The introduction of fentanyl into the drug supply has been a game changer in how we prevent overdoses. More people are focusing on practical strategies and ideas to keep the person engaged, safe and alive while minimizing the harm resulting from substance use. A key tenant of the harm reduction approach is to accept a person unconditionally where they are in terms of their drug use with no expectations or assumptions for treatment. The goal is to keep the person alive.

Phoebe Axman, Director of Education of New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition, has joined us today. She will share the evidence-based practices behind these life-saving services and how they are making a difference across NH.

As young people grow and mature, they seek independence and intimacy. However, many struggle with forming safe and unhealthy relationships. The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV) and its member organizations are teaching these important skills to youth starting in middle school.

All behavior is communication, but with children who have been traumatized, it can be difficult to know what they are saying. Through an innovative project, pediatric practices around the state are learning to decode what these children are saying. The Institute for Health Policy and Practice at UNH with expertise from the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth bring proven strategies and resources in quality improvement science to help healthcare providers take the steps to improve care during routine well-child checks.

We are excited to have Felicity Bernard, the Director of the New Hampshire Pediatric Improvement Partnership (NH PIP), with us today. She’s here to talk about how this project is helping pediatric practices look beyond what a child presents during a visit to understand how they feel and respond to stress.

While the youth smoking rates have been declining over the past twenty years, there are now more youth using e-cigarettes, particularly disposable vape products. A huge driver for these youth using this product was the direct and illegal marketing to youth that the manufacturers did over the past three years. Our guest from Breathe NH helps us understand why so many young people choose to vape in this episode of the Power of Prevention Podcast.

Juvenile court diversion is an approach to help both youth and those harmed by their offenses heal and repair from their actions. Research shows that most young people age out of delinquent behavior with no intervention, by simply growing up, and diversion programs are a more productive way to prevent future arrests. Being involved in the court system does more long-term harm than good to youth.

As we age, we become more vulnerable to misusing substances for a variety of reasons. Physical changes alter the way alcohol and other substances are processed impacting mood, memory and movement. Significant events such as retirement, moving or grieving change our lifestyle and can lead to using substances as a form of coping. Chronic pain or illness can result in multiple prescriptions that can be unintentionally misused. When adult children, loved ones, providers and others understand the risks associated with substance misuse among older people, then we can support and help our friends, neighbors and loved ones enjoy healthy aging.

There is an urgent need for all of us to recognize and support our loved ones when we see their unhealthy use of substances as they age. When all of us invest in the early stages and take action, we can help our parents, friends and neighbors get well and stay well.

In this episode of the Power of Prevention Podcast, we explore factors that contributed to the recent decline in NH overdose deaths and how a new grant from SAMHSA to UNH Extension can support those working in their communities to reduce the harm of substance use. To dive into this topic we have guest Melissa Lee, Certified Prevention Specialist, associate field specialist, and Project Director with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. She shares how this new funding collaborates with stakeholders to implement evidence-based opioid prevention strategies to reduce the misuse of opioids (with or without a prescription).

Today the misuse of substances can have lethal consequences because many substances contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. Counterfeit pills look like common prescription medications like OxyContin(™), Percodan(™), and Adderall(™). Listen to this podcast to learn how young people in NH reach their peers with motivational messaging to avoid substance misuse, prevent suicide and promote well-being.

Are we getting it all wrong? Lynn Lyons suggests a new approach when it comes to dealing with worry and anxiety in young people. In this podcast, she challenges us to think about the consequences of eliminating these negative feelings and shares practical tips on helping your kids cope forward with worry and anxiety in their lives.