Prevention Leaders w/ Dave Closson

Why does the Drug Enforcement Administration run prevention programs? Sean Fearns and Kevin Collins, from DEA Community Outreach and Prevention Support, answer that head-on, then show you what their team offersyour community at no cost.

The answer starts in 1985 with the murder of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena, and with a group of high school students in Calexico,California, who started what became Red Ribbon Week. From there we get into Fentanyl Free America, what a counterfeit pill actually is, how drugs are sold through the phones kids carry, and why overdose deaths coming down is not the same as the problem being solved.

Sean and Kevin are clear on one point. DEA does not claim to be a prevention organization. Their job is to support the people who are, andto connect parents, schools, coalitions, and families who have lost someone to the prevention work already happening in their community.

If you lead a coalition, work in a school, or run a campus program, you will leave with a list of free tools and one clear next step: find your DEA community outreach specialist. Red Ribbon Week starts October 23, so this is a good weekto press play.

In This Episode

• Why the E in DEA does not stand for education, and the 1985 story behind the agency's prevention work
• How high school students in Calexico, California, started Red Ribbon Week
• What Protect, Prevent, and Support mean inside Fentanyl Free America, and why a law enforcement agency talks about support
• What a counterfeit pill is, why even DEA chemists often cannot spot a fake by eye, and how pills now reach kids through their phones
• The part of prevention that does not expire when the drug of the moment changes, plus a walk-through of the free toolbox

Guest Bios

Sean Fearns is Chief of Community Outreach and Prevention Support at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. He has spent 27 years at DEA, helped build the DEA Museum, and has run community outreach and prevention support for the last decade.

Kevin Collins is a Senior Prevention Program Manager at DEA. He spent about 20 years at the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, now the Partnership to End Addiction, before joining DEA about two and a half years ago.

Links Mentioned

• Fentanyl Free America: dea.gov/fentanylfree
• Operation Prevention: operationprevention.com
• Get Smart About Drugs and the publications library: getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/resources
• Just Think Twice: justthinktwice.gov
• Campus Drug Prevention: campusdrugprevention.gov
• Together for Families: dea.gov/togetherforfamilies
• Faces of Fentanyl: dea.gov/facesoffentanyl
• Red Ribbon Week: dea.gov/redribbon
• FindTreatment.gov and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Connect with Dave

• The Prevention Leaders Network
• DJC Solutions, LLC
• Dave's Links

Prevention is not one day, one week, or one month, and this conversation with SAFE Project shows what it looks like when it is every day.

I sat down with Ronna Yablonski and Adam Swift as SAFE Project kicks off Prevention Month with the theme Prevention Matters: Together We Strengthen What Protects Us. We talk about what prevention looks like in practice, what is planned for October, and how parents, educators, leaders, neighbors, and peers can all play a part.

Ronna brings 23 years in the field, including two Drug-Free Communities coalitions. Adam brings 26 years in the Air Force and a personal reason for doing this work: he found a SAFE Veterans wellness workshop while he was struggling after retirement, and now he leads the program. Together they make the case that prevention reaches people before, during, and after a crisis.

You will hear why the military is full of protective factors, what happens to those supports when the uniform comes off, and what coalitions and communities can do about it. Press play and bring a pen.

Guest BiosRonna Yablonski is the senior director of prevention at SAFE Project. She has spent 23 years in substance use prevention and coalition development, and she describes her career in three words: connection, service, and growth.

Adam Swift is the director of SAFE Veterans at SAFE Project. He retired from the Air Force after 26 years of resilience work, went through the SAFE Veterans wellness workshop himself, and now helps bring it to veterans and their communities.

About SAFE ProjectSAFE Project is a national nonprofit working to save lives affected by substance use and mental health challenges, through overdose prevention and response, prevention and recovery programs, and work to reduce stigma. Its initiatives are SAFE Veterans, SAFE Communities, SAFE Campuses, and SAFE Workplaces.

Connect with SAFE Project:

• SAFE Project website:  www.safeproject.us

• Prevention Month website page: https://www.safeproject.us/prevention-month/

• SAFE Veterans website page: https://www.safeproject.us/veterans/

• Prevention Perspectives webinars:

https://www.safeproject.us/webinars/

• Prevention Point Segments: https://www.safeproject.us/prevention/prevention-point/

• In-home medication disposal : https://www.safeproject.us/disposal/

• Opioid Overdose Response Training:

https://www.safeproject.us/prevention-month/#OORT-Train

What if one of the most powerful prevention strategies isn’t another program — but helping people reconnect with culture, identity, belonging, and community?

