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.

New Mexico HIDTA Launches First Statewide Prevention Strategy

This issue of the Prevention Post highlights how Monica Trujillo, New Mexico HIDTA's Prevention Coordinator, incorporated her 8 years of experience working in a substance use coalition and as a counselor to inform her prevention plans for New Mexico. “I recognize there are many families, teens, and youth that are struggling,” says Monica. Through her work, she has also uncovered a need to draw people’s attention toward the importance of dedicating resources toward prevention and early intervention in youth.

Monica has integrated a focus on upstream prevention into New Mexico HIDTA’s Prevention Strategy. The strategy focuses on building a prevention infrastructure within the NM HIDTA region during the first year of the plan. Monica has identified three primary activities to help achieve this goal:

1. Strategically convene prevention partners to share information and support one another.
2. Understand the full picture of prevention needs across the region.
3. Thoughtfully address substance use prevention needs using strategies grounded in the best available evidence.

To get started on implementing the strategy, Monica reflected on her previous coalition work and the challenges and successes experienced in scaling up prevention-focused partnerships. This provided the idea to convene quarterly meetings of prevention partners across the state where people could come together to promote shared learning and growth through brief presentations on timely prevention topics, discussion of new ideas, problem solving common challenges, and developing a network of peer support. To engage these partners, she conducted multi-level community outreach activities and invited all coalitions working in prevention to attend.

The first meeting focused on school-based prevention, as schools offer rich opportunities to positively influence the lives of youth. One of the key takeaways from this meeting was that schools could build capacity for prevention activities by partnering with local coalitions to implement prevention curricula in their schools. Monica has additional quarterly meetings planned through April 2025. She plans to compile the information shared in these meetings into a newsletter called New Mexico’s Path to Prevention, which will highlight the work of coalitions, resources, prevention events/opportunities, and essential insights from the prevention science literature.

Monica understands the importance of data-driven decisions and is synthesizing local, state, and national data to understand the full picture of prevention needs throughout New Mexico. She is compiling this data with the qualitative feedback she receives through networking and attending meetings of other groups sharing their unique perspectives on the opportunities and challenges related to prevention. Recently, she had an opportunity to present at the Commanders Conference and connect with local law enforcement to share what New Mexico HIDTA is contributing to prevention and discuss opportunities to partner.

The work Monica has engaged in since beginning her position earlier this year is establishing New Mexico HIDTA as a key prevention partner in their region, and she has the full support of her HIDTA’s leadership. NM HIDTA Executive Director, Will Glaspy, says, “The Prevention Initiative is new to New Mexico HIDTA and I cannot think of anyone better suited to get this program up and running than Monica Trujillo. In her new role as State Prevention Coordinator, Monica brings a fresh new dynamic to drug prevention in the state. She has spent years in the prevention field working with children in Taos County. This experience, along with her energy and familiarity with many of the different cultures in New Mexico, will help to ensure the success of the NM HIDTA Prevention Initiative.”

Monica can be reached at mtrujillo2@nmhidta.org.

Prevention Tip

Cultivating the Power of Positive Childhood Experiences

This issue’s Prevention Tip brings attention to the concept of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and their role in helping youth flourish.

The prevention field has known for some time now that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their associated harms are preventable, and a number of strategies exist to support this. Recent research illuminates how the presence of PCEs in youth can serve as a protective condition, decreasing the likelihood of poor mental health outcomes later in life. Not only can PCEs help to safeguard youth from the harms associated with ACEs, youth exposed to PCEs have greater chances of flourishing developmentally.  

PCEs derive from both family and community contexts. Examples of PCEs include:

• Feeling safe and protected by an adult at home
• Being able to talk to family members about feelings and to have their support during difficult times
• Being supported by friends and having a sense of belonging at school
• Positive relationships with non-parent trusted adults

How can PCEs be nurtured?

• Parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults can give their full attention to youth. Listen carefully and offer appropriate guidance and support during challenging times and moments of stress.
• Encourage joint engagement in positive coping strategies, like playing a game or going for a walk.
• Engage in family and community rituals together.
• Read on for more ideas on nurturing PCEs.

