Substance Misuse Prevention

About

Substance Misuse Prevention for Sacramento Youth

At Impact Sac, we educate Sacramento youth about opioid and marijuana use among teens through education programs and community campaigns. We believe young people deserve honest, practical information. Our goal is to equip them with the facts and tools to make safer, more informed choices for themselves.

We also bring this education directly into the community. At outreach events, we hand out Narcan (naloxone), a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose, and fentanyl test strips, which can detect fentanyl in drugs. We explain why each one matters and show youth exactly how to use them, so they know what to do to protect themselves and the people around them.

Substance misuse prevention is one of Impact Sac’s three core pillars, alongside violence prevention and mental health. If a young person needs support, we meet that need first, no questions asked.

Substance Misuse Campaigns

Our campaigns are built by Impact Sac youth. Each one is the direct product of what they learned about a topic, turned into something meaningful that teaches their peers. Young people know best how to reach other young people, so our campaigns carry real messages in their own voices.

Be You: Building Education for Youth Opioid Use

Substance Misuse Campaign

BE YOU is a youth-led campaign that spreads opioid awareness across our community. Participants learn the facts about opioids and the root causes of substance use, then create original short-form videos and public awareness messages that promote resilience, reduce stigma, and build trust. They also plan and lead community outreach events that teach life-saving overdose response, distribute Narcan, and connect individuals and families to treatment, recovery, and support services.

Program Lead - Zheriah

Incentives:

  • Opioid Education

  • Media & Video Workshops

  • Mentorship

  • Youth-Led Community Outreach

Substance Misuse Programs

Impact Sac’s substance misuse programs are rooted in education, giving Sacramento youth honest facts to make safer, more informed choices.

#ChuckYoWeed

Substance Misuse Program

A 40-hour weed education program designed to give youth the real, unfiltered facts about marijuana and its impact on the developing mind, body, and future. Using Stanford-developed curriculum, participants build knowledge and awareness around substance use while developing the tools to make informed, empowered decisions for themselves. Youth who complete the program are awarded $500 and take part in a guided journaling service learning project that encourages self-reflection and personal growth, all while exploring what their future could look like.

Program Lead - Zheriah

Incentives:

  • Weed Education

  • Stipend Program

  • Career Exploration/Career Development

#FentanylSucks

Substance Misuse Program

An opioid education program designed to give youth the real facts about opioids, with a focus on fentanyl. Participants learn what Narcan and fentanyl test strips are, how to use them, and why they matter. They then put that knowledge to work by creating a campaign to educate their peers.

Program Lead - Kelly

Incentives:

  • Opioid Education

  • Narcan & Test Strip Training

  • Youth-Led Peer Campaign

  • Stipend Program