C3 2023 Coalition Support & Community Change

Over the past year, the MIHEN has provided colleges access to the Certified Peer Educator (CPE) course to implement on their campus, hosted an in-person conference, hosted multiple virtual webinars, created resources, assisted with technical assistance, and so much more! In the next year, the MIHEN is excited to expand and support more colleges/universities in their prevention efforts.

The Michigan Higher Education Network (MIHEN) provides colleges and universities with the tools, resources, and support to launch alcohol and drug misuse prevention and recovery programs on their campuses. The goal of the MIHEN is to create a group of individuals from Michigan colleges/universities interested in connecting and networking about underage drinking and substance misuse prevention. There is no cost to participate. There are currently 52 colleges/universities participating in the MIHEN.

To learn more about MIHEN or get involved, check out the MIHEN page. To learn more or connect with our other programs, click here. Be the first to know our latest updates by joining our mailing list (in the footer of our website)!

This section highlights upcoming events such as webinars, conferences, and workshops, providing you with valuable opportunities to engage with experts, learn new strategies, and network with peers, ultimately fostering collaboration and advancing knowledge in the prevention field. Check out events coming up in the next 3 months below:

See the full calendar of events here.

• CPS Exam Prep Course – August 4th,2023 – The Prevention Specialist Exam Preparation Course will assist participants with studying for and subsequently taking the prevention specialist exam. This course covers the requirements and application process to become a Certified Prevention Specialist.
• Prevention Ethics Training – August 9th,2023 – This course qualifies for the 6.0 required ethics hours for CPS/CPC certification
• MCRUD: Alcohol Policy Summit August 10th 9:45 AM-3:45 PM – More information coming soon.  Contact info@preventionnetwork.org to be added to the mailing list for Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking.
• Lakeshore Muskegon Community Opiate Task Force Summit – August 18th 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM -Learn More About emerging trends in substance use, Science behind addiction, Community prevention, harm reduction, and treatment resources and Lived experiences and recovery process. With Special Guest Speaker Alex Elswick, PhD. CEU’s Pending For more info Contact: Jill Montgomery, MPA, CPC montgomerykeastji@muskegoncounty.net
• MSU Reimagining Recovery: A Community Systems Approach to Addressing Substance Abuse – August 31st 2:00 – 3:15 pm. – Join MSU to discuss opioids and the opiod overdose crisis, risks factors, connection between trauma and addiction, and the share language for health equity and justice within substance use prevention, treatment and recovery! Register here today!

• Labor Day – September 4th, 2023 – Prevention Network office closed
• MDHSS State SUD Conference – September 10th – 12th, 2023 – More information coming soon.
• CMHA 24th Annual Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorder Hybrid Conference – Support Wellness among Individuals, Communities, and Systems.
• PTTC: The Importance of Advocacy for Prevention – September 20th, 2023 – Strengthen your understanding and skills for prevention by gaining knowledge in how to plan, facilitate, and implement advocacy strategies, explore the difference between advocacy and lobbying while acknowledging the importance of advocacy in prevention.
• MSU Reimagining Recovery: A Community Systems Approach to Addressing Substance Abuse – September 21st 2:00 – 3:15 pm. – Join MSU to discuss limits of the brain disease model of addiction, social determinants of addiction, the history of criminalizing and punitive approaches to substance use, and the systemic expressions of criminalizing and punitive approaches and stigma! Register here today!
• Recovery Day of Service – September 30th, 2023 – National movement for the recovery community – including allies, advocates and members. An actionable way to uplift one another, inspire community engagement and give back to the broader community that supported throughout the recovery journey.

• Prevention Training Services: Fall 2023 Prevention Specialist Conference – October 3rd – 6th, 2023 – Register for the virtual Fall 2023 Prevention Specialist Conference to discover many important discussions from presenters around prevention! From policy and prevention, to what works and doesn’t in prevention, and so much more!
• MCRUD Annual Meeting – October 6th, 2023 – Celebrate 26 years of MCRUD’s effective prevention efforts across the state! Connect with others that promote public health and prevention efforts statewide!
• Prevention Ethics Training – October 13th, 2023 – Explore the role of ethics in daily prevention work, describe the Prevention Code of Ethics’ 6 key principles and engage in discussions on ethical issues in scenarios, and apply a 4-step decision-making model to assess and address ethical dilemmas.
• MSU Reimagining Recovery: A Community Systems Approach to Addressing Substance Abuse – October 26th 2:00 – 3:15 pm. – Join MSU to discuss medication for Opioid Use Disorder in recovery, what we know about recovery, the alternatives to criminalizing and punitive approaches, and the recommendations and strategies for reimagining recovery and eliminating stigma. Register here today!

