National Prevention Week

May 20-26, 2012

National Prevention Week is a new SAMHSA-supported annual health observance that will celebrate the work that community organizations and individuals do year-round to help prevent substance abuse and promote mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. This health observance is an opportunity for community members to learn more about behavioral health issues and get involved in prevention efforts that can continue throughout the year.

National Prevention Week will be held in May 2012, near the start of summer and the perfect time for communities to come together and rally around prevention. Summer is a season filled with celebrations and recreational activities that can potentially be linked to substance use and abuse, such as graduation parties, proms, weddings, boating, and camping excursions. National Prevention Week 2012 is also timed to allow schools to take part in a prevention-themed event before the school year ends, raising awareness in students of all ages.

E-Newsletter - April 2012

The April 2012 E-Newsletter features the Conejo Valley Community Forum in Thousand Oaks on Prescription Drug Abuse and the Heroin Danger, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Alcohol Awareness Month and the Ventura DUI Program and Prevention Services Grand Opening Celebration. Keep in touch and sign up to get the e-newsletter. We are on Facebook and Twitter too.

The Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse

Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, CA

Social Host Laws: Radio Campaign

The Social Host Laws Radio Campaign was launched in spring of 2011 to highlight the issues related to underage & binge drinking, and to home parties in particular. There are “social host laws” in Ventura County that hold adults responsible for parties where alcohol is served to underage people. The adult who owns or rents the property is responsible, no matter who provides the alcohol. The fines vary by community, but are up to $2,500. Listen to our campaigns.

16th Annual Latino Behavioral Health Institute Conference

Universal City, CA

LBHI’s mission is to enhance skills of persons interested or involved in providing behavioral health services to the Latino community. The Institute is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against persons in need of behavioral health services, human services or health care. LBHI accomplishes its mission by providing training, education and experiential opportunities to persons involved in human services with the Latino community. The Institute’s activities are intended for consumers, family members, professional care providers, administrators, educators, researchers and trainers.

Spanish Photo Novella: Impaired Driving Campaign

The Spanish Photo Novella and Radio Novella Campaign is part of our Latino Community Outreach efforts, highlighting the issues and consequences of impaired driving within the Latino population. This story in photographs (photo-novella) published in Spanish, illustrates the problems associated with drinking and driving under the influence. The photo essay uses photography and short scripts to bring to life the tragedy of impaired driving and the costly and emotional consequences that driving under the influence bring to a family. The Photo Novella and Radio Novella Campaign helps listeners and readers to better understand individuals and families who are dealing with alcohol use problems and offers insight into the consequences for the family. The Radio Novella tells the story from three perspectives; the husband, wife, and police officer. The Radio Novella is available in both Spanish and English.

The Radio Novella campaign will be featured throughout Ventura County during the peak holiday driving weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

Impaired Driving: DUI Prevention

The purpose of our Impaired Driving: DUI Prevention Campaign is to help to educate the public of the dangers of impaired driving and the costly and tragic consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The DUI Checkpoint Brochures are distributed throughout Ventura County, in cooperation with the Oxnard Police Department "Avoid The 14" DUI Enforcement Campaign, at all DUI checkpoints. The DUI Cost Posters are targeted at educating patrons at bars, clubs and restaurants about the risks of impaired driving and the importance of having a designated driver or alternative means of transportation. They are used in retail establishments for both server and patron awareness. Our DUI Cost Posters targeting both first offenders and multiple offenders of a DUI are posted at Ventura County Behavioral Health DUI programs as a reminder of the financial and emotional costs of a DUI.