
New England HIDTA Prevention Initiative
The NEHIDTA Prevention Initiative is committed to building a healthier New England by reducing youth substance use and mitigating the effects of substance use disorders across our communities. Our mission is to collaboratively initiate, coordinate, and sustain prevention and early intervention efforts that make a measurable impact on the lives of young people and families throughout the region.
CADCA’s Competencies in Focus: Policy
Coalitions have the power to influence more than individual behavior; they can also help shape healthier communities through policy.
Aug 21, 2025
FREE 2-Day Training! 2025 ADAPT Youth Prevention Institute
Hosted by New England HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area – a funded project of the Office of National Drug Control Policy)...
Sep 15, 2025
CADCA's Competencies in Focus: Assessment
Learn how coalitions can use community assessments to identify needs, guide prevention efforts, and build stronger partnerships.
Sep 17, 2025
Nothing About Us Without Us: Foundations of Community-Led Prevention
This training equips prevention specialists to authentically engage communities, build local capacity, and advance community-led solutions addressing behavioral health.
Sep 22, 2025
CADCA’s National Coalition Academy™ (NCA)
Is your coalition new to the prevention field? Or maybe you’ve been doing this work for years, but have new staff who need guidance? CADCA’s National Coalition Academy™ (NCA) is designed for both, offering practical, hands-on training for anyone looking to strengthen their coalition’s capacity and long-term success.
Oct 6, 2025
ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference
Forge new connections, reunite with familiar faces, and learn from the most inspiring leaders in early childhood. Immerse yourself in a vibrant network of partners and witness groundbreaking ideas come to life.
Oct 8, 2025
Northwest and Central Vermont Prevention Network Annual Prevention Summit
Join prevention organizations from across Northwest and Central Vermont for our annual collaborative summit focused on strengthening regional prevention efforts in the face of evolving challenges.
Oct 8, 2025
23rd Annual CADY Regional Prevention Summit
Join us for CADY's premier prevention conference featuring keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities with substance abuse prevention professionals from across the region.
Oct 10, 2025
12th Annual RCFY Prevention Summit
This is the Raymond Coalition For Youths premier prevention event of the year and one that many look forward to each year. Prevention takes our community working together and this event is a great example of those who care about this work.
Oct 24, 2025
2025 HIDTA Prevention Summit
Join this free virtual event to learn strategies for mobilizing your relationships with youth to achieve prevention, protection, and flourishing.
Oct 29, 2025
Youth Opioid Use Primary Prevention and Wellness Webinar
Learn evidence-based strategies for preventing youth opioid misuse, explore opioid settlement funding opportunities, and discover wellness-promoting approaches for adolescents, young adults, and parents.
Oct 29, 2025
Straight Talk About the Triangulum of Nicotine, Vaping, and Cannabis
Join Stanford’s REACH Lab and Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher for a hands-on virtual training exploring the intersection of nicotine, vaping, and cannabis prevention—with practical, evidence-based strategies for your community.
Nov 14, 2025
Mental Health and the LGBTQ+ Community
Join Deconstructing Stigma for a powerful webinar with Jeff Day, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, as he breaks down the unique mental health challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals, offers practical support strategies, and shares his groundbreaking work preparing future nurses to provide inclusive, affirming care.
Dec 5, 2025
Assessment in Action: Addressing Youth Vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework
The first webinar in the PTTC Network’s five-part Strategic Prevention in Action series, this session introduces the Assessment phase of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, using youth vaping to show how communities can gather data, identify root causes, and lay the groundwork for effective prevention planning.
Dec 8, 2025
Capacity Building in Action: Addressing Youth Vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework
Join us for the second webinar in the PTTC Network’s Strategic Prevention in Action series, focusing on practical strategies to build the organizational, workforce, and community capacity needed to effectively address youth vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Dec 9, 2025
Planning in Action: Addressing Youth Vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework
Join us for the third webinar in the PTTC Network’s Strategic Prevention in Action series, focusing on how to transform assessment data into clear, actionable prevention plans to address youth vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Dec 10, 2025
Implementation in Action: Addressing Youth Vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework
Join us for the fourth webinar in the PTTC Network’s Strategic Prevention in Action series, focusing on how to implement evidence-based strategies with fidelity and community fit to effectively address youth vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Dec 11, 2025
Managing Alcohol Use During the Holidays
Join Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction for a virtual training on managing alcohol use during the holidays, where participants will learn strategies to reduce consumption, avoid triggers, and discuss alcohol use in stressful seasonal contexts.
Dec 11, 2025
Evaluation in Action: Addressing Youth Vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework
Join us for the fifth and final webinar in the PTTC Network’s Strategic Prevention in Action series, where participants will learn to use data to evaluate prevention efforts, track outcomes, and demonstrate impact in addressing youth vaping through the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Dec 12, 2025
Cannabis Use Disorder: Prevention and Treatment
Join the Addiction Policy Forum for a webinar on Cannabis Use Disorder, exploring the science, risk factors, and evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies to support individuals and families affected by cannabis use.
Dec 12, 2025
Competencies in Focus: Evidence-Informed Strategies
Karen Voetsch from the CDC, joined by Jessica Price of Washington University in St. Louis and CADCA Trainer Kristina Clark, will highlight how coalitions can use the ENGAGE strategies and FREE MIND campaign to implement evidence-informed approaches that prevent youth substance use and support conversations between youth and their parents or caregivers.
