Prevention 365

This episode was hosted by Sahrang Han, and features guest Beatrice Lu. This episode was recorded during APAHM (May of 2023). We discuss how AADAP's Prevention and Intervention work is still relevant after 50 years, while comparing the organization's efforts to those being made by countries in other areas of the world.

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Once you start something positive and stay committed, have you noticed that the positive accomplishments continue to happen, and nothing can stop you?

Jose R., AADAP’s Therapeutic Community client shares how running the full 26.2 miles LA Marathon with AADAP’s Team AMP has allowed Jose to progress