Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Governor Malloy Proclaims May 14-20, 2017 as “Connecticut Prevention Week”

DMHAS will unveil first Remembrance Quilt at Connecticut Prevention Week Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services  
May 12, 2017                                                Contact:  Diana Lejardi 
                                                                      (860) 418-6967
                                                                      (860) 558-0024 (cell) 

Hartford, CT – In an effort to raise awareness around mental health and addiction disorders, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proclaimed May 14-20, 2017 as Connecticut Prevention Week.
“Mental health and addiction disorders affect thousands of people across our state. It’s important that we do what we can to not only raise awareness around mental health and addiction, but to work towards preventing mental illness and addiction when possible,” said Governor Malloy. “Every city and every town across Connecticut has been touched in some way by addiction. Working together to prevent young people from using drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, can help minimize cases of substance use disorders and keep our future on the right track toward bright futures.”
Connecticut Prevention Week runs concurrently with National Prevention Week. This year, National Prevention Week will focus on the following topics:
  • Prevention of Youth Tobacco Use: Monday, May 15
  • Prevention of Underage Drinking & Alcohol Misuse: Tuesday, May 16
  • Prevention of Prescription & Opioid Drug Misuse: Wednesday, May 17
  • Prevention of Illicit Drug Use & Youth Marijuana Use: Thursday, May 18
  • Prevention of Suicide:  Friday, May 19
  • Promotion of Mental Health & Wellness: Saturday, May 20
“Connecticut Prevention Week provides us with an opportunity to highlight state and local efforts to prevent addiction,” said Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon. “With communities working together to prevent suicide and illegal substance use, including underage drinking and smoking, or the misuse of prescription painkillers, we can all make Connecticut a healthier place.”
DMHAS will kick off Connecticut Prevention Week with a conference on Monday, May 15 at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell. The day will include workshops, networking and presentations identifying common risk factors and how addressing one risk factor can reduce the risk of multiple negative outcomes through presentations, panels and workshops. Dr. Anthony Biglan, a Senior Scientist at Oregon Research Institute, will be the conference’s keynote speaker and will present how diverse psychological, behavioral, and health problems can be prevented through the promotion of nurturing families, schools and communities.
DMHAS will unveil its first Remembrance Quilt, a tribute to those who died of substance use disorders, at the Connecticut Prevention Week conference. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 917 people in Connecticut died of accidental drug intoxication in 2016, the majority of which were opioid-related. The quilt will be displayed across the state to raise awareness around substance use disorders and combat the stigma often associated with addiction. For more information about the Remembrance Quilt, go to www.ct.gov/dmhas/notforgotten.
For more information about National Prevention Week, please visit the DMHAS webpage at www.ct.gov/dmhas/npw.
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