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May 18 through May 24 marks SAMHSA’s third annual National Prevention Week: Our Lives. Our Health. Our Future. Why is this important? Consider these statistics compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- In the past year, an estimated one in five (or 43.7 million) people aged 18 or older in the U.S. had a mental illness; including mood, anxiety, and eating disorders.
- Approximately 2.3 million people, about half of whom were under age 18, smoked their first cigarette in 2012.
- Although the legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, close to one quarter of youth aged 12 to 20 (24.3 percent) drank alcohol in 2012. Each year, 4,700 people under age 21 die from homicides, suicides, car crashes, and drowning related to drinking alcohol.
- In 2012, 17.7 million people aged 12 and older were classified with alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year.
- Since 2006, there has been a 74.2 percent increase in the number of people aged 12 or older who used marijuana on a daily or almost daily basis in the past year.
At school and at home, educators, students and parents are encouraged to affirm a healthy lifestyle and discuss the impact that substance abuse and mental health problems has on communities and families. SAMHSA has selected six daily themes to highlight key issues:
Sunday, May 18
Prevention and Cessation of Tobacco Use
Monday, May 19
Prevention of Underage Drinking
Tuesday, May 20
Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse and Marijuana Use
Wednesday, May 21
Prevention of Alcohol Abuse
Thursday, May 22
Prevention of Suicide
Friday, May 23
Promotion of Mental Health
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WebSource Clients:
Use the search feature to stream these video and print resources to support
National Prevention Week.
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Gateway
A five-part video program that explores the
realities of drug experimentation.
Smokeless Tobacco
A short video that dispels the myth that smokeless tobacco is a safe alternative.
In the Age of Alcohol
A five-part program about the mixed messages kids hear from their peers, the media and even their parents about underage drinking.
Prescription for Trouble
A five-part program for middle and high school students and their families about
prescription drug abuse.
Warning Signs
A five-part video program for parents about the warning signs of mental illness.
Good Kids, Bad Choices
A five-part video program for parents exploring the positive and negative realities of risk taking, with real stories from teens and their families, along with expert advice.
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Why Connect with Kids Works
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Connect with Kids owns one of the nation’s largest non-fiction multimedia libraries, with more than 6,000 hours of video featuring real kids sharing their real stories, along with expert advice. The power of storytelling and peer-to-peer learning sparks an emotional connection that inspires positive behavior and cultural change. Schools nationwide use the documentary-style videos and evidence-based curricula in classrooms and
parent outreach programming.
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Questions about
Connect with Kids?
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Call or email Betty Pennington
1-888-598-5437, ext. 145
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