Youth Council Insight
In this month’s Youth Council Insight, we asked our youth to share what change means to them. This not only gives them a voice but also provides us, as Adult Allies, with valuable insight into their perspectives.

In this month’s Youth Council Insight, we asked our youth to share what change means to them. This not only gives them a voice but also provides us, as Adult Allies, with valuable insight into their perspectives.

Each May, communities across the country observe Mental Health Awareness Month as a time to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage support for people living with mental health challenges. SAMHSA’s 2026 toolkit describes Mental Health Awareness Month as an opportunity to share resources, promote acceptance, and remind people that we all have a role in caring for…
Pickaway Addiction Action Coalition (PAAC) received a Blue Ribbon Award from the White House in recognition of their work to prevent youth substance use and ensure young people can lead healthy and fulfilling lives. The award was given during the he National Youth Substance Use Prevention Summit in Washinton D.C. The summit brought together youth…
Every February, communities across the country come together for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) — a national effort to raise awareness about teen dating violence and champion healthy, respectful relationships. Teen dating violence is more common than many people realize. Research shows that about one in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical,…
Pickaway Addiction Action Coalition’s (PAAC) Program Director Margaret Simmons was awarded a grant from the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services and Prevention Action Alliance to attend the CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 33rd Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington, DC. At this forum, PAAC was recognized for completing the National Coalition Institute’s National…
A new national campaign from Truth Initiative is drawing attention to something prevention professionals, families, and schools should be watching closely: nicotine use among young people is changing, and it is not always limited to just one product. From vaping to nicotine pouches to dual use, the current nicotine landscape is more complicated than many…
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery isn’t solely about clinical treatment. During the third week of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, SAMHSA is highlighting a crucial part of recovery often overlooked: wraparound services. Wraparound services are supports that surround someone in treatment — helping with life’s practical challenges so treatment can be more successful and sustainable. These services…