ABHPC Prevention Pathways Monthly Bulletin for September 2026

National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month occurs annually in September and brings awareness to safety practices, emergency planning, and local resources. Individuals and communities alike have a responsibility to be educated and prepared in case of natural disasters and other emergencies.

The Ready Campaign’s Are You Ready? guide has hazard information sheets for various disasters and emergencies as well as planning checklists and resources for recovering from a disaster.

The Environmental Protection Agency outlines a variety of resources for disaster preparedness for individuals, communities, schools, and businesses. In addition to natural disaster preparation and response, these resources include information about reducing risks to health and the environment.

Listos California provides relevant statewide information and resources including preparedness for extreme heat, wildfires, and earthquakes.

National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month began in 1989 and is celebrated every September to recognize recovery efforts and bring attention to evidence-based practices and emerging trends. An estimated 20.5 million adults in the United States report being in recovery, which is close to 75 percent of people who reported having a previous substance use or misuse issue.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has identified four core dimensions to recovery:

Health: Overcoming or managing substance misuse and making informed, healthy choices
Home: Having a safe, stable living environment
Purpose: Conducting meaningful daily activities and participating in society
Community: Having supportive, loving relationships and social networks

Through addressing key social drivers of health, reducing stigma, and incorporating recovery support practices and services across systems of support, recovery is possible.

Suicide Prevention Month & Week

September marks suicide prevention month, and September 6 – 12 is suicide prevention week. The International Association for Suicide Prevention selected a repeating theme for 2024 – 2026: “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” This theme recognizes that suicide is a complex issue involving social and societal factors, and that shifting away from stigma and silence around mental health can create a meaningful impact.

Each year organizations, communities, and individuals use Suicide Prevention Month as an opportunity to acknowledge and honor lives lost to suicide and efforts towards effective suicide prevention. It is crucial for prevention providers to recognize the links between substance use and higher risk of suicide ideation and behaviors. Through effective substance use prevention and mental health supports.

Below are resources on suicide prevention and how to incorporate suicide prevention month into your organization’s efforts:

Engaging Rural & Frontier Area Communities in Prevention

There are 26 rural counties across California, which are categorized as having populations of less than 250,000 residents and no urban area with greater than 50,000 residents. Rural and frontier area communities are identified as a priority population in the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant. Rural and frontier populations face barriers to social drivers of health including access to healthcare or human services, health insurance, and economic factors. Although substance use and misuse is present, substance use disorder treatment opportunities are underutilized.

It is crucial to incorporate the unique needs of rural and frontier area communities in substance use prevention. Rural Health Information (RHI) Hub has identified strategies for this including integration of mental and behavioral health services with primary care services, incorporating recovery and maintenance services into harm reduction and treatment, and training providers to implement substance use screening. Family-centered prevention, schools, and rural church and faith-based organizations are effective at engaging residents and youth into substance use prevention. RHI has gathered tools such as a list of rural health models and innovations and publications like the Rural Border Health Chartbook to keep communities and providers informed.

Community Spotlight: Reach Out – West End

Guest Contributors: Gilbert Munoz, San Bernardino County Program Coordinator on behalf of Reach Out-West End

Reach Out has been doing a significant amount of civic engagement and policy work around the emerging substance Kratom/7-OH. Our approach has been to build the work from the ground up, starting with data collection and education and then moving into policy development and implementation.

We initially began by conducting environmental scans, which included visiting local smoke shops to identify what types of Kratom/7-OH products were being sold, how they were being marketed, and what was available within our communities. We then shared and presented the information gathered through these scans with our law enforcement partners to help increase awareness and establish a shared understanding of the issue.

From there, we focused on community education and policy work by providing. public comment and training and technical assistance to jurisdictions that may have a limited understanding of Kratom/7-OH and the potential concerns associated with these products. This has allowed us to support cities as they explore and develop appropriate policies and ordinances.

Once an ordinance was passed, Ontario championed the approach of e implementation. Reach Out has partnered with the Ontario Police Department to provide education directly to retailers so they understand the ordinance, what is prohibited, and what is expected of them. The Police Department has provided retailers with a grace period to meet compliance. If retailers do not comply after that period, the department can move forward with citations, and depending on the circumstances, there is also the possibility of a business license suspension, as outlined in the ordinance.

A key component that has enabled us to be successful in this process has been the longstanding relationship and rapport we have built with the Ontario Police Department. That relationship has helped us establish trust and a collaborative approach where prevention, education, and enforcement can work together. We are now working to build similar relationships and partnerships with the Chino and Upland Police Departments among others as we continue this work.

Overall, our approach has been to assess the environment, gather data, educate partners and the community, provide technical assistance, support policy development, and then work alongside law enforcement and retailers to support implementation and compliance. We believe this collaborative approach is important, particularly with an emerging substance like 7-OH, where communities and enforcement partners are still learning about the issue.

To view resources and events from Reach Out, check out their resource center!

If you are interested in having your organization or prevention program featured in an upcoming bulletin, email Olivia Shrago at oshrago@cars-rp.org to get started!