November 2023

Space is still available for the next Healthy People 2030 webinar: Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies to Improve Public Health: A Focus on State Practices. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 6 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series Registration page. Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available.

It’s my pleasure to introduce another entry in our quarterly vlog series, where we engage with partners in the public and private sectors to discuss the ways in which we can collaborate to advance our collective mission to promote greater health equity and well-being for all people. As part of our November observance of Veterans Day,  I joined Dr. Ernest Moy, Executive Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Veterans Health Administration, to discuss the unique health challenges and disparities that our Veterans population faces, and what is being done to address them.

Each month, we feature National Health Observances (NHOs) that align with our mission to improve health across the United States. In December, we’re raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and the importance of getting a flu vaccine. We’ve pulled together some resources that you can use to promote these NHOs with your networks...

Youth substance use is associated with increased risk for delinquency; academic underachievement; teen pregnancy; sexually transmitted infections; perpetration of, or experience with, violence; injuries; and mental health problems. Youth, parents, and families are key sectors involved in the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. Preventing or delaying substance use initiation among youth reduces later risk for substance use, substance use disorders, and overdose.  The need for prevention is vital and early intervention is critical for youth.