Trusted adults play a pivotal role in youth prevention, you can make a difference! We hope you’ll take the time to learn more about how to have a conversation with the young people in your life; we invite you to visit our website to view facts about the impact of alcohol and other drugs on youth, ways to get involved locally, and SAMHSA Talk They Hear You campaign materials to start the conversation.
A MassCALL3 Prevention Partners regional youth initiative, encouraging youth to share their authentic voices in the conversation on staying healthy and substance-free.
In the spring of 2024, Over 120 high school students from Dedham, Needham, Walpole, and Westwood shared their “why,” or their motivation for choosing to stay healthy and substance-free in a project, titled “#MyWhy: Sharing our Voices,” through the MassCALL3 regional youth substance use prevention grant.
The project is based on #MyWhyNDAFW from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and asks student participants to think about the question “What motivates you to stay healthy and substance-free?” and to write their responses on a handout provided by MassCALL3 Prevention Partners staff. Needham High School students’ responses were compiled into this video that serves as an uplifting reminder of some of the unique reasons our students have for choosing to navigate away from high-risk behaviors.
1) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (2017, September 20)
The Prevention Partners’ landing page and associated social media pages were created to share (evidence informed) educational information related to the health impacts of underage substance use and resources for youth and their families in need of support for substance use mental health conditions. The pages are not monitored and comments/direct messages will not be responded to.
IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE DIAL 911 OR CONTACT THE SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE BY CALLING OR TEXTING 988.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also call, text, or chat 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. The 988 Lifeline is a direct connection to immediate support and resources for anyone in crisis. You can find the 988 FAQ here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs
If you need immediate support for substance use, contact the MA Substance Use Helpline by texting HOPE to 800327, or visiting helplinema.org.
