Substance Abuse

Colorado School Safety Resource Center

• Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know 2014
• Preventing Youth Marijuana Use in Colorado: Information for Schools 2020

Other Substance Abuse Materials

Rise Above Colorado

• Empowering youth to make healthy connections, decisions and change

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Therefore, overdoses happen faster and are harder to stop. It comes in pills, pure powders, and powder mixed with other drugs. It cannot be seen, tasted or smelled when mixed into other drugs. The Denver Public Health & Environment fentanyl page has more resources.

Colorado Department of Revenue

• State of Colorado Underage Drinking Enforcement Website
  • Hosted by the Department of Revenue, this application contains information and data on underage drinking in Colorado.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Stop Overdose
  • To address the increasing number of overdose deaths related to both prescription opioids and illicit drugs, the CDC created a website to educate people who use drugs about the dangers of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, the risks and consequences of mixing drugs, the lifesaving power of naloxone, and the importance of reducing stigma around recovery and treatment options.
• The Facts About Fentanyl
  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.

Children's Safety Network (CSN)

• Children's Safety Network, National Resource Center for Injury and Violence Prevention is dedicated to working with state, territorial and community Maternal & Child Health and Injury & Violence prevention programs to create an environment where all children and youth are safe and healthy. We work with states and territories to infuse knowledge, expertise, and leadership to reduce injury, hospitalization, disability and death for all children and youth.

Colorado Department of Education

• Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement
  • The Colorado Department of Education has collected K-12 public school drug, alcohol, and tobacco incidents since the 2000-2001 school year. A ten-year trend can be viewed at:, ATOD Colorado School Trends.
  • Provides resources that may be helpful to educate school staff, students, parents, and the broader public about the dangers of substance abuse., Information includes how using drugs may impede learning and undermine student achievement.
  • Understand the Big Deal: How Marijuana Harms Youth
    • Fact Sheet -- 2 pages
    • Brochure -- 4 pages

Colorado Institute of Health

•  Colorado's prevention leaders developed this plan for state agencies that fund prevention programming. It proposes two bold goals: To reduce substance abuse and misuse among youth and their families, and to address the upstream risk factors that predict substance abuse and other behavioral health problems, like suicide and depression, and the protective factors that mitigate these bad outcomes, like youth resilience and social skills. In other words, it aims to prevent substance abuse by promoting overall mental health. This plan represents Colorado's commitment to getting ahead of substance use and abuse before it starts - and, in turn, to improving the lives of thousands of Colorado's adults, youth and families.
• Putting Prevention Science to Work: Colorado's Statewide Strategic Plan for Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse - 2019-2024 (PDF 2KB)

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

• Since 1992 Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has been training local grassroots groups, known as community anti-drug coalitions, in effective community problem-solving strategies, teaching them how to assess their local substance abuse-related problems and develop a comprehensive plan to address them.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

• Get Smart About Drugs (GSAD)
  • This website is a product of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to help parents, educators, and caregivers stay informed with the latest information about youth substance abuse. The site contains pictures and descriptions of abused substances and their associated paraphernalia. There are also tips for talking with youth who are suspected of using drugs.
  • Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention
  • Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine
• Operation Prevention
  • The DEA and Discovery Education have joined forces to combat a growing epidemic of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use nationwide. Operation Prevention's mission is to educate students about the true impacts of opioids and kick-start lifesaving conversations in the home and classroom. Since its launch Operation Prevention has reached over 4M students nationwide. No local sponsorship or corporate funding is necessary for you to get started today.

Front Range Clinic - Medical Mobile Unit

• Do you struggle with addition? Recovery is a process. You just have to start. Front Range Clinic brings medication assisted treatment (MAT) to you! In conjunction with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), MAT mobile units have been designed specifically to provide addiction treatment to rural communities. The MAT mobile units will travel to designated communities to provide these services. Call (970) 616-2756 or view schedule at Front Range Clinic Mobile-Unit Website

Institute for Behavior and Health (IBH)

• America's Dropout Crisis: The Unrecognized Connection to Adolescent Substance Use
  • Published in March 2013 by the Institute for Behavior and Health (IBH)
  • Associations between substance use, academic failure, and dropout are strong and well-recognized among researchers and educators who study adolescent substance use.
  • Lower high school grades and motivation and higher risk of dropping out are associated with use of illegal substances. This report discusses decades of scientific studies that show the connection between adolescent substance use and school failure.
  • CSSRC Staff Review - Nov. 2013

National Jewish Health

• My Life, My Quit™ 
  • In response to the vaping epidemic, National Jewish Health launched My Life, My Quit™ a nicotine cessation program developed to help teens quit e-cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. To build the program, NJH sought teens' input in focus groups and consulted with experts in teen behavior. My Life, My Quit is currently available in 19 states with active exploration of opportunities to expand nationwide.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