If you haven’t already check out the following featured resources! To see a list of all new resources added to the resource library, see this link.

According to the CDC, there were over 107,000 fatal overdoses in the U.S. in 2021. This figure is staggering. Each number represents a unique life that was lost in the addiction crisis. It also raises an important question: who is being most affected by this epidemic?

According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the BIPOC community is most at risk for developing addiction. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Stress, trauma, housing discrimination, racism, hate crimes, and systemic pressures

drastically increase the risk of developing addiction.

According to several studies, Black individuals in particular are at risk for addiction. Within the last 5 years, there has been a rise in opioid-related overdoses among Black Americans. During this time period, Black people accounted for 43% of all overdoses. This is especially jarring since Black people only make up approximately 12% of the general population.

BIPOC individuals also face barriers when trying to access treatment. These barriers can take the form of familial stigma, cultural stigma, limited healthcare access, systemic discrimination, and regulatory barriers. 

Click here to learn more about these resources.

Click here to search for other prevention skills resources for new professionals. 

In 2014, the U.S. Department of Education released Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline. This resource guide, created by Centers for Disease Control, helps to create positive, safe, and supportive environments that can prevent and change inappropriate behaviors. This guidance also recommends using suspension only as a last resort for serious violations. In fact, school suspension can have long-term impacts.

Students who are suspended miss time in the classroom and are at risk for not graduating on time, repeat a grade, drop out, or become involved with the criminal justice system. Suspensions also affect a greater proportion of students of color, students receiving special education services, students from low-income families, LGBTQ+ students, and male students. Most young people who vape want to quit. Suspending students who violate a school’s tobacco-free policy is unlikely to help them quit tobacco use, and could alter their academic and future goals. Because young people have been unfairly targeted with marketing tactics, the science of addiction, and long-term consequences of suspension, schools should provide a supportive environment and encouragement to quit using tobacco products, not suspension.

Click here to learn more about this resource guide.

Click here to search for other prevention skills resources for new professionals. 

The Prevention Network newsletter delivers timely and comprehensive state and national updates, covering the latest news, research findings, and best practices in the prevention field, ensuring you stay well-informed and equipped to address emerging challenges and opportunities in your prevention efforts. Check out some national and state updates below:

From SAMHSA: Disrupting the Narrative: Stories of Hope and Transformation

As part of National Prevention Week (NPW)’s new Storytelling Series, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and LMSvoice is launching Disrupting the Narrative, a nationwide storytelling challenge just for young adults and adults working with youth-serving organizations. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with an award-winning professional storyteller and have your story featured during a national Mobilize Recovery 2023 event in Washington, D.C. Mobilize Recovery features Grammy award winning artist Macklemore this year! Learn more about how to submit a story here. 

Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program Grants

The Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program is offering grants of up to $20,000 to colleges and universities to support the adoption and implementation of a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy. Colleges that have smoke- or tobacco-free policies that do not include e-cigarettes may still apply. To combat the vaping public health crisis, Truth Initiative is offering grants of up to $10,000 to colleges to strengthen their 100% smoke or tobacco-free policies by adding e-cigarettes.

For more information, including the grant guidelines, link to the online application, and informational webinar registration, please visit: https://truthinitiative.org/tobacco-vape-free-college-program. Please direct questions to Vera Kuma at vkuma@truthinitiative.org.

The deadline to apply is October 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET

Prevention Learning Collaborative Applications Due August 18, 2023

Substance misuse prevention professionals in the Great Lakes region (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) are invited to apply to participate in a year-long learning collaborative. The goal of the learning collaborative is to assist participants in preparing to become certified prevention specialists by providing opportunities to learn foundational knowledge and skills. Learning collaborative participants will attend monthly virtual meetings on the last Tuesday of each month from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm CT (1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET) from October 2023 through September 2024. For more information and to apply visit, our website at Great Lakes PTTC Prevention Learning Collaborative. Download the Prevention Learning Collaborative Overview for additional details about this intensive technical assistance opportunity!

