Drug Prevention Power Hour: Empowering Leaders in Youth Drug Prevention

In this special episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour, Jake White shares the four fundraising strategies Vive18 uses to build sustainable funding: individual donations, business sponsorships, organization donations, and fundraising events.

Jake also breaks down how Vive18 raised $40,000 in just three months through individual donations, shares practical tips for approaching donors and sponsors, and explains how prevention organizations can build stronger community partnerships.

Whether you're starting a prevention organization or looking for new ways to strengthen your funding, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can put into action.

Takeaways
4 key strategies for fundraising
How to grow individual donations
Building business sponsorships
Leveraging organization donations
Planning successful fundraising events
Tips for creating a compelling fundraising pitch
Building sustainable funding for prevention

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

After keeping her sobriety private for four years, Jen Lee Hurst found the courage to share her story—and that decision changed the direction of her life. Today, she is a sober coach and the founder of Lighthouse Sobriety, helping women build lives they no longer want to escape from.

In this episode, Jake White talks with Jen about her journey from graphic designer to sober coach, the power of sharing your story, and why connection and community are essential in recovery. Jen also explains the six daily habits she teaches to support sobriety, improve confidence, and create lasting change.

Takeaways
Sharing your story can be a powerful act of courage and freedom.
Community and connection are essential for lasting sobriety.
Simple daily habits can significantly support recovery efforts.
Being authentic and vulnerable online builds trust and connection.
Starting small and stacking habits leads to sustainable change.

Connect with Jennifer Hirst
Website: https://jenhurst.com
Instagram: @jenleehirst
Organization: Lighthouse Sobriety
Free Resource: 100-Day Habit Tracker available on her website

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

For 27 years, Kelly Prichard has been quietly transforming lives through student-led prevention clubs at Allen East High School in rural Ohio. In this episode, Jake White sits down with one of the most impactful youth prevention advisors in the country to learn her proven strategies for student engagement, leadership development, and community impact.

Discover how to create meaningful prevention experiences that go beyond one-time events—and learn why the advisor matters just as much as the students. From managing large clubs to creative fundraising to holding students accountable with love and high expectations, Kelly shares the blueprint for building sustainable youth-led prevention programs.

Takeaways
Kelly Prichard's journey in youth prevention
Strategies for engaging students in clubs
The importance of genuine relationships and trust
Creative fundraising methods for student groups
The role of high expectations and accountability
Building leadership and ownership among students
Managing club interest and participation fluctuations
The significance of consistency and advisor presence

Connect with Kelly Prichard
Email: [email protected]
Organization: Allen East High School SADD
Social Media: @AllenEastSADD (Facebook, Instagram)
YouTube: Search "Allen East SADD" for resources, PSAs, and contest projects

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

Drug Free Clubs of America (DFCA) is revolutionizing how schools approach substance abuse prevention. In this episode, Jake White welcomes back Angie Ferguson and introduces Dave Huggins, Program Development Specialist, to discuss how their innovative program gives students tools to say no, builds community around drug-free choices, and creates powerful social proof that choosing to stay drug-free is the cool choice.

Learn how voluntary drug testing, peer-led incentives, and student-run events like the annual Fall Rally are changing school culture and helping 99.5% of participating students test negative for drugs.

Takeaways
Students are more confident saying no when they have an easy reason
Voluntary accountability can support healthy choices
Peer visibility helps show students they’re not alone
Student-led rewards and events strengthen school culture
Drug testing can be supportive rather than punitive
Strong prevention programs give students community, confidence, and choice

Connect with David Huggins
Website: https://drugfreeclubs.com
Email Dave: [email protected]

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

Meet Mariah, a 13-year-old prevention advocate from Petaluma, California, who is already making an impact in the drug prevention field. After losing her brother to an overdose at age five, Mariah transformed her grief into purpose.

In this episode, she shares how she found her voice as an advocate, spoke publicly about her family's experience with addiction, attended the Fentanyl Free America convention after being nominated by the DEA, helped advocate for Narcan access in her community, and is now pushing for stronger drug prevention education in schools.

Mariah also opens up about the stigma surrounding addiction, the connection between mental health and substance use, and what she's learned about balancing advocacy with grief and self-care. Her story is a powerful reminder that youth voices matter and speaking from the heart can create real community change.

Takeaways
Personal loss can become purpose and advocacy
Open conversations help reduce addiction stigma
Youth voices can create meaningful community change
Narcan education can challenge fear and misinformation
Mental health is an important part of substance use prevention
Speaking from the heart can make a powerful impact
Advocacy requires persistence even when people say no
Self-care and processing grief matter too 

Connect with Mariah
Instagram: @mariah.g212

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

In this episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour, Jake White takes you inside one of Vive18’s prevention leadership courses to explore what it means to truly embrace your role as a coach. Jake shares practical strategies for moving from doing everything yourself to empowering students to lead, make decisions, learn from failure, and develop their leadership skills. He breaks down the difference between transactional and transformational leadership and explains how high expectations, accountability, support, and love can help create stronger, more sustainable student-led prevention programs.