In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave Closson talks with Barbara Bessette, a prevention professional with more than two decades of experience in substance misuse prevention, tribal prevention support, cultural technical assistance, and community-based prevention work in Montana.

Barbara is an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe Rocky Boy and brings a powerful perspective on what it means to approach prevention through an Indigenous lens — not by focusing only on risk factors, but by recognizing the protective factors already present in communities.

Together, Dave and Barbara explore why culture is prevention, how prevention teams can move beyond deficit-based narratives, and what it looks like to make prevention work truly culturally grounded — not just culturally decorated.

They also discuss the importance of relationships, trust, family, elders, language, community events, and the simple but powerful principle: nothing about us without us.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why risk-only narratives can reinforce shame, stigma, and hopelessness
• How culture, identity, connection, and belonging function as protective factors
• What prevention can learn from tribal communities and Indigenous prevention work
• The role of cultural technical assistance in supporting prevention specialists
• Why funders and grantmakers need to better understand culturally grounded prevention
• How community events like recovery powwows, youth centers, and “Smudge the Rez” can support prevention outcomes
• Why prevention teams should involve the people they are trying to serve from the very beginning
• How hope, family, and community connection can help shift prevention from deficit-based to strength-based

Key takeaway

Prevention gets stronger when we stop defining communities only by their risks and start building from their strengths.

Culture is not an add-on. It is not just symbols, colors, or surface-level representation. Culture can be a living source of identity, connection, belonging, hope, and healing — and those are powerful protective factors.

Connect with Prevention Leaders

Since prevention is better together, subscribe to the show and share this episode with a colleague, coalition partner, or community leader who cares about culturally grounded prevention.

Every heartbeat tells a story. Fall, feel, rise. That's the pulse of resilience -- and it's the theme of this year's World Resiliency Week.

This episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast is a multicast collaboration with the Unnecessary Harm podcast, hosted by Shane Varkow, Executive Director of the Dalgarno Institute in Australia. Together, we sit down with two of the architects of World Resiliency Week 2026: Adam Woods from the Hope Tour in Australia, and Sneha Patiyathal from the Fourth Wave Foundation in Kerala, India.

Two different countries. Two completely different cultural contexts. One shared conviction: resilience is not a luxury. It is a practice that belongs to everyone.

This conversation is about what that theme means on the ground -- in schools, in coastal communities, on soccer fields, and in the lives of young people navigating peer pressure, social media, absence, and the very human need to belong. From the Venda Cup (800 boys and 800 girls this year across 14 districts of Kerala) to the Hope Tour's push to reach 100 schools across Australia in 2026 alone -- this is prevention work at its best: community-rooted, relationship-centered, and built for the long haul.

World Resiliency Week 2026 runs June 26-30. Learn more and access free resources at the World Resiliency Day platform.

In This Episode

• Why Sneha's organization focuses on the 75% of students who aren't using substances -- the fence sitters who could go either way -- and why that's where prevention actually lives
• How the Hope Tour walks into schools across Australia and helps kids ask a simple but life-changing question: "Who are my five people?"
• What the "Feel" in Fall-Feel-Rise actually means, and why slowing down to feel is harder than just rising
• The story of the Venda Cup -- from 4 teams in 2017 to 800 boys and 800 girls this year -- and how a football tournament became a pathway to the Slum Soccer World Cup in the UK
• The Humpty Dumpty Dilemma: why this generation is simultaneously the most connected and the most fragile that has ever lived -- and what prevention can do about it

Guest Bios

Adam Woods

Adam Woods is the national coordinator of the Hope Tour in Australia and a youth coordinator at Acts Global Church in Bunbury, Western Australia. He leads school-based resilience and prevention programming for students in years 6-12, with the Hope Tour now operating in Melbourne, Western Australia, and Sydney, and expanding to more states in 2027.

Sneha Patiyathal

Sneha Patiyathal is a credentialed catalyst at the Fourth Wave Foundation in Kerala, India, and one of eight World Resiliency Day global ambassadors. She has represented her organization at the United Nations in Vienna and at the Asian Youth Forum on Drug Use Prevention. She works on Project Venda, Fourth Wave Foundation's 10-year substance use prevention initiative in Kerala.

Links:

https://worldresiliencyday.com.au/

This special multicast episode was originally recorded with our partners at the Dalgarno Institute and their podcast, Unnecessary Harm. As part of our ongoing collaboration around World Resiliency Week, we are excited to share this conversation.

