What is the Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse initiative? Communities Talk supports the work of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug misuse among 12- to 25-year-olds in the United States. SAMHSA distributes planning stipends to community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and statewide or state-based organizations to host activities and events to help communities become informed, prepared, and ultimately take action against underage drinking and other substance misuse. THE 2023 CYCLE IS HERE! StopAlcoholAbuse.gov/communitiestalk/ #CommunitiesTalk $750 planning stipends are limited. Register for yours as soon as possible. Why should I participate in Communities Talk ? A consistent and robust focus on prevention at the federal, state, and local level is essential to reducing the impact of substance misuse on our communities and our youth. But we know one size does not fit all! That’s why this initiative was designed to support you in developing prevention activities that best fit your community’s needs. How do I participate in Communities Talk ? Organizations planning a Communities Talk activity can receive a planning stipend of $750 to help offset the costs of planning and holding an event. SAMHSA also has published how-to guides, videos, success stories from past Communities Talk activity hosts, customizable resources, and more at https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/communitiestalk/ to help with your planning. Stipends are available on a first come, first served basis. Click here to request an invitation to register then copy and paste this message into the body of the email: “ I’d like to request a $750 planning stipend to participate in Communities Talk . Please send me a unique URL to begin my registration.” Please note that invitations will be sent on a rolling basis. When do Communities Talk activities take place? Your Communities Talk activity must take place by November 30, 2023, but there is no specific time that you have to hold your activity within the year. Consider using national health observances such as National Prevention Week in May, Red Ribbon Week in October, or other events where alcohol and other drug misuse may be taking place, such as spring break, prom, or the holiday season. SAMHSA encourages activity planners to explore ways to hold virtual activities if that is the best option while adhering to local health guidelines. Check out the Virtual Activities Toolkit for ideas and tools to host a safe, engaging, and impactful activity. Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse: THE 2023 CYCLE IS HERE! StopAlcoholAbuse.gov WHAT’S NEW EMAIL NEWSLETTER Receive monthly updates on substance use prevention news and resources.