Takeaways
Empower students to take ownership and lead.
Focus on transformational, not transactional, leadership.
Let students fail, learn, and grow.
Coach students instead of solving problems for them.
Lead with high expectations, support, and love.
Build sustainable leadership by developing new leaders

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

Recovery is about more than overcoming addiction—it's about rediscovering hope, healing from trauma, and creating a life filled with purpose.

In this episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour, Jake White sits down with Marci Hopkins recovery advocate, author, TV host, and speaker—to discuss her personal recovery journey and the lessons she's learned about resilience, mental health, and lasting transformation. Marci shares practical strategies for overcoming shame, building self-worth, and helping others realize that they're not broken—they're capable of change.

Takeaways
Recovery is about getting your life back, not giving something up.
Healing begins when we replace shame with hope and self-compassion.
The CARE Framework—Communicate, Ask for Help, Reinforce Boundaries, and Embrace Your Worth—provides practical tools for personal growth.
Small daily habits and healthy coping skills can create lasting change through neuroplasticity.
Strong relationships, community, and asking for help are essential for long-term recovery.
Prevention and recovery both benefit from teaching resilience, emotional wellness, and healthy life skills.

Connect with Marci Hopkins
Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles
Wake Up, You're Not Broken
https://wakeupwithmarci.com
Instagram: @wakeupwithmarcy

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

In this special episode, Jake White recaps the biggest highlights from Vive18 this year and shares exclusive opportunities for prevention professionals and youth leaders. From the groundbreaking Prevention Innovators Conference to youth leadership camps and professional trainings across 6+ states, discover what's happening in the prevention field and how you can get involved.

Jake White also unveils the brand new Vive18 Prevention Arcade a free, interactive game-based learning tool designed to make prevention education fun and engaging. This is a world premiere showing of the arcade games with live gameplay demonstrations.

Takeaways
Prevention can be engaging, fun, and interactive not scary or boring
Youth-led initiatives create lasting impact and empower emerging leaders
Community partnerships and professional development strengthen prevention efforts
Technology and gamification make prevention education accessible to everyone
Resources and training tools level the playing field for all prevention professionals
Bilingual and culturally responsive prevention is essential
Collaboration and innovation drive the future of prevention

TRY THE VIVE18 PREVENTION ARCADE
Free access: vive18arcade.com/cadca
No downloads required—play directly in your browser
Games include: Skill Up, Shortcuts vs Skill Sets, Runner, and Vibe
Share with educators and students in your community
Custom builds available for coalitions and organization

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

Ebony Manning is a Prevention Specialist for Trinity Behavioral Care in South Carolina and host of "The Art of Recovery" podcast. In this episode, she shares her journey from military spouse to passionate community organizer, revealing how boots-on-the-ground networking, authentic relationships, and strategic partnerships transform prevention work. Discover how she implemented Too Good for Drugs as a consequence alternative in schools and built trust that opens doors with key stakeholders.

Ebony discusses the power of showing up, asking the right questions, leveraging existing relationships, and being a genuine resource in your community.

Takeaways
Show up consistently and be boots on the ground in your community
Build authentic relationships first credibility and trust open doors
Ask the right questions to identify community needs before pitching solutions
Leverage existing relationships and key stakeholders to move initiatives forward
Don't be afraid to ask for what you need; strategic networking is smart business development
Your character and passion matter more than having all the answers
Start projects without waiting for perfect conditions "just do it"
Be accessible and available people need resources right now, not someday

Connect with Ebony Manning
Trinity Behavioral Care: https://www.trinitybehavioralcare.org/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-art-of-recovery/id1833261644

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_

In this episode, Trevon Norman, a Certified Prevention Specialist and Coalition Coordinator from Texas, shares his journey from youth ministry and childcare into prevention. He explains how authentic relationships, servant leadership, and empowering others can help build stronger coalitions and create lasting community impact.

Takeaways
Lead with genuine passion people invest in authentic leaders.
Give others opportunities to contribute their time, talents, and resources.
Recognize people for their individual strengths, not just their roles or organizations.
Build trust by showing up, staying connected, and investing in relationships.
Empower youth and community members with ownership to create lasting engagement.

Connect with Trevon Norman
Website: https://serenitytexas.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevon-norman-651baa45/
Consulting: https://tnconsultingservices.com/

For feedback, questions and new episode ideas...
[email protected]
instagram.com/vive18_