Alabama Opioid Prevention Initiative for Youth
In partnership with The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama
Research shows that ninety percent of those who have a substance use disorder started using drugs or alcohol before the age of eighteen. The earlier someone starts using substances, the greater their chances are of developing a substance use disorder. Prevention efforts are the first line of defense against risky or harmful substance abuse.
In Alabama, the opioid crisis is a public health and economic crisis. Alabama is ranked #7 in the U.S. for the number of non-fatal opioid overdoses and Walker County is ranked as one of the highest counties in the country at #5. Minors and adults are dying, and families are being devastated. This epidemic discriminates against no one. It affects all demographics, and every sector of our economy is affected within urban settings to isolated rural communities.
More than half of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills being trafficked in communities across the country now contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This marks a dramatic increase in 2022 – from four out of ten to six out of ten – in the number of pills that can kill. It is important to educate Alabama youth, teens, and parents on how one becomes addicted to opioids, how to prevent becoming addicted, and what resources are available to provide hope and help.
To address these issues, the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Children’s Trust Fund (ADCANP) has launched an Opioid Prevention Initiative. The initiative includes PSAs, videos, web site, social media, educational guides and posters, billboards, resources for help, and more. Click Here to learn more about the initiative.