National Prevention Week Features Community Events and Raising Awareness
Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) celebrates National Prevention Week (May 8 – May 14) with the hope that lives will be saved. By highlighting the goal of SUD prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) underscores the critical importance of saving lives. Without question, prevention that works is better than any form of treatment. In other words, it makes so much sense to stop a problem or disorder before it takes control and seizes the reins of a person’s life.
Therefore, the goal of National Prevention Week is to educate the public while also reducing stigma. Delivered virtually through an interactive online conference platform, 2022 SAMHSA Prevention Day (SPD) is the start of National Prevention Week events. As the SAMHSA website states, “National Prevention Week (NPW) is a national public education platform bringing together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.”
National Prevention Week Promotes a Primary Focus
From our outset as a nonprofit organization to our 50th Anniversary this year, one of the main services of TTC are the promotion of prevention efforts in our communities. From speaking at local schools to leading virtual training sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic, TTC continues to keep the end goal in sight. Indeed, the education of young people before the onset of a problem opens the door to successful prevention efforts.
At the heart of SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week (NPW), an annual goal is reaching young people through community-based resources. Thus, SAMHSA designs the events of National Prevention Week to be both educational and entertaining. For example, on the NPW Platform website, the Welcome Page highlights many engaging events. These events include Communities Talk on Tuesday afternoon and the Creative Prevention Jam on Wednesday afternoon. By giving people a voice and adding music, SAMHSA opens doors.
Battling the Opioid Crisis During National Prevention Week
In 2022, prevention is as important as it has even been. In the history of our country, the rates of overdoses and opioid-related deaths have never been higher. As reported by Senator Feinstein’s office, “In the 12-month period ending October 2021, more than 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. Nearly 69,000 of those deaths involved fentanyl. In the 12-month period ending April 2021, fentanyl was the leading cause of deaths for Americans aged 18 to 45.”
Given these statistics, National Prevention Week underscores the importance of raising awareness. Such awareness is essential in light of the threat of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. By letting teenagers and young people know the death rates, it might be enough to prevent experimentation. In the harsh glare of the dangers, first-time users of opioids are at a higher risk than ever before. Thus, TTC is going to continue our efforts at prevention awareness in local communities. If you want to know more about TTC recovery programs and SUD treatment, please contact us today.