Learn more about the power of PCEs at this year’s HIDTA Prevention Summit on October 3, 2024. Keynote speaker Dr. Christina Bethell will be cover this topic in her talk titled ‘The Positivity Paradox: Prioritizing Possibilities to Promote Positive Youth Experiences and Flourishing.’

New England HIDTA Welcomes New Prevention Coordinator

Join us in welcoming Paul McNeil, the newest member of the

New England (NE) HIDTA team.

In May 2024, Paul filled the newly created Prevention Coordinator position at NE HIDTA. Paul has spent the last 10 years working in prevention supporting both a Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalition and youth drop-in program. Before that, Paul worked as an English teacher. It was during his time teaching when Paul’s interest in prevention began to spark. While Paul felt secure about the academic supports his students received, he was less confident that the needed supports were provided outside of school. He observed a trend where students seeking him out during lunch seemed to lack both caregiver and peer support. This prompted Paul to think through ways he could address those needs outside of the classroom and eventually, led to his transition into more prevention-focused work. His time in community prevention allowed him to focus on positive youth development and employ strategies such as motivational interviewing to support youth across developmental stages.

Paul’s time teaching and working in community prevention drew his attention to the value of early prevention. He says, “It’s really important to respect the process of prevention. The best available evidence we have from public health and other research is to address substance use issues head-on, way upstream with young people, developing social emotional skills, self-soothing skills, stress management, all that stuff that youth can benefit from and will serve them well long term.”

Anyone who has met Paul can easily see the passion he has for promoting positive youth development. It is this energy he brings to his current role.

Paul became familiar with HIDTA through the Opioid Response Strategy team in Massachusetts. What he learned drew him in to HIDTA Prevention as an exciting opportunity to advance his leadership and prevention skills to support local, state, and federal public health and public safety collaborations. Having the full support of his leadership, Paul has initiated the process of understanding the unique prevention needs of NE HIDTA’s six states by focusing on building partnerships, using data to understand needs, and leveraging support and consultation from ADAPT.



Paul understands developing relationships takes time and notes that sending cold emails are not effective in long-term relationship building. As he begins to build a network of prevention across his area, he is taking advantage of existing relationships across the NE HIDTA while he meets with new groups and organizations. He has engaged with state level organizations such as the Bureau of Substance Addictions and plans to meet in person with them for a meal and conversation. “When done well, prevention is effective, but sometimes it’s messy because it’s all about relationships and connection with others,” says Paul.

In his previous work, Paul found value in data-driven approaches to prevention and he plans to continue making data-drive decisions in his current role. He sees the value in conducting a needs assessment to better understand the strengths and gaps in the existing prevention landscape and using data to follow trends and plan for emerging threats.

Welcome, Paul. We look forward to future updates on your prevention work with NE HIDTA! Paul can be reached at pmcneil@nehidta.org.

Mark Your Calendars

This free and virtual event will be offered Thursday, October 3^rd and will bring school-based prevention to life while identifying multiple opportunities for community partners, such as law enforcement and coalitions, to engage in school-based prevention efforts. 

Participants will walk away with an enhanced understanding of 1) the core pillars and principles of a school-based prevention system, 2) natural opportunities for supporting school-based prevention activities, 3) the importance of attending to the synergies among substance use, mental health, and violence prevention, 4) key considerations for integrating fentanyl education and naloxone training into schools, and 5) the impact social norms media campaigns can have in middle and high schools. Three new resources will be released to support community partners and schools in integrating Summit content into their individual efforts in ways that make sense.

REGISTER today!

All sessions will be recorded and available for access upon completion of the event.

WEBINAR: Powering Prevention with Developmental Theory

October 16th, 2024

3:00-4:30pm EST

Join us October 16th to hear Dr. Nathaniel Riggs share approaches for how to effectively tailor prevention across developmental stages. Following the webinar participants will be able to:

• Understanding of the concept of human development within context.
• Recognize the developmental stages that are most associated with the highest prevalence of mental and behavioral health issues, along with understanding the related risk and protective factors.
• Describe how brain development can inform developmentally timed preventive interventions.
• Compare the different types of preventive interventions typically employed at various stages of development.

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. 

