For the last 40 years, the Great American Smokeout has occurred on the third Thursday of every November. This year it falls on November 19th, 2020, and it couldn’t be a better day to quit smoking. Join others in kicking tobacco habits, whether is cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes. This event is sponsored by the … Read more
Mental Illness Awareness Week runs from October 4th – 10th and coincides with National Depression Screening Day on October the 8th. COVID-19 has disrupted life as we know it, and social distancing can create feelings of isolation. On October the 8th, take a step back and reflect on your own mental health by completing a … Read more
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence was already an epidemic before COVID-19, but the health crisis has caused a tremendous spike in incidents of abuse. Even as lockdown restrictions are lifted, the abuse will not simply end. It remains a critical time for survivors, and greater awareness, education, and bystander intervention are desperately … Read more
National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Now in its 31st year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those living in recovery. Substance Abuse and … Read more
National Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) have created free resources to aid in the prevention of suicide. We would like to encourage … Read more
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness day. The purpose of International Overdose Awareness Day is to: Raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. Provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame. Give community members information … Read more
We would like to echo a message sent out by Positively Living Inc in Knoxville regarding HIV prevention: PrEP is preventative medication used by people who are HIV-negative but at high risk for being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use. Individuals can take PrEP medication ahead of time in order to … Read more
July 28th is World Hepatitis Day. Hepatitis C is one of the most common conditions associated with substance use disorders. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 300 million people in the world are infected with hepatitis and are completely unaware, and the rates of hepatitis in East Tennessee have dramatically risen following the opioid epidemic. … Read more
This month we would like to highlight the smartphone app NalaxoFind. NaloxoFind lets users register as a naloxone (Narcan) carrier or use the app to find naloxone carriers in an emergency, while waiting for emergency services to arrive. If a carrier is nearby they will be alerted when a naloxone request is made. The app allows … Read more
From the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs: Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don’t get the help they need. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that … Read more
