PREVENTION WORKS
Prevention works, and this report shines a light on the NPW 2017 resources,
partnerships, and activities that helped the prevention movement continue to grow
and encouraged more people to think about and take action for prevention. Here
are some highlights from NPW 2017:
• NPW 2017 had an impressive reach, garnering more than 37 million
impressions on Facebook and Twitter.
ARE YOU MAKING
EACH DAY COUNT?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)
National Prevention Week (NPW) is an annual health observance dedicated to
raising awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive
mental health. Held the third week of May every year, NPW provides an opportunity
for individuals, organizations, and communities around the country to showcase
how they are making a difference in community health by increasing public
awareness and action around mental and/or substance use disorders.
NPW 2017 charged communities and individuals with showing how they are
“Making Each Day Count.” With this theme, NPW reinforced the idea that talking
about and taking action for prevention should not be limited to only one week
during the year. Instead, we should work on prevention every single day.
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2017 OUTCOMES REPORT
• More than 40 national and local organizations and Federal agencies
partnered with SAMHSA to spread the word about NPW and engage their
communities in prevention efforts.
• Hundreds of communities hosted health fairs and block parties,
educational assemblies and town hall meetings, memorial walks, social
media campaigns, outdoor experiences, and other unique and engaging
events to bring NPW and action around prevention to their neighborhoods.
• Influential individuals and organizations—such as Dr. Oz, Howie Mandel,
and Students Against Destructive Decisions—used their social media
networks to share prevention stories, ideas, and activities with their digital
communities, even going “live” to talk about prevention.
We all have a role to play in prevention, and NPW gives all of us an
opportunity to learn how we can contribute. Here’s how communities
promoted prevention every day through NPW 2017—and how they inspired
individuals and other communities across the country to do the same.
NPW DAILY
HEALTH THEMES
MONDAY
Prevention of Youth Tobacco Use
TUESDAY
Prevention of Underage Drinking
and Alcohol Misuse
WEDNESDAY
Prevention of Prescription
and Opioid Drug Misuse
THURSDAY
Prevention of Illicit Drug Use
and Youth Marijuana Use
FRIDAY
Prevention of Suicide
SATURDAY
Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness
2017 OUTCOMES REPORT
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