CMHA 24th Annual Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorder Hybrid Conference – Registration Deadline August 29th, 2023

Join CMHA for the annual conference September 10th – September 12th to Support Wellness in Individuals, Communities, and Systems! This conference permits a handful of sessions online, and the deadline for registration is August 29th, 2023! Register by August 15th for a lower price! For more details about this conference, follow this link!

Tobacco Free Michigan Mini-Grants

Tobacco Free Michigan (TFM) is offering mini-grants for pilot projects or projects that need just a little more funding to get started. Projects that focus on reducing tobacco impact disparities and/or educating stakeholders about tobacco policy are most likely to receive funding, but all projects will be considered. Most grants are in the $500-$1,500 range.

In addition to regular mini-grants, TFM has earmarked some funds for youth or adult stakeholder policy education projects. If you have a group of youth or adults interested in learning how to educate stakeholders about tobacco policy, such as taking a trip to the Capitol to meet their legislators, apply today as these will be awarded on a rolling basis.

The common application form can be found on TFM’s webpage (www.tobaccofreemichigan.org/mini-grants). Applications for regular mini-grants are due August 15th. The policy education mini-grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

Michigan Opioid Settlement Information

Public Act 84 of 2022 provided for the creation of the Opioid Advisory Commission in the Legislative Council to “[r]eview local, state, and federal initiatives and activities related to education, prevention, treatment, and services for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, and establish priorities to address substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, for the purpose of recommending funding initiatives to the legislature.” The Opioid Advisory Commission is statutorily required to meet at least quarterly. The Office of the Legislative Council Administrator organizes and coordinates commission activities and provides staff assistance when needed.

View more information, meeting minutes, and join the listserv through their website here.

Click Here for the Michigan Opioid Settlement Fact Sheet

Check out these resources shared by our partners across the state! To submit an article for the next newsletter, click here.

Your words matter, especially when it comes to mental health. One phrase that you may not be aware is particularly egregious? “Committed suicide.”

In the field of behavioral health, words are often our primary tools. We don’t have hammers and saws, thermometers and stethoscopes, or brushes and palettes. Words are powerful tools and using them with intention is central to our craft.

“I’ll never forget, years ago, when I was asked to give a talk about tribes and behavioral health indicators, I presented the data showing higher rates of suicide, alcohol use, earlier ages of initiating substance use, etc. I thought I had done a good job of documenting ‘need’. However, a tribal leader came up to me saying I had painted such a negative view of their community, I had said nothing about the richness and the survival strengths of their tribe.”

This quote from Larke Huang, Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Equity (OBHE), underscores how our words have the capacity to uplift communities or to marginalize them.

Read the full article here. 

Severe illness, grief, isolation, disrupted schooling, job loss, economic hardship, shortages of food and supplies, mental health problems, and limited access to health care — these are just some of the sources of stress people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To cope, many people turned to alcohol despite the risk of developing alcohol-related problems, including problem drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines excessive alcohol use as binge drinking, heavy drinking, alcohol use by people under the minimum legal drinking age, and alcohol use by pregnant women. AUD is a clinical diagnosis that indicates someone’s drinking is causing distress and harm. AUD can range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Severe AUD is sometimes called alcohol addiction.

We spoke with George F. Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), to learn about the pandemic’s effects on alcohol use and related harms. Koob is an expert on the biology of alcohol and drug addiction and has been studying the impact of alcohol on the brain for more than 50 years. He is a national leader in efforts to prevent and treat AUD and to educate people about risky alcohol use.

Read the full article here. 

The following are legislative updates that have occurred at the federal and state level related to substance use:

• SB 141 – Liquor: licenses; carryout sales and delivery of alcoholic liquor by an on-premises licensee; eliminate sunset. Amends sec. 537a of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1537a) — Last action: PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW ON JULY 19, 2023
• SB 247 – Liquor: licenses; issuance of liquor licenses to sporting venues on premises of public universities; allow. Amends sec. 531 of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1531). Last Action: PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW ON JULY 19, 2023
• HB 4865 Liquor: retail sales; restrictions on licensees owning and operating a motor fuel pump; modify. Amends sec. 541 of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1541). Last Action: House • Jun 29, 2023: bill electronically reproduced 06/29/2023
• (Federal) HR 1989 – To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for fiscal year 2024.
  • (Federal) HR 1990 – To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse for fiscal year 2024.
• (Federal) HR 3721 – To amend title 18, United States Code, and title 39, United States Code, to provide the United States Postal Service the authority to mail alcoholic beverages, and for other purposes.