Host Shane Varcoe sits down with World Resiliency Week planning team members Dave Closson and Jen Schneeman to explore the 2026 campaign theme: The Pulse of Resilience: Fall, Feel, Rise.

Together, they unpack a powerful question: What if resilience isn't about pushing through, toughing it out, or simply "embracing the suck"?

Drawing on lived experience, trauma recovery, prevention science, military service, nervous system research, and community-building, this conversation explores resilience as a rhythm rather than a destination. Dave and Jen share practical insights on burnout, healing, youth wellbeing, substance use prevention, and the importance of creating space for both struggle and growth.

The result is a hopeful and deeply human conversation about how individuals and communities can develop the awareness, tools, and support systems needed to navigate adversity and emerge stronger.

About World Resiliency Week

World Resiliency Week is a global collaborative initiative bringing together prevention professionals, educators, researchers, community leaders, advocates, and lived-experience voices to strengthen resilience across individuals, families, and communities.

The 2026 theme, The Pulse of Resilience: Fall, Feel, Rise, focuses on helping people recognize life's inevitable challenges, develop healthy ways to process them, and build the capacity to rise with greater awareness, connection, and strength.

Get involved at: https://worldresiliencyweek.org/

In this episode, Dave Closson sits down with Angie Asa‑Lovstad (Asa Facilitation) for a timely conversation about what it takes to lead through uncertainty and forced change in prevention and behavioral health.

They unpack a simple but powerful Change Formula (dissatisfaction with the status quo → vision → first steps) and connect it to tools many prevention leaders already use—like the Accountability Ladder, community readiness, and psychological safety—to help teams move from stuck to forward motion.

If your coalition or prevention team is feeling the weight of shifting funding, burnout, and “the rug getting pulled out,” this one is an encouraging, practical reset.

Key takeaways (quick hit)

• If any part of the change formula is zero, resistance stays high. Diagnose where the “zero” is.
• Vision without first steps feels inspiring—but also overwhelming.
• First steps without vision feels busy—but not meaningful.
• Data + story can help communities move from denial → vague awareness → readiness.
• Psychological safety isn’t optional during uncertainty—leaders have to model vulnerability first.
• Different people process change differently (talking it out vs. quiet processing). Build space for both.

Practical tools mentioned

• Change Formula (dissatisfaction + vision + first steps)
• Accountability Ladder (victim mindset → ownership/can-do)
• Community readiness (e.g., denial / vague awareness as common starting points)
• Psychological safety (Amy Edmondson; Brene Brown referenced)

About Angie:

Angie Asa‑Lovstad brings 25+ years of prevention experience—from leading a local coalition to running a statewide coalition (AC4C) to founding Asa Facilitation. Angie specializes in facilitation as “the secret sauce” for community-level change and helps groups connect, spark, and ignite progress—especially when things feel stuck.

Connect with Angie

• Website: https://asafacilitation.com
• Resources: Look for Angie’s free downloads under the “Resources” section of the site.

Prevention is better together: if this episode helped you, subscribe to the Prevention Leaders Podcast and share it with one colleague who’s leading through change right now.

In this conversation, Dave Closson sits down with Sara Thompson (Director of Training & Communications at The Montana Institute) to unpack the mindset shift that changes prevention outcomes: moving from problem-saturated narratives to a “spirit first” approach that uncovers and grows what’s already going right.

They dig into Positive Community Norms (PCN) and the Science of the Positive, why misperceptions of the “norm” drive behavior, and how coalitions can start making practical shifts immediately, even before they have perfect data.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Why “raising awareness of the problem” can unintentionally amplify fear and misperceptions
• What “Spirit First” means, and how it changes the way you engage a community
• How proximal norms (your immediate circle) shape what you think is “normal”
• A simple tabling-event question that instantly shifts the narrative toward strengths
• Where coalitions can start when data is limited (and how to build trust for better data later)
• How to measure whether a PCN campaign is working (awareness → perception → behavior)

Resources mentioned

• The Montana Institute

In this special edition of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave sits down with his good friends Nicole Augustine and Rikki Barton to unpack the Prevention Core Competencies curriculum—why it was created, what gaps it fills in the prevention workforce, and why it’s not just for “prevention professionals,” but for anyone who cares about building safer, healthier communities.

They dig into what’s inside the training (in-person and virtual), how the curriculum supports workforce development and prevention advocacy, and why the Train-the-Trainer (ToT) experience is intentionally different than most ToTs in the field—especially with a big emphasis on facilitation skills and classroom management.

