the challenges local retailers face is helpful in establishing effective coalition strategies. Having the buy-in of store owners…

Coffee County High School Wins the Operation Prevention Video PSA Challenge Each spring, the DEA hosts the Operation Prevention Video PSA Challenge to high school aged students.  This year’s Grand Prize Winner was Coffee County Central High School in Manchester, TN.  Their anti-opioid PSA is “What Could’ve Been”.  

WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CREATE COMMUNITY LEVEL CHANGE IN LAWRENCE COUNTY By Jenny Golden Lawrence County Substance Abuse Coalition Sector Representation is one important piece of a successful coalition. Each sector is extremely important in each realm of influence but I would have to say our Law Enforcement Sector representation has been the piece…

The Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) are accepting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants. By statute, the DFC Support Program has…

2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey On Feb. 11, results from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) published in an MMWR article, “Vital Signs: Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011–2018.” This article includes findings on current use of seven tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, hookah, pipe tobacco, and…

Network of local addiction prevention groups expands to 46 organizations statewide NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is adding five new community anti-drug coalitions to its statewide network.  Coalitions provide information, coordinate resources, and conduct education events with the goal of preventing addiction in their communities. “Our coalitions are amazing…

Evolving Research & Recent Regulatory Actions Increase Concerns about Impacts to Health NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health is issuing an updated public health advisory on electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS based on recent federal regulatory action and new evidence of risks associated with use of e-cigarettes and similar devices. “Growing evidence…