Trends in Overdose Death Rates across the United States

The National Emerging Threats Initiative (NETI) analyzed recent overdose death rates and identified several key trends.

Between 1999 and 2023, the U.S. overdose death rate rose from 6.9 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000 population, representing a 372% increase. On a hopeful note, U.S. overdose deaths declined slightly between 2022 and 2023, but results are highly variable by state.

By 2023, death rates climbed across all racial and ethnic groups, with African Americans being the most affected at 50.7 deaths per 100,000, followed by Native Americans at 41.1 and Whites at 32.1. Asians and Hispanics have slightly lower rates, at 25.4 and 23.4 deaths per 100,000.

West Virginia continues to lead the nation with a 2023 overdose death rate of 79.4 deaths per 100,000, followed by the District of Columbia (65.5), Tennessee (52.8), and Delaware (52.5). Nebraska recorded the lowest rate in 2023 at 9.5 deaths per 100,000, with South Dakota and Iowa following at 11.4 and 15.2 deaths per 100,000.

The most significant increases in overdose rates were observed in Alaska, with 13.5 deaths per 100,000, followed by Washington and Oregon, with increases of 9.7 and 9.4 deaths per 100,000. Conversely, the greatest declines were seen in Maine, with a reduction of 8.1 deaths per 100,000; North Carolina, with a reduction of 7.4; and Indiana, with a decline of 6.6 deaths per 100,000.

While cocaine and stimulant-related overdose deaths increased slightly between 2022 and 2023, heroin and fentanyl deaths showed modest declines. However, it is important to note that most cocaine, stimulant, and heroin overdose deaths co-occurred with fentanyl.

New ODMAP Layers, 2023 Annual Report, & Community Coalition Toolkit

ODMAP recently released two new layers including the Naloxone Saturation Layer and the Over-The-Counter (OTC) Layer. You can find both of these layers on the national map on the 6th icon down on the right-hand panel. When the key pops up, scroll down to toggle on a Naloxone Saturation Layer and an OTC Layer. A recorded webinar is available for both the Naloxone Saturation Layer and the Over-The-Counter Layer. One-page documents in English and Spanish describing each layer are available on the ODMAP website under “Resources.”

The ODMAP 2023 Annual Report is now available on their website. In 2023, ODMAP added 6 new features, onboarded almost 6,000 new users, logged over 500,000 suspected overdose events, and sent over 55,000 spike alerts. The full report can be found here.

In August, ODMAP released a Community Coalition Toolkit to describe how community coalitions can work toward accessing overdose data through ODMAP to inform overdose response, reduction, and prevention activities in their communities. The Toolkit can be viewed here.

Evaluation of Dispensaries' Cannabis Flowers for Accuracy

of Labeling Cannabinoids Content

The National Marijuana Initiative (NMI) in a partnership with the University of Mississippi's Natural Products Laboratory conducted research into the actual THC potency of cannabis products in the commercial marketplace. University researchers found that 70% of the commercial cannabis flower they analyzed failed to meet the claimed THC potency level, as labeled, when sold. When compared to the claimed THC levels, the actual THC levels detected in most tested samples were lower by as much as 20 – 16%. Only one sample had slightly more THC than as labeled.

University of Mississippi researchers conducted analysis on a total of 107 raw cannabis flower samples collected from Colorado, Oregon, and two areas in California (San Diego and Central Valley). Random samples were purchased by law enforcement, at commercial adult use dispensaries, and submitted to the laboratory for analysis. Researchers recorded the claimed THC concentration associated to that sample. Analysis was then conducted to determine (1) the actual THC value and (2) to assess the accuracy of THC content expressed on labeling. A detected THC content that was within plus (+) or minus (-) 20 percent of the claimed potency when sold was considered as an “acceptable variance”.

Researchers noted that the lack of accurate labeling of cannabinoids, such as Delta-9 THC, being consumed by the public, creates a risk of, “… excessive consumption, improper dosing, and acute adverse events.” It is essential to determine the accuracy and reliability of the labeling to promote informed decision-making and responsible use of cannabis products. The full study can be viewed here.

