Join the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) as we recognize January as National Substance Use Disorder #Treatment Month. This year's theme is "Treatment Works! Find the Path that Works for You." Help raise awareness and share resources that connect people to treatment by downloading and sharing content available at samhsa.gov/treatment.

Also, Dry January is a great time to reset and recharge. If you know someone looking to take a break or make a change from alcohol or other substances, you can support them in seeking help. Find helpful resources to get the conversation started at samhsa.gov/families. For more ideas to help you explore your relationship with alcohol and tips for cutting back, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA) Rethinking Drinking website, and be sure to check out the self-screening tool and alcohol misuse campaign resources available on the DBH website. 

The Ohio Youth-Led Collective is seeking applications from existing or emerging youth-led groups across Ohio to engage young people in developing, designing, and implementing projects and/or initiatives that are responsive to the needs of their communities. Presented in partnership with the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), the 2026 Youth-Led Prevention Implementation Grant funding opportunity gives young people across Ohio the chance to take the lead in creating positive change in their communities. Through the development and execution of youth-led programming, teens strengthen leadership and critical thinking skills, while cultivating a sense of agency and responsibility to create effective and sustainable change.

The focus of the projects and/or initiatives may include, but are not limited to, substance use prevention, suicide prevention and mental wellness, kindness and anti-bullying, digital wellness and media literacy, and social drivers of health. Youth groups may include community organizations, drug-free community coalitions, school clubs, youth-serving organizations, peer educators, character and asset builders, and faith-based groups. 

The funding period is from March 1-July 31, 2026. The maximum award is $10,000 per youth group. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 30. 

The Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention at Miami University has released the latest episode of its School Wellness Podcast. In this episode, Empowering Appalachian Communities Through Mental Health Support and Resilience, host Amanda Hampton chats with Jake Ross, a dedicated professional from Presidential Consultants. Together, they explore the unique challenges and cultural characteristics of the Appalachian region, including geographic isolation and resource scarcity, that impact mental health and wellness. Listeners will learn about the protective factors and resilience inherent in Appalachian culture and discover how community collaboration and self-care play a vital role in fostering mental wellness. Click HERE for the complete season three episode schedule. 

The Partnership to End Addiction has released a new video resource to help parents learn about the dangers of inhalants. “Galaxy Gas,” in particular, is an inhalant that is showing up on social media as harmless fun, but the risks are serious and rising. In this short video, the Partnership explains what Galaxy Gas is, why teens are drawn to it, the warning signs parents should know, and how to start a conversation that could protect your child.

The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences has released a schedule of upcoming trainings. Click the links below for more information and to register. Click HERE to view the SUD COE calendar for a full schedule of trainings and events.   

Jan. 13 | Breaking Barriers - The History and Stigma of Medication-Based Recovery
Jan. 20 | Unlocking Recovery: Medications and the Brain’s Role in Addiction
Jan. 27 | Integrating OUD Pharmacotherapy into Clinical Practice: Skills for Effective Care

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) will present a Digital Safety to Reduce Cyberbullying and Support Suicide Prevention webinar on Jan. 14 at 10:00 a.m. This webinar will cover the different forms of cyberbullying, the warning signs to watch for, and practical strategies parents, educators, and community members can use to support young people. The webinar is free for all, but CE applications are available to OSPF members only.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare will present Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Data, Systems, and Strategies for Change on Jan. 21 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. This webinar will explore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) through the statutory lens of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), focusing on its provision that infants affected by FASD receive a Plan of Safe Care (POSC). Participants will learn how prenatal alcohol exposure affects individuals throughout their lives, review actionable data on FASD prevalence, and discover how jurisdictions can use this information to shape policy and practice. Presenters will review shared responsibilities across health care, child welfare, education, substance use treatment, and other systems, while also examining community norms that influence prevention and intervention.

Time is running out to submit a proposal to present at the 2026 Addiction Studies Institute hosted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This year's Institute will take place on Aug. 5-7. Sessions will be available both in-person and virtually. If you have expertise in substance use disorders, trauma-informed care, ethics, or related fields, this is your opportunity to share your insights with an audience of more than 600 professionals. Presenters gain the chance to deliver CEU-accredited sessions while connecting with peers and learners from across the country. The deadline to submit a proposal is Jan. 25.

DBH and the Ohio Department of Health are teaming up to host a virtual Ohio Tobacco-Free Recovery Forum on Jan. 27 from 9:00 a.m.-Noon. Collaborate with state leaders, system providers, and community partners to address commercial tobacco use among Ohioans. This session will discuss the impact of tobacco and the environmental social norms that reinforce use and explore actionable strategies that advance tobacco-free recovery. Questions? Email Karin.Carlson@dbh.ohio.gov or James.Murphey@odh.ohio.gov. 

Relink.org, in collaboration with Eyes Up Appalachia, will be offering several webinars this year on ACEs, Human Trafficking, and the Male Experience. The first two webinars will be held on Jan. 27 and Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email info@relink.org.

Jan. 27 | Why People Solicit Sex
Feb. 17 | From Insight to Impact: How We Reduce Demand Together

SAMHSA's Center for Financing Reform and Innovation (CFRI) will host Integrating Substance Use Disorder Prevention with Physical Health Care: Progress in States on Jan. 28 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. This webinar will examine current approaches to integrating substance use disorder prevention with physical health care at the state level. Topics will include implementation, financing, partnerships, challenges, and support needs, particularly for adolescents.

The Partnership to End Addiction is teaming up with The Harris Project and Operation Parent to present a free The Mind-Risk Connection: How Mental Health Can Influence Substance Use webinar on Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m. This session will highlight co-occurring disorders, share warning signs, and discuss ways to support young people and reduce risk. 

The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO), with support from DBH, will host the 2026 Ohio Problem Gambling Conference on Feb. 11-12 at the Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center. The conference brings together national experts, state leaders, and local innovators in problem gambling prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, research, administration, and safer-play. Those interested in prevention and treatment of gambling disorder should attend, as well as health care professionals who are interested in how behaviors like gambling, substance use, and mental health issues are interconnected.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI Ohio) is hosting a weekend virtual Family Peer Support training on March 6-8 and March 14-15. Classes will take place from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. each day. Participants must attend the full five days and complete all assignments to receive a certificate of completion. The deadline to register is Feb. 24. Questions? Email Tameika Wright at tameika@namiohio.org. 

Prevention Action Alliance, with support from Ohio Liquor (OHLQ), will host the Fourth Annual Ohio Alcohol Misuse Prevention Conference (formerly the Ohio Alcohol Conference) on March 26 at the Dublin Integrated Education Center. This year's theme is "Prevention Without Age Limits: Tackling Alcohol Misuse at Every Life Stage." The conference is dedicated to addressing alcohol misuse through innovative prevention methods and collaborative discussion. Participants will explore effective strategies to prevent alcohol-related harms while engaging in meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of alcohol prevention. 

The International Community Justice Association (ICJA) is seeking workshop proposals from individuals interested in presenting at the 2026 Research Conference, scheduled to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center. Each year, ICJA’s conference brings together practitioners, researchers, advocates, and leaders from across the community justice field to share innovative practices, emerging research, and lessons learned from the field. This year's theme is "Grounded in Experience, United for Impact." The deadline to submit a proposal is April 1.