image of barnstable county courthouse

National Prevention Week: “I Choose…”

The Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council is participating in National Prevention Week, an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of substance abuse and mental health issues. This national observance, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), brings individuals, organizations, coalitions, states, and communities together through local events to educate the public about the importance of preventing substance abuse and mental disorders before they occur.

The 2016 theme “Strong As One. Stronger Together” highlights the important role that individuals and communities alike have in helping people lead healthy, productive lives.

The “I Choose” Project, another component of National Prevention Week, is a fun and meaningful way for individuals to get involved in prevention. To participate, take a photograph of yourself holding this sign with your personal message about why substance abuse prevention or mental health is important to you. For example, you could write “I choose prevention because I want to be healthy and happy…”, “I choose treatment…”, or another “I choose” statement, such as “I choose not to give up because things do get better.” Send your photo to NewMedia@samhsa.hhs.gov including: Name(s) of people in the photo, Organization (if applicable), State, ZIP code.


Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council (RSAC) established a communication infrastructure across towns, providers, organizations, and individuals on Cape Cod to identify and address regional gaps and disparities in the substance use service provider system, maximize inter-agency collaboration and maximize funding and resource opportunities.  RSAC strives for a coordinated and comprehensive regional approach to substance use across the continuum of prevention, treatment, intervention, and recovery.