Substance Use Prevention

The Substance Use Prevention (SUP) program works to prevent harm caused by alcohol and other drugs in Humboldt County. We work with the entire community to promote social norms and environments that support healthy choices. We also weave youth leadership development into our activities. We offer presentations to youth, adults, school and parent groups and have brochures and printed materials available upon request.

  1. Strategies to Reduce Youth Access
  2. Resources
  3. Fentanyl and Opioid Misuse Prevention

For Students, grades 5-12

We offer in-school alcohol and other drug and life skills education sessions for Grades 5-12 students. Trainings are available during the academic school year. Please email PublicHealthAOD@co.humboldt.ca.us or call 707-268-2132 to schedule sessions at your school.

Topics include: 

  • Too Good for Drugs (grade 5), from the Mendez Foundation, toogoodprograms.org 
  • Cannabis, Alcohol, and Other Drugs Conversations Lessons (grades 6-8). Two 45-minute sessions with a focus on cannabis. Session 1 reviews what cannabis is and how it affects the brain, as well as risks of alcohol and other drug use. Session 2 is an introduction to what addiction is and what puts people at risk for addiction. Students will learn about healthy coping skills and practice refusal skills.
  • The Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum includes five lessons, each providingStanford_Medicine_REACH_Lab activities, online quiz games and worksheets in addition to presentations, resources and other materials aimed at addressing key factors  associated with youth cannabis use, including changing adolescents’ attitudes towards and misperceptions about cannabis. This curriculum is available in elementary school, middle school and high school versions. 
  • Brain Science of Addiction (grade 9). Our program has adapted the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Brain Science of Addiction curriculum for local usage. This five lesson, science-based education series, provides students with information on the effects that drugs, drug use, and addiction have on the brain and body. We discuss risk and protective factors for developing an addiction, community norms on drug use, communication, peer relationships, stigma, and addiction treatment.
  • Healthy Relationships (grades 5-10). A 1-hour session where students learn the qualities of a healthy relationship and how to identify healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships. Students also learn about boundaries and what works and doesn't work when setting them.
  • Prescription Drug Safety (grades 5-10). A 1-hour interactive session where students learn what a prescription drug is and what they are useful for. Students will learn how to identify prescription drug misuse and go over the reasons why people may misuse medications. We will also go over healthy coping skills when dealing with difficult life situations. Students will learn the importance of keeping medications safely stored and how to keep others safe from an accidental overdose.
  • Photo Voice (grades 6-12). Photo Voice workshops train local youth to use photography and narrative to express their thoughts about alcohol and other drug issues in the Humboldt community. Final projects include 11x17 posters in English. Posters are translated to Spanish by Public Health Translator-Interpreters. Our program hosts an exhibit event of completed posters at the end of each school year. 

For educators

We offer trainings for educators and educational materials for educator use in the classroom on alcohol and other drugs use prevention. These trainings are ideal for teachers, school staff, youth-serving organizations, and any service providers who work with youth. Our educational materials are ideal for teachers and school staff who need “grab and go” lesson plans to use in their classrooms.

For parents, caregivers, and guardians

We also offer community-based trainings for parents, caregivers, and guardians on effective ways to talk to young people about alcohol and other drugs. Our team is available to provide trainings for parents, caregivers, and guardians at service provider agencies and community groups.