• (Federal) HR610 was introduced on January 27th to reschedule marijuana as a schedule III drug (currently a Schedule I drug). 
• MI HB 4322 Marihuana: other; individuals who are 19 years of age or older; allow to be employed by or volunteer for marihuana establishments. Amends title & secs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 & 11 of 2018 IL 1 (MCL 333.27953 et seq.). — Last action: Jun 21, 2023, House: placed on third reading
• (Federal) US S 326 VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023 — Last action: Apr 26, 2023, Senate: Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 326 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 97) entered in Senate.
  • (Federal) HR 2431 – To authorize Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans regarding participation in State marijuana programs.
  • US HR 2682 To allow veterans to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana and to discuss the use of medical marijuana with a physician of the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized by a State or Indian Tribe, and for other purposes. — Last action: Apr 18, 2023, House: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• MI HB 4430 Marihuana: other; safety information provided to consumers; modify. Amends secs. 3 & 8 of 2018 IL 1 (MCL 333.27953 & 333.27958). — Last action: Apr 20, 2023, House: bill electronically reproduced 04/20/2023
• US HR 2772 To protect the Second Amendment rights of adults whose use of marijuana is permitted by State or Tribal law. — Last action: Apr 20, 2023, House: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• MI SB 179 Marihuana: other; marihuana tax revenue; allocate to Indian tribes under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 14 of 2018 IL 1 (MCL 333.27964). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0180’23 — Last action: May 02, 2023, Senate: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
• (Federal) US S 1323 A bill to create protections for financial institutions that provide financial services to State-sanctioned marijuana businesses and service providers for such businesses, and for other purposes. — Last action: Apr 26, 2023, Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
• MI SB 179 Marihuana: other; marihuana tax revenue; allocate to Indian tribes under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 14 of 2018 IL 1 (MCL 333.27964). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0180’23 — Last action: May 02, 2023, Senate: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
• MI SB 180 Marihuana: other; tribal marihuana businesses; allow marijuana regulatory agency to contract with Indian tribes regarding the operation of. Amends secs. 3, 7, 8, 10 & 13 of 2018 IL 1 (MCL 333.27953 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0179’23 — Last action: May 02, 2023, Senate: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1)

• HB 4250 – Traffic control: violations; penalties for operating a vehicle while sending or receiving a message on an electronic wireless device; enhance. Amends sec. 602b of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.602b). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4251’23, HB 4252’23 Last action: PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW ON JUNE 7, 2023
• SB 134 and 135 – Courts: drug court; specialty court authorization to issue a restricted license requiring an ignition interlock device; modify. Amends secs.; Vehicles: registration; issuance of a restricted license requiring the installation of ignition interlock device and specialty court admission; modify. Amends secs. Introduced on March 2, 2023
• MI HB 4442 Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; crime of operating while intoxicated and causing property damage; provide penalties. Amends sec. 12f, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.12f). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4443’23 — Last action: Apr 20, 2023, House: bill electronically reproduced 04/20/2023

• HB 4913 Crimes: controlled substances; sale, distribution, or possession of xylazine; prohibit. Amends
• US HB 901 – To require the Food and Drug Administration to prioritize enforcement of disposable electronic nicotine delivery system products. Introduced to the House on Feb. 9, 2023 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
• US SR 464 – A bill to amend the IRC of 1986 to deny the deduction for advertising and promotional expenses for tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems
• HB 4061 – Kratom Consumer Protection Act – A bill to regulate the distribution, sale, and manufacture of kratom products
• (Federal) US 118 – S 206 – END FENTANYL Act Last Action: Mar 29, 2023, Senate: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
• (Federal) US HR 2867 To establish an awareness campaign related to the lethality of fentanyl and fentanyl-contaminated drugs, to establish a Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Drugs, and to provide community-based coalition enhancement grants to mitigate the effects of drug use. — Last action: Apr 25, 2023, House: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
• MI HB 4524 Courts: drug court; termination procedure for drug treatment courts; modify. Amends sec. 1074 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1074). — Last action: May 09, 2023, House: bill electronically reproduced 05/09/2023
• MI HB 4525 Courts: drug court; violent offender eligibility for drug treatment court; modify. Amends secs. 1064 & 1066 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1064 & 600.1066). — Last action: May 09, 2023, House: bill electronically reproduced 05/09/2023
• (Federal) US HR 3065 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide funding for trained school personnel to administer drugs and devices for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, and for other purposes. — Last action: May 02, 2023, House: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.