30 Apr South LA is ‘On Point’ for National Prevention Month 2024
Fentanyl-related deaths soared 1,280% between 2016 and 2021 in LA County, becoming its deadliest drug. National Prevention Week is designed to create an expansive conversation that recognizes how the built environment can play a significant role in shaping patterns of drug use and addiction in the community and contribute to experimentation with drugs among young people. Prevention Month 2024 serves as a crucial opportunity to raise awareness and educate the public on the dangers of youth drug use.
With substance abuse posing significant risks to the health and well-being of young individuals, it is imperative to address this issue through education, prevention, and intervention efforts. By highlighting the importance of Prevention Month in 2024, we can underscore the need for collective action to safeguard our youth from the harmful effects of drug misuse. As a kick-off to National Prevention Week, Community Coalition (CoCo) and its partners are celebrating students who are “On Point–Youth Using Positive Coping Skills to Get Through Life Without Drugs and Alcohol!” The kick-off event will include parents, and students from KIPP SoCal Schools, community-based organizations, and SPA 6 prevention providers who will hand out prevention resources, like Narcan.
The event will include speakers, art activities, and treats. This is an opportunity to keep prevention messaging in the public eye, showcasing the hope and success of students when fentanyl overdose deaths continue to threaten the lives of LA’s youth.
Youth drug use remains a pressing public health concern, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Factors such as lack of resources, high crime rates, economic inequality, and proximity to smoke shops and dispensaries in the Figueroa Corridor require a comprehensive approach that strengthens the social safety net through community empowerment, social justice, investment in resources/services, policies that promote health equity, and partnerships with our schools.
Substance abuse among young people can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including academic underachievement, mental health disorders, risky behaviors, and addiction. Additionally, drug use during adolescence can have long-term effects on brain development, increasing the likelihood of substance dependence in adulthood.
By dedicating a month to focus on this critical issue, communities can come together to engage in dialogue, share resources, and implement evidence-based interventions to prevent substance abuse among young individuals. Through targeted campaigns, outreach efforts, and educational initiatives, Prevention Month serves as a platform to empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps in addressing youth drug use. Together, we can empower our young people to make healthy choices, support those who are at risk, and create a future where youth drug use is minimized, and well-being is prioritized.
The “On Point’ celebration will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 2 p.m. at KIPP Academy of Opportunity located at 8500 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90003. Festivities will take place on the basketball court. For more information, please contact Carlos Leon, Community Coalition’s Director of Health Initiatives at Carlos@cocosouthla.org.
Community Coalition and the South LA Movement Prevention Coalition (SLAM) are also hosting the “Emerging Leaders” Youth Summit” on May 15, 2024, from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. at 8101 S. Vermont Ave, LA, CA 90044. Youth leaders who are modeling ways to focus on positive transformations and staying drug-free will host a wellness and prevention activation space that welcomes everyone and allows our youth to learn a variety of positive coping tools. For more information, contact Kalani@cocosouthla.org.
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