Promoting Wellness and Recovery Sarah Smith, Director of Start Talking! Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services

Background Drug abuse is a public health epidemic in Ohio and across the nation In the U.S., 44 people die per day from prescription drug overdoses. Nationally, 681,000 Americans 12 and older have used heroin.

Background Drug overdoses have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio Since 1999, drug overdose deaths have increased by 413% What is the driving factor behind this significant increase?

Background 82% of those addicted to heroin started with a pill. 6 Ohioans die every day from an opioid overdose.

Paul’s Story

Ohio’s Response Since 2011, Ohio has developed a multi-pronged approach to fight drug abuse: Increase public and professional education Increase enforcement and interdiction efforts on our highways Expand treatment options and recovery supports Focus on prevention

Why Start Talking! ? Research shows when children talk about substance abuse with parents and other adults, they are up to 50% less likely to use.

Start Talking! Developed around 3 simple strategies: Help parents understand the risks to their children and empower them with simple tools to get the conversation started. Provide programming for schools, and other in the community, to reinforce positive messages Encourage peer-to-peer conversations among high school youth to promote healthy lifestyles

What is Start Talking! ? Comprised of 4 key programs Know! Parents360 Rx 5 Minutes for Life Building Youth Resiliency

Parents360Rx is an education and information program developed by the Partnership at Drugfree.org to increase parents’ knowledge of substance abuse and improve their confidence in their ability to speak with teens about substance abuse, particularly prescription drugs.

1.) Know! provides parents (or grandparents and other caregivers) with twice monthly, FREE Know! Parent Tips via email that contain current facts about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, as well as action steps they can take to help children resist peer pressure to use. 2.) Know! offers free twice-monthly emails to educators and community leaders on TEACHable Moments that can help reinforce the prevention messaging from parents

5 Minutes for Life centers on Ohio State Troopers and Ohio National Guard members, as well as local law enforcement, talking for five minutes with student athletes, before or after a practice. They challenge athletes about responsible decision-making, leadership and encouraging those in their peer group to live a drug-free lifestyle.

Building Youth Resiliency, is a partnership between the Office of the First Lady, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and several state departments. The program targets at-risk students in grades 5-9, helping kids adapt to adversity and stress, and respond to difficult experiences in a healthy manner.

Start Talking! 2014-2015 School Year 17,152 students have participated in 5MFL 392 volunteer ambassadors have been identified Know! tips are being sent to over 6,000 middle school principals, school counselors and administrators across the state. Parades, summer camps, business involvement and more.

What you can do to help Reach out to schools in your area encouraging them to 1.) forward the Know tips to parents and staff, and 2.) schedule a 5MFL presentation Host a Parents360 Rx event in your community Consider utilizing the free Start Talking! resources to promote youth drug prevention at athletic events, in programs, parades, on social media, etc.

Sarah Smith, MPA, Director of Start Talking! Contact Information Sarah Smith, MPA, Director of Start Talking! 30 E. Broad Street, 36th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 387-2799 Sarah.Smith@mha.ohio.gov Starttalking.ohio.gov