We can see the success of NPW 2017 in the
hundreds of community-based organizations
(CBOs) that participated in events across the
country. What follows are just a few examples of
how communities focused on “Making Each Day
Count” during NPW 2017.
Planning for National Prevention Week 2017 at the Connecticut Center for
Prevention, Wellness and Recovery in Plainville, CT, began nearly a year
before the observance, led by the center’s enthusiastic and dedicated
planning team across the state.
The Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction
Services (DMHAS) created a video message about
NPW featuring Commissioner Miriam
Delphin-Rittmon and PSAs for
each of the first five
days of NPW.
14
S
E
N
I
T
O
I
I
N
T
C
U
A
M
N
M
I
O
C
2017 OUTCOMES REPORT
DMHAS also held five regional educational forums around the state
on the risks of benzodiazepines in advance of NPW, and NPW 2017
wristbands and information and a call to action for local NPW events were
disseminated.
The Connecticut NPW media committee used the hashtag
#ctpreventionweek for social media and photos and created infographics
to share daily during NPW. A local television station also participated in a
ride-along with youth agents and inspectors conducting routine tobacco
merchant compliance checks.
Finally, a statewide conference with more than 200 attendees was held
on May 15. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal provided welcome remarks
and spoke briefly about prevention from the national perspective;
Commissioner Delphin-Rittmon read a proclamation from Governor
Dannel Malloy declaring May 14–20 to be Connecticut Prevention Week;
and expert panelists spoke on effective prevention strategies for each of
the NPW topics, as well as common risk factors. The feedback that the
Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness and Recovery received was
so positive that they have decided to make the conference an annual
event.
Action Network in Gualala, CA, celebrated National Prevention Week
by hosting an event with games, activities, and discussions focused on
this topic: “What do you choose to do instead of drugs?” The organization
also held a drug take-back in partnership with the sheriff’s office and
the California Highway Patrol. For their next event, Action Network plans
to hold a community forum on opioid misuse in response to the recent
overdose deaths of local young adults.
2017 OUTCOMES REPORT
15