Fentanyl Pill Seizures in the United States between 2020 – 2023

A study out of the Drug Threat Analysis Group examined fentanyl pill seizure data from 33 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) that cover all fifty states and Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands from 2020 through 2023. Main findings include:

1. Fentanyl pill seizures throughout HIDTAs was low to non-existent until 2022.
2. Pill seizures increased in the initial quarter of 2023 and then declined in the final quarter.
3. Fentanyl pill seizures were most prevalent in Western states and the Southwest border, with Arizona as a significant outlier with almost double the fentanyl pill seizures of the next highest area.

SAMHSA Releases Substance Use Prevention Month Toolkit

October is Substance Use Prevention Month — and SAMHSA’s toolkit is live!

This year's toolkit includes a wealth of materials to bring attention to Substance Use Prevention Month via social media, websites, e-newsletters, and more.

Visit the toolkit now ― and share with your networks. This year's toolkit includes resources for social media (graphics/posts, cover image, profile frame, badge), web graphics, flyers, meeting backgrounds, email signatures, and states’ websites.

For October, consider:

• Posting on social media
• Featuring toolkit content on your website
• Sharing these resources in your e-newsletters
• Using the Email Signature
• Using the Virtual Meeting Background

*The toolkit will update throughout October.



Preventing Underage Drinking with Community Strategies

A new publication by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined a series of effective environmental strategies to reduce the harmful effects of underage drinking.

Strategies include reducing the availability of alcohol, increasing its cost, limiting alcohol advertising seen by people under 21, and raising awareness of alcohol-related harms. View the full article HERE.

Preventing Substance Misuse on College Campuses

A recent webinar by Pacific Southwest PTTC focused on preventing substance misuse among college students. The goal was to help participants understand drug use rates, apply the Strategic Prevention Framework effectively, and leverage available tools for prevention.

The webinar covered topics such as current drug use rates, strategic planning for prevention, successes and challenges of the Strategic Prevention Framework, and provided tools and resources for professionals. The webinar link and resources can be found HERE.

Population-level PAX: Prevention Programming Across the Youth System of Care

A new publication from PAXIS Institute examined skills training for over 7,000 professionals across Arizona. Training focused on the PAX Good Behavior Game and various PAX Tools (for human services, youth workers, community educations, and caregivers). This statewide initiative began in the fall of 2019 and concluded in the summer of 2023.

Several positive outcomes resulted for youth-serving professionals (increased efficacy) and for students (reduced feelings of unhappiness/depression, less fighting, less fidgeting, and increased consideration of other people’s feelings). View the full study HERE.

Behavioral Health among Older Adults: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

A recent report by SAMHSA summarizes data from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for substance use, mental health, and treatment among U.S. adults aged 60 and over.

Findings highlighted the need for behavioral health services for older adults, with 1 in 11 reported having a substance use disorder in the past year and 1 in 8 reporting having had any mental illness in the past year. View the full report HERE.

Prevention PowerBytes: Micro-Trainings for Substance Misuse Prevention Professionals

The Pacific Southwest PTTC recently released two concise training modules for professionals working in substance use prevention called “Prevention PowerBytes.”

These trainings address important topics such as creating SMARTIE goals and selecting best-fit interventions. 

Systems Thinking for Prevention Professionals

A recent publication by the Southwest PTTC emphasizes the importance of systems thinking in prevention. By understanding the interconnected roles, rules, and relationships that characterize a system, prevention professionals can identify areas for making effective changes. Identifying and leveraging components within a system – such as a school – expand opportunities to positively impact health and wellness.

This publication provides a list of questions to encourage consideration of how to take on a systems approach. View the full article HERE.

Intentionally Including People with Lived and Living Experience

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing released a series of tools and resources for overdose prevention and surveillance efforts in the community.

All resources focus on overdose prevention for state and local health departments and emphasize the importance of including people with lived and living experience in these efforts. Find the resource list HERE.

Community Engagement Resources

A list compiled by SAMHSA's Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs) contains resources comprising community engagement strategies, cultural competency, health equity, population-specific interventions, and research supporting community engagement. The list can be found HERE.

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Sincerely,

The ADAPT Team

https://www.hidta.org/adapt/

Emai us: adapt@wb.hidta.org