Prevention and early intervention strategies can reduce the impact of mental health and substance use disorders in our community. Prevention approaches try to help people develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to make good choices or change harmful behaviors.
Substance use and mental health disorders can make daily activities difficult and impair a person’s ability to work, interact with family, and fulfill other major life functions. They can also increase risk of developing other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Local Prevention Initiatives
Online Learning for Parents
SMCHD has developed a free online learning course as a resource for parents and guardians concerned about drug use in our community. The course has six modules:
- Understanding teen drug use and addiction
- Prevention conversations (for children of all ages)
- Preventing teen drug use: spot warning signs
- What to do if you think your child is using drugs
- Navigating treatment & recovery
- Responding to overdose
You can navigate directly to any of the modules or subsections that interest you. The modules can be completed in any order and you can return to any module or subsection at any time.
Additional Prevention Resources
- SMCHD | Local Behavioral Health Services
- SMCHD | Naloxone – Overdose Response Training
- Maryland | 211 Service Locator
- Addiction Policy | Addiction Information in Other Languages
- National Council for Metal Wellbeing | Mental Health First Aid Training
- NIDA | Help Children & Teens Stay Drug Free
- SAMHSA | Public Messages