Substance Misuse Prevention
Substance Misuse Prevention at Carroll County Coalition for Public Health is about building community and individual capacity so that substance misuse risk factors can be reduced and protective factors can be increased. The Strategic Prevention Framework is utilized to look at Carroll County and to work towards addressing risk and protective factors at all community levels using evidence based proven practices. This is a collaborative effort among many organizations across all different sectors across Carroll County. Activities range from networking, collecting and distributing resources, working with schools on curricula or programming, tailored presentation on mental health and substances, and advocating for policies that promote health.
These efforts are led by Jennifer Thomas M.Ed. CPS, the prevention coordinator at C3PH. Jen is a board-certified prevention specialist which is an international certification established to reduce the impacts of substance misuse. The certification requires expert knowledge in the areas of health promotion, behavioral health, health behavior change, strategic planning and addictive drugs. Our team here at C3PH is here to support in any way that we can.
HOW WE CAN HELP:
- Provide information about alcohol and other drugs to parents, teens, and the general public in Carroll County.
- Share information about statewide, countywide, and local efforts to prevent substance misuse among our youth and other populations.
- Provide technical assistance to schools, communities, businesses, and other organizations in Carroll County as they create and implement substance use policies, evidence-based prevention programs and practices.
- Participate in and support the prevention initiatives of our partners in Carroll County.
- Coordinate community events that enhance the prevention, treatment, and recovery support resources in the county.
- Advocate for and facilitate multi-agency collaborations to bring additional prevention, treatment, and recovery support resources to Carroll County
OBJECTIVES
- Increase health literacy among the Carroll County population
- Work towards reducing risk factors and improving protective factors that influence substance misuse
- Increase the levels of knowledge about alcohol and other drugs
- Increase outreach in an effort to raise awareness on the impacts of alcohol and other drugs
- Make the connection between mental health and alcohol and other drugs
- Address the perception of harm regarding drugs and alcohol
- Enhance the capacity of the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health and its partners to effectively address substance misuse across the lifespan in the region
Contact Jennifer Thomas for more information at jennifer.thomas@graniteuw.org
CARROLL COUNTY YOUTH WELLNESS TEAM
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, 11am-12pm via Zoom.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81151211790
For more information and to be added to the Youth Wellness Team contact list, please email Jen Thomas at jennifer.thomas@graniteuw.org
Mission: We aim to promote youth wellness in Carroll County by continuously assessing local needs, building community capacity and implementing evidence-based strategies. We aim to do this by using a collaborative strategic planning process, engaging in a diverse network of community partners and by including youth voices whenever possible.
Vision: We envision Carroll County, NH as a well-connected and caring community that positively supports youth and young adult needs across all socio-ecological levels. Together, we strive to build a future where individuals under 25 are empowered, resilient, and equipped to lead healthy, meaningful, and substance-free lives.
Goals:
- To assess the needs and gaps in Carroll County, NH related to youth wellness by using both primary and secondary data to identify areas of highest need and guide our focus.
- Work toward assessing the current level of capacity and readiness to address the youth wellness needs and gaps identified in our community.
- Prioritize needs based on current capacity and readiness.
- Brainstorm ways to fill in the gaps related to youth wellness.
- To implement targeted solutions in areas identified as gaps in youth wellness, through communication and collaboration with youth serving organizations.
- We will work to establish and collate resources to share among all youth serving organizations.
- To continuously learn from youth voice and youth-centered data to stay informed about the evolving needs of high-risk populations, particularly related to mental health and substance misuse challenges
- To increase community awareness and understanding of the mental health and substance misuse challenges faced by high-risk youth populations, through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Meeting Agendas and Minutes
2025:
|
Agendas |
Minutes |
| May 14, 2025 | May 14, 2025 |
| June 11, 2025 | June 11, 2025 |
| July 9, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
| August- Cancelled | August- Cancelled |
| Sept. 10, 2025 | Sept. 10, 2025 |
| Oct. 8, 2025 | Oct. 8, 2025 |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | Nov. 12, 2025 |
| Dec. 10, 2025 | Dec. 10, 2025 |
OTHER USEFUL LINKS
NH Prescription Drug Drop Boxes
NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services
NH Alcohol and Drug Treatment Locator
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
NH Alcohol and Drug Counselors Association (NHADCA)