They also explore the “social entrepreneur” angle: how becoming a certified trainer can build local capacity and create sustainable revenue streams for individuals, agencies, and organizations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Prevention Core Competencies exists (and what it adds beyond SAPST + Ethics)
• The origin story: SAMHSA, the PTTCs, and the development/pilot process
• Why this curriculum is for both prevention professionals and community members
• How the training strengthens prevention “why” and helps communities choose more effective strategies
• In-person vs virtual delivery: why they’re not interchangeable (and why that matters)
• What makes this ToT different (hybrid approach + real facilitation skill-building)
• Practical classroom management: navigating over-talkers, over-sharers, disengaged participants, and resistance3
• How the curriculum can support workforce development, advocacy, and communication with decision-makers
• The entrepreneurship and sustainability angle: offering the training, charging appropriately, and building ROI

• Future Proof + intrapreneurship: creating new revenue streams inside prevention organizations

Links & Resources

• Register for the May 2026 Prevention Core Competencies ToT
• Contact Nicole
• Contact Rikki

• Nicole’s book Be Great (Amazon)

In this episode, we explore how mindset shapes the way we experience stress, recovery, resilience, and personal growth. Dave sits down with wellness coach and social worker Cynthia Conigliaro for a grounded, practical conversation about how mindset is formed, how it can shift over time, and what you can do — starting this week — to reset your thinking patterns in a healthier direction.

Together, they unpack how survival mindset can help in moments of crisis but hold us back in everyday life, why awareness is the first step in changing thought patterns, and how small daily practices can create meaningful mindset shifts. The conversation also explores the connection between physical health, emotional health, nervous system regulation, and overall wellbeing.

This episode is especially helpful for prevention professionals, helpers, leaders, and anyone navigating stress, healing, or personal change.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• What “mindset” really means and how it differs from perception
• How negative thought loops form — and how to interrupt them
• Practical tools for flipping and reframing thoughts
• The role of presence and awareness in mindset reset
• Why physical wellness habits support mental resilience
• Moving from gratitude to joy — and why that distinction matters
• Real-life stories of resilience, recovery, and growth
• Simple practices you can implement in the next 7 days

If this episode gave you a useful insight or tool, share it with a colleague or friend in prevention or helping professions. Prevention — and growth — are better together.

In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave sits down with licensed addiction and mental health counselor Amber Hollingsworth to challenge one of the most persistent myths in addiction recovery: that people have to “hit rock bottom” before they change.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with individuals and families, Amber introduces the idea of “raising the bottom”—practical, compassionate ways families and prevention professionals can help loved ones see the impact of their use before everything falls apart.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “wait for rock bottom” is harmful advice for families and loved ones
• What it really means to “raise the bottom” (and why it’s more hopeful and effective)
• How to ask for reasonable, everyday responsibilities so the person can see gaps in their own functioning
• Why empathy, not nagging or judgment, activates the part of the brain that actually learns from mistakes
• How to respond when someone says they’ll “cut back” or “only drink on weekends” (the bargaining phase)
• What to do instead of lecturing, reminding, or “I told you so”
• How to build your “credit score” with a loved one so you become the safe person they’ll actually talk to
• Practical communication moves drawn from motivational interviewing that any prevention professional or family member can use

Amber’s story:

• From high school teacher to addiction counselor by “accident”
• Growing up in an addictive family and only seeing it clearly after entering the field
• Why she gravitated toward working with people in denial or who “don’t want help”

“Put the Shovel Down” and raising the bottom

• The recovery saying behind Amber’s YouTube channel name, Put the Shovel Down
• “You hit your bottom when you put your shovel down — you don’t have to keep digging.”
• Raising the bottom: setting up ordinary, values‑aligned responsibilities (helping with homework, picking up dinner, doing the dishes) so the person can see when they’re not following through

ABOUT OUR GUEST: AMBER HOLLINGSWORTH

Amber Hollingsworth is a licensed addiction counselor, master addiction counselor, and licensed mental health counselor based in South Carolina. She has spent over two decades working with individuals and families impacted by addiction.

Amber runs the popular YouTube channel “Put the Shovel Down,” where she shares practical strategies for people in early recovery and for family members navigating denial, relapse, and boundaries.

CONNECT WITH AMBER

• YouTube: Put the Shovel Down
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Dave:

• PreventionLeaders.com
• DaveClosson.com/links