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Ring in the New Year with a New Resource:
The Prevention First Leadership Center
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The new Prevention First Leadership Center webpage is now live, and will prove to be a valuable resource for Illinois prevention professionals.
The goal of the Leadership Center program is to advance and increase the knowledge and use of medication-assisted recovery and to decrease opioid use disorder and stimulant use disorder by working across the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Continuum of Care Model and utilizing a systems-thinking approach.
Prevention First’s Leadership Center provides online training, education, resources, and tools to assist IDHS-SUPR Illinois Leadership Centers.
These resources can also be utilized by coalitions, Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSCs), and those interested in reducing opioid use disorder and preventing overdose deaths.

The Prevention First Leadership Center webpage aims to serve as an online knowledge center that provides access to resources and up-to-date information.
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This information will increase public awareness about opioid and other stimulant use and overdose prevention.
As a shared knowledge base, the Leadership Center website facilitates supportive partnerships and networks between families and providers addressing opioid and other stimulant use and overdose prevention.
Additionally, training, coaching, and consultation are offered to Illinois Leadership Centers staff through one-on-one meetings and group settings.
The Leadership Center website will be constantly adding new content to keep stride with innovative research in the field of opioid use disorder and opioid overdose prevention.
Leadership Center Administrator Megan Edmondson invites prevention professionals to submit relevant resources that can be included on the Leadership Center website.
Visit the Leadership Center website or contact Megan Edmondson for more information.
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Megan Edmondson, Leadership Center Administrator | |
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"We continue to build and develop the resources and content on the Leadership Center page and would love to share resources you might find helpful or something you’d like us to make available. "
– Megan Edmondson,
Leadership Center Administrator,
Prevention First
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APRC to Offer Alcohol Misuse and Mental Health Webinar | |
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On Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am (CST), the Alcohol Policy Resource Center is hosting the Alcohol Misuse and Mental Health in the Pandemic Era and Beyond webinar with Dr. Aaron White. To register, click here.
Alcohol consumption and related harms were increasing in the United States prior the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for women. During 2020, the first year of the pandemic, alcohol consumption increased more than at any time in the past 50 years. Deaths from alcohol jumped 25%, more than during the prior 10 years combined. Many people who drank more during the pandemic did so in an effort to cope with stress. Unfortunately, drinking to cope with stress is a maladaptive strategy that increases the likelihood of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and contributes to worsening mental and physical health over time. In this presentation, we will explore our rapidly evolving understanding of the relationship between alcohol and mental wellbeing, examine effective options for helping people avoid developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and discuss strategies for promoting long-term sustainable recovery for people who develop AUD.
The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can assist with how to analyze your data, scan your community, and match policy/strategy to assessment findings. If you have any questions or need more information, do not hesitate to contact Kellie Henrichs or Jody Heavilin.
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YPRC Provides Ongoing Resources in 2023
Prevention First’s Youth Prevention Resource Center (YPRC) provides training, education, resources, and tools for youth and adults who work with them.

The YPRC is committed to providing training opportunities that reflect best practice in strategies to reduce risks associated with substance misuse and mental health and wellness. YPRC also offers training on Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults. A list of YPRC trainings can be found here.
Stay up to date on what's happening with the Youth Prevention Resource Center by joining our mailing list. Watch this space to learn more about the Student Advisory Board and how to nominate a youth for the upcoming year. For more information, contact Robyn Block or Randyl Wilkins.
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Technical Assistance, commonly referred to as consulting or coaching, is a one-on-one service that provides timely, flexible, and targeted support to an organization. Using a collaborative approach, Prevention First builds a prevention professional’s capacity to address their local conditions and develop their own prevention solutions to amplify programmatic effectiveness. For more information about technical assistance, please contact providerservices@prevention.org or call 312.909-9768. | |
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Awareness Increases Support for Prevention
One way to engage your community in prevention is through promotion. It is important to publicize the important work you are doing and the progress you are making in preventing substance misuse. This community awareness helps to build support for your efforts and sustain your programs.

Not sure where to start? Learn more by taking Prevention First’s online self-paced Promote Your Prevention Efforts and Build Support course. Then use the Increasing Community Engagement Toolkit to develop prevention promotion goals, key messages, and action steps to get you on your way!
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Online Self Study Courses | |
For more information about technical assistance or other services we offer,
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Save the Date for Upcoming Cannabis Webinar
The CPRC is excited to announce that the Cannabis Impaired Driving, Prevention, and Policy webinar will be held March 23, 2023 from 10:00 - 11:00 am CST.
This webinar will feature Dr. Ashley Brooks-Russell, associate professor and Director of the Injury and Violence Prevention Center at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr. Brooks-Russell will present on the intersection of cannabis impaired driving, policy, and injury prevention, as the proportion of impaired driving collisions related to cannabis impairment continues to rise.

For more information and to register, head to the training page of our website here.
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Teen Drivers + Speed =
A Deadly Combination
Due to their lack of driving experience, speeding is a critical safety issue for teen drivers. In 2020, speed was a factor in 31% of the passenger vehicle teen drivers (15-18 years old) involved in fatal crashes nationwide. A study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) found that from 2000-2011, teens were involved in 19,447 speeding-related crashes.
Illinois is not exempt from teen traffic safety issues related to speeding. According to the GHSA/Ford Teens and Speeding Report, Illinois falls tenth among all states in the total number of teen driver and passenger fatalities, with 335 teen deaths from 2015-2019. Illinois ranks sixth in the total number of speed-related teen fatalities with 197 during the same period. Over half of the teen fatalities were speed-related.
What Can You Do?
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Get Involved: Teens who are monitored closely tend to speed less often. Take the lead to address speeding by your teen driver and get involved in the learning-to-drive process.
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Be a good role model: Never speed. Be consistent with the message you tell your teen and your own driving behaviors. Kids learn from watching their parents.
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Hold up on buying your teen a new car: According to a study by GHSA, when a teen first has a driver's license, they are more likely to speed in their own vehicle versus driving the family sedan. If possible, parents should choose larger, newer cars rather than high-performance vehicles.
For more information, check out these two excellent resources:

Teen Safe Driving: How Teens Can Be Safer Drivers
Teens and Speeding: Breaking the Deadly Cycle

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 16, 2023.
This day commemorates the life and work of Dr. King, who was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
We reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change that were espoused by Dr. King.
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Professional Development at Your Pace | |
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Archived Webinars
Don't miss out on Prevention First's collection of live webinars to watch at your own convenience:
For APRC Webinars, visit their GoTo Stage for archived webinars.
For Substance Use Prevention Webinars, visit SUPP Training Events- Online or Archived Webinar on the sidebar.
For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Webinars, visit their webpage.

For SUPR Treatment & Recovery Webinars, visit SUPR Training Events- Archived Webinar on the sidebar.
Looking for resources to share with your community? Visit our Virtual Clearinghouse of Resources or contact us, and we will help.
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