Substance Use Prevention

What is Substance Use Prevention?

Substance use prevention efforts are aimed at preventing or delaying substance use.

• Use of drugs or alcohol before 18 increases the chances of having a substance use disorder in life.
• Youth substance use can interfere with healthy brain development.
• Substance use can also cause harm to the body or lead to overdose death.

For more information on the risks and consequences of drugs and alcohol visit ThinkAgainShasta.com.

How you can help prevent youth substance use

• Support local non-profits that provide youth programs.
  • Shasta county has many organizations that provide programs for youth.  You can support substance use prevention by volunteering, donating or promoting their efforts.

• Learn about the risks and consequences of substance use.
  • To learn more about the risks of substance use visit thinkagainshasta.com.
  • CDPH information on youth substance use prevention
  • If you would like to learn more contact us at AODPrevention [at] shastacounty.gov (AODPrevention[at]shastacounty[dot]gov).

• Be a trusted and caring adult for youth.
  • Evidence shows that having at least one caring adult can help youth make more positive and healthy choices and overcome challenges. For tips on talking with youth about substance use go to Talk. They Hear You: Underage Drinking Awareness Campaign | SAMHSA.

• Learn how to have impactful conversations with youth from expert Kriya Lendzion:
  • How parents can effectively talk with their kids about substance use - https://youtu.be/1b_G5EF9qHo
  • How people who work with youth can hold impactful conversations - https://youtu.be/mAv-71ez_LM

• Advocate for laws that reduce youth substance use.
  • Cannabis policy scorecard for Redding
  • Cannabis policy scorecard for Shasta Lake

• Encourage youth in your life to participate in healthy drug-free and alcohol-free activities.

• Help youth develop into healthy competent adults through promoting the 40 developmental assets.
  • Developmental Assets Framework | Search Institute

Health and Human Services Agency’s Substance Use Prevention 

The Alcohol and Drug Prevention team uses evidence-based strategies to:

• Increase awareness and knowledge
• Help create policies, systems and environments that discourage substance use
• Create safe places that provide substance use free activities
• Leverage collaborative partnerships
• Build protective factors in youth

To prevent youth substance use, improving the health and wellbeing for generations of Shasta County residents.

Free presentations on preventing youth substance use are available to Shasta County residents 18 and older.  To schedule a presentation for yourself or your organization, email AODPrevention [at] shastacounty.gov (AODPrevention[at]shastacounty[dot]gov) or call (530) 229-8424.

If you or someone you know would like to hear about substance use treatment options talk with your doctor or call 855-765-9703

Questions?

Please contact aodprevention [at] shastacounty.gov (aodprevention[at]shastacounty[dot]gov)