• Reports and Detailed Tables from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
  • NSDUH provides estimates of the use of illegal substances, prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as mental disorders, treatment, and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders in the United States. NSDUH data also help to identify the extent of substance use and mental illness among different sub-groups, estimate trends over time, and determine the need for treatment services. Today, SAMHSA released the latest data findings from the 2018 NSDUH. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children

• National DEC's approach for addressing the needs of children in dangerous drug environments focuses on the formation of community-based partnerships that encourage agency personnel from across multiple disciplines to coordinate their mutual interests, resources and responsibilities. Supports state services and local communities by helping to develop efficient and effective strategies and tools that better leverage existing resources. Provides national leadership, strategic planning, training, and technical assistance to our alliances and network members and advocates for intervention on behalf of these innocent victims.

National Center for Campus Public Safety

• The National Center for Campus Public Safety’s (NCCPS or the National Center) mission is to bring together all forms of campus public safety, professional associations, advocacy organizations, community leaders, and others to improve and expand services to those who are charged with providing a safe environment on the campuses of the nation’s colleges and universities.

Office of National Drug Control Policy

• Above the Influence
  • Launched by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Above the Influence campaign follows an extensive consultation with experts in the fields of health communications and drug prevention.
  • Above the Influence Toolkit with helpful information for schools and adults

Partnership to End Addiction

• The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children. The centerpiece of this effort is an online resource center at drugfree.org, featuring interactive tools that translate the latest science and research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand tips and tools.
• The Medicine Abuse Project is a campaign to curb teen medicine abuse., A suite of resources for educators, is available and is tailored specifically for teachers, school administrators, school nurses and other specialized instructional support personnel to help prevent medicine abuse in schools, home and communities.

RMC Health

• Second Chance - Tobacco Suspension Alternative - Free Online Colorado Program
  • Second Chance is a FREE on-line, interactive, and self-directed alternative to suspension program for teens who violate tobacco policy at school, or tobacco law in the community. The program can also be used with teens who are experimenting with tobacco, but have not violated any policy or law. Teens can be referred to Second Chance by staff in schools, local health agencies, and youth-serving organizations.
  • Informational Flyer
  • Administrator's Start-Up Guide
• Tobacco-Free Schools Policy Checklist Toolkit
  • Colorado Tobacco-free Schools Policy Checklist Toolkit (2010) created by the Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion an Education, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's State Tobacco Education &, Prevention Partnership. The Colorado Tobacco-free Schools Checklist Toolkit includes tools and strategies to assist Colorado schools in developing and implementing comprehensive tobacco-free policies.

Smart Colorado

• Smart Colorado is the only non-profit organization focused on protecting the health, safety and well-being of Colorado youth as marijuana becomes increasingly available and commercialized. Smart Colorado formed after the 2012 passage of Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution, which legalized the sale and possession of recreational marijuana. We believe Colorado's top priority around marijuana policy and education should be protecting our youth.

Speak Now!

• The SpeakNow! Campaign has ended but many of the infographics are still available online. The "Speak Now" campaign was part of the Colorado Prevention Partnership for Success (CPPS) statewide underage binge drinking initiative focused on implementing evidence-based substance abuse prevention practices, policies and approaches that build local and state prevention infrastructure in Colorado.,
  • Speak Now Infographic One-Page English
  • Speak Now Infographic One-Page English 04-21-17
  • Alcohol and Marijuana and the Teen Brain (Released - April 2014)
  • Alcohol and Marijuana poster (Released - April 2014)
  • Conversations about Alcohol poster (Released - June 2014)
  • How to Fail Prom video. With the arrival of prom season comes parties, and the potential for dangerous situations involving alcohol. See how the excitement of prom night can turn into a summer-ruining experience when alcohol is added, and how a conversation between parents and teens can make a big difference.
  • Now's a Good Time to Talk about How Teens Get Alcohol (Summer 2013)

Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic

• Spark a Conversation
  • The teen years often bring challenges and multiple opportunities for experimentation with drugs and alcohol that can lead to substance misuse. Focused on finding innovative prevention tools for the addiction epidemic, the SAFE team came up with a unique way to spark conversations about addiction with young adults

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• SAMHSA website contains resources - programs, policies and grants - focused on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders.
• After High School: Talking With Your Young Adult About Underage Drinking

  • This fact sheet is to inform parents how to effectively talk to their young adult about the risks of underage drinking.