Mar 26, 2026
"Building Health-Promoting Relationships with Youth"- Training for School Resource Officers
The purpose of this training is to equip SROs with knowledge and skills to build health-promoting relationships with youth to prevent mental and behavioral health risks and promote flourishing.
Apr 9, 2026
Vermont Prevention Day 2026
Join Prevention Works!VT for Vermont Prevention Day 2026, a statewide gathering of youth and prevention leaders at the Vermont Statehouse to showcase prevention efforts and engage with legislators.
Apr 9, 2026
Stanford REACH Lab YAB'S My Drug Story, What's Yours? Real Life Situations
Using Forum Theatre, the YAB will act out several skits on vaping and alcohol. The audience can stop the scene and share what changes they would like to see from the characters. The actors will continue the skit based on the changes suggested by the audience.
Apr 18, 2026
CADCA's Prevention Essentials
An interactive Prevention Essentials workshop from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the University of Florida Center for Public Interest Communications that explores how community conditions shape health and equips participants with practical, evidence-informed strategies to strengthen prevention efforts and support healthier communities.
Apr 20, 2026
Vermont's Substance Misuse Prevention Conference: Bridging the Gaps: Prevention Through Connection
Join prevention professionals from across Vermont for Bridging the Gaps: Prevention Through Connection, a statewide conference at Lake Morey Resort featuring keynote speaker Steve Miller, interactive workshops, and networking focused on strengthening substance misuse prevention through collaboration.
May 5, 2026
Project CLEAR: National Recruitment for Stanford University Cannabis Prevention Study
Stanford University’s REACH Lab is recruiting middle and high schools nationwide to participate in Project CLEAR, a major national study evaluating the evidence-based Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum for grades 6–12. Participating schools receive free curriculum access, staff training, stipends, student incentives, and national prevention conference registration opportunities.
May 26, 2026
Substance-Free Athletics® & Protect Your Game®: Prevention Through Youth Sports and Mentorship
Join prevention professionals, athletic leaders, coaches, and community partners from across New England for a regional webinar exploring how youth athletics, trusted adult mentorship, and positive team culture can help prevent underage substance use and strengthen student wellbeing.
Jun 3, 2026
2026 New England Youth Diversion Summit: Trauma-Informed Prevention & Restorative Practices
Join prevention professionals, youth-serving organizations, public safety partners, educators, and community leaders in Concord, New Hampshire for the 2026 New England Youth Diversion Summit focused on trauma-informed care, restorative practices, prevention strategies, and cross-sector collaboration to support youth and strengthen community health.
Jun 9, 2026
The Emotional Blueprint: Understanding Stress, Coping, Burnout & Connection
Join Dr. Andrew Seefeld for an engaging Lunch & Learn exploring the concept of the “Emotional Blueprint” and how early emotional experiences shape stress responses, coping behaviors, relationships, burnout, perfectionism, and resilience. This session blends neuroscience, addiction medicine, and personal insight to foster deeper understanding, compassion, and connection.
Jun 12, 2026
2026 Summer Leadership Program – NH Teen Institute
The NH Teen Institute Summer Leadership Program is a week-long residential leadership retreat for high school students focused on self-discovery, resilience, prevention education, wellness, and positive peer connection. Students from across New Hampshire and New England will participate in experiential workshops designed to strengthen leadership and community engagement skills.
Jun 28, 2026
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America 25th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute & Fentanyl Free America Summit 2026 – Powered by Purpose
Join prevention professionals from across the country in Orlando for four days of hands-on training, expert-led sessions, and networking at CADCA’s 2026 Mid-Year Training Institute. This year also features the Fentanyl Free America Summit focused on strengthening national response efforts to the fentanyl crisis.
Jul 12, 2026
2026 National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference
The 2026 National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference is a premier national gathering of prevention professionals, researchers, policymakers, educators, coalition leaders, and public health partners focused on advancing substance use prevention through research, collaboration, policy, and evidence-informed practice.
Sep 29, 2026
RI PREVCON 2026: Rhode Island State Prevention Conference
Join prevention professionals, educators, behavioral health leaders, and community partners from across Rhode Island for RI-PREVCON 2026, a statewide conference focused on substance use prevention, mental health promotion, and strengthening community wellbeing through collaborative prevention strategies.
Sep 29, 2026
Upcoming Events
Our Approach
Through close partnerships with community coalitions, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and local organizations, the Prevention Initiative focuses on:
Raising Awareness:
Delivering impactful campaigns and educational resources to increase awareness of substance use risks and promote healthier choices.
Strengthening Community Supports:
Engaging schools, parents, and community leaders in ongoing dialogues to foster a supportive environment for youth and families.
Data-Driven Strategies:
Using current data and research to guide interventions and adjust our approaches to ensure they meet the evolving needs of our region.
Building Capacity:
Supporting and training local leaders and prevention teams to sustain substance use prevention efforts within their own communities.


Regional Impact
Serving communities across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, the Prevention Initiative supports local programs and initiatives designed to:
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Prevent the onset of youth substance use through targeted education and outreach.
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Provide resources for early intervention in cases where substance use or risk factors are identified.
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Address the unique challenges faced by rural, urban, and tribal communities within New England, recognizing the importance of culturally specific programming.

Our Vision for New England
Our vision is a resilient and empowered New England where every youth has the knowledge, support, and resources they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives free from the risks associated with substance misuse.
