Getting the Message About Substance Abuse
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Lesson Learned: Using graphics, like this one from RCADC, can help expand your reach and engage your audience on social media.
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More than 2,250 stakeholders gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, this week for the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit. The Summit, which began in 2012 under the leadership of Operation UNITE and Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-KY), is the largest national collaboration of professionals from local, state, and federal agencies, business, academia, treatment providers, and allied communities impacted by the public health emergency caused by prescription drug abuse and heroin use.
Prescription drug abuse and heroin use has hit the Region hard and communities are looking for new ways to combat the crisis. During a Vision Session at the Summit, five community-based organizations working to address substance abuse problems in Appalachia presented on their experiences as part of a pilot social media training program run by ORAU’s Health Communication team. ARC and the CDC Injury Center are sponsors of the technical assistance program. The groups that took part in the initial training—A.C.T.I.O.N. Coalition, Community Connections, Operation UNITE, STAND (Schools Together Allowing No Drugs), and the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition (RCADC)—described why developing and implementing a successful social media strategy can be an important and effective tool to prevent and address drug abuse. Each of the organizations noted increased reach and engagement on their social media posts since rolling out the tools and skills they learned. At the Summit, ORAU announced the 2017 Social Media Training and Technical Assistance Program will continue to help community-based organizations better utilize social media to combat prescription drug abuse, describe treatment opportunities, and promote successful intervention strategies. With this technical assistance training, groups will learn to recognize challenges unique to the Appalachian Region in using social media to communicate about prescription drug abuse and determine ways to incorporate best practices and lessons learned into their own social media programs. To be considered for participation, groups must complete this application.
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New Trail Will Lead Tourists to the Artists, Citizen-Times, Asheville, North Carolina
Huntington Named America's Best Community, Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, West Virginia
US Rep. Tim Ryan Announces Fed Manufacturing Grant for YSU, The Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio
Agencies Using Social Media to Help Combat Opioid Crisis, WKYT, Lexington, Kentucky
Bristol, Va., to Embark on Passenger Rail Study This Year, Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol, Virginia
Athens-Limestone Public Library Receives $76,000 Grant for Outdoor Classroom, The News Courier, Athens, Alabama
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Income & Poverty in Appalachia is part of our April infographic series based on data from the recently released Chartbook. Visit www.arc.gov/Chartbook for more information.
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