• The CBHSQ Report: Understanding Adolescent Inhalant Use

  • In this report data is used to explore inhalant use in the United States among those aged 12 or older. The report then examines inhalant use among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and describes estimates by demographic and geographic characteristics.
• Alcohol and Drug Combinations are More Likely to Have a Serious Outcome than Alcohol Alone in Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking (Published - July 2014)
• Behavioral Health Barometer for Colorado | Volume 5 - 2019
• Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking (2018)
  • This Report to Congress summarizes the status of the latest scientific research regarding adolescent alcohol use, describes the characteristics and consequences of underage drinking, and outlines the comprehensive efforts of the Federal Government to address the problem. It also updates and expands the individual state reports. By addressing underage drinking in all of the environments in which youth live-family, school, communities, healthcare systems, and religious institutions - we can change the way that young people and their parents view underage drinking and create an environment in which underage alcohol use is understood as a serious public health and public safety problem, not a culturally ingrained rite of passage.
• Resources from National Prevention Week | RNPW en Español
  • Use these resources and, toolkit to hold an event that fits the needs of your particular organization and community while strengthening and creating community partnerships. This toolkit gives you the ideas and resources for what you need, including fact sheets, templates that you can tailor for your needs, and other promotional materials.
• Finding Quality Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
• TIP 42 - Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Co-Occurring Disorders (Revised 2013)
• TIP 48 - Managing Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Clients During Early Recovery (Revised 2013)
• Tips for Teens: All Abusive Substances
  • This link provides a list of fact sheet for teens on facts about various abusive substances. It describes short- and long-term effects, lists signs of use, and helps dispel common myths. It also can be used by prevention professionals, educators, health care providers, and others who come in contact with teens on a regular basis.
• Talk. They Hear You.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA's underage drinking prevention PSA campaign helps parents and caregivers start talking to their children early - as early as nine years old - about the dangers of alcohol.
    • Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol
    • Answering Your Child's Tough Questions About Alcohol
    • The Consequences of Underage Drinking
    • How To Tell If Your Child Is Drinking Alcohol
    • What You Can Do To Prevent Your Child From Drinking
    • Why Your Child Might Start Drinking
    • Family Agreement Form: Avoiding Alcohol
    • Sample Text Messages Reminding Your Child To Avoid Alcohol

• SAMHSA'S Underage Drinking Prevention Toolkit

  While several resources in the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Underage Drinking Prevention and Education Initiative's (UADPEI) can be found online at stopalcoholabuse.gov their toolkit, which can be accessed via Dropbox, provides essential behind-the-scenes resources and tools that will help further educate affiliates, campus communities and external constituents with the latest data on underage drinking prevention.

  The partner toolkit is organized into separate folders to cover all the necessary topics. The background materials folder provides the relevant resources, that set the stage for the who, what, why and how of the SAMHSA UADPEI initiative. These can be used as reference points to learn about the work, products, and tools available to you and your partners from SAMHSA. You will also have access to the most recent Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking and Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States as well as a quick overview of UADPEI to help create relevant resources for your community. All materials are provided as PDFs, tools and resources will be added as they become available, so bookmark the Dropbox link and check back often!

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • The National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide
  • Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: Pocket Guide
    • This NIAAA Teen Alcohol Risk Screening Guide tool helps healthcare professionals identify youth at risk for alcohol-related problems, counsel or advise them, and connect them to external sources of treatment. It contains a risk assessment survey and links to motivational interviewing resources.
    • CSSRC Staff Review - August 2013
  • College Drinking Prevention College Drinking: Changing the Culture
    • Fall Semester: A Time for Parents to Revisit Discussions about College Drinking (July 2013)
  • Underage Drinking
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NIDA website contains resources for students and young adults including education resources and materials on drugs of abuse. Information for parents and teachers includes drug information and facts, education materials, curriculum guides, and classroom tools. Medical and health professionals will find resources including NIDAMED, screening tools, resources for your practice, resources for your patients, and centers of excellence for physician information.
  • Brain Power! Challenge
    • This is a series of curricula for grades K-9 teaching students about brains and substance abuse.
    • CSSRC Staff Review October 2013
  • Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse
    • Online resource that equips parents with research-based skills to help keep their children drug-free.
    • NIDA-funded research has shown the critical role parents play in preventing their children from using drugs. Family Checkup poses questions for parents to consider as they interact with their children, highlighting parenting skills that are important in preventing the initiation and progression of drug use among youth. The resource incorporates video examples that show parents how-to and how-not-to emulate each skill with their own children.
    • Family Checkup Document
  • Information for Parents and Teachers (including free resources)
  • Marijuana: Facts for Teens | MFT en Español
  • NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse has activity ideas and free downloadable fact sheets.
  • Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents  (Published Oct. 2003)
  • Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (2014)
    • CSSRC Staff Review - Nov. 2014
  • Research Report Series: Heroin | RRSH en Español (Updated - Feb. 2014)

U.S. Department of Justice,