Substance Misuse Prevention

With rising opioid overdoses, increasingly potent forms of cannabis, the persistent dangers caused by alcohol use, and the mental health crisis created by COVID-19, Connecticut’s need for prevention has never been greater.

The Partnership is committed to both creating our own resources and amplifying the work of other experts in the field to ensure that Connecticut families have access to the most up-to-date information on emerging threats to our young people.

With the rise of vaping and e-cigs, Big Tobacco may be wearing a new mask, but the danger remains the same. It is up to caring adults and outspoken young people to fight back against companies trying to profit off youth nicotine addiction.
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance nationally and in Connecticut. By leveraging prevention resources, we all can help reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries among young people.
Opioids and misused prescription medication present potent risks for young people. With fentanyl on the rise across Connecticut, it has never been more important to leverage the prevention resources that can help save youth from overdose and addiction.
Cannabis is legal in Connecticut for anyone over the age of 21. However, legal does not mean safe. With potent edibles and the possibility of impaired brain development, the risks to young people are very real.

General Substance Misuse Resources

Connecticut has established 21 as the legal minimum age for drinking alcohol, purchasing tobacco products, cannabis use, and casino gambling. This is for good reason! Learn why 21 is the legal minimum age.
Natural High seeks to distribute drug prevention and life skill resources to help young people thrive. They work with influencers young people admire to create free and impactful content for educators and parents.
The Partnership to End Addiction is a diverse community of researchers, advocates, clinicians, and communicators who work together to provide addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery resources.
DrugFreeCT.org provides Connecticut with a variety of resources to help understand, prevent, and recover from substance use disorders.

Partnership Substance Misuse Initiatives

Dive into our E3 program – Engage, Encourage, Empower – a dynamic initiative that transforms young lives through school and community-based substance use prevention training, enriching them with essential knowledge through interactive modules and culminating in a powerful youth-led awareness campaign that resonates through their schools and communities.
The Future Prevention Leaders Youth Conference is a dynamic and engaging one-day event that focuses on substance use prevention and promotes overall well-being among high school-aged future leaders from across Connecticut. This conference offers a unique platform for personal growth, skill-building, and community-building in the field of substance use prevention.
The Por Los Niños program aims at empowering Hartford parents through a bilingual and interactive approach to learning! The program allows Hartford parents and adults to learn about substance use and alcohol—and teaches and encourages them to speak to their children.

The Governor’s Prevention Partnership builds statewide capacity to prevent underage drinking and substance use and builds strategic alliances to promote the overall well-being of Connecticut’s future workforce.