The Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham is a community coalition comprised of residents, youth, and key stakeholders working together through a collaborative, community-based, and data-driven prevention approach to reduce alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use among Needham youth.
Through community education, partnership, and strategic action, SPAN works to decrease the risk factors indicated in substance use and increase the protective factors known to support youth in making healthy and safe choices.
Data above comes from the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey, administered biennially to Needham Public School students in grades six through twelve (2025).
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.
