National Prevention Week (May 8-14): Raising Awareness of Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Positive Mental Health
National Prevention Week (May 8-14): Raising Awareness of Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Positive Mental Health
May 9, 2022
National Prevention Week is a week-long observance used to raise awareness and action around the prevention of substance use as well as to promote positive mental health. National Prevention Week strives to boost community involvement, foster collaboration among public health organizations, and promote the spread of quality resources on substance use and mental health conditions.
National Prevention Week is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”) and is held annually. This year, National Prevention Week runs from May 8 through May 14, 2022 and coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month.
National Prevention Week takes place every May because it is near the start of summer, an important time for school, communities, and prevention professionals to re-focus on prevention. Adolescents and full-time college students most often use substances for the first time during June or July, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (“NSDUH”) data on adolescents.
It’s especially important to refocus on worsening overdose and addiction numbers, as all 50 states reported a spike or increase in overdose numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicates that there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the year before.
As far as alcohol consumption, the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found 17.7 million Americans are heavy alcohol users, and 60% of people increased their alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdowns, mostly due to increased stress. With these factors in mind, the NYCDCC Benefit Funds, along with the Members Education and Network for Dependency (“MEND”) program, recognizes National Prevention Week and supports our members and their dependents who are struggling with Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
If you or one of your dependents are struggling, you can contact our MEND program at 212-366-7590 or email MEND@nyccbf.org.
Sources:
SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
2022 A Critical Year to Address Worsening Drug-Overdose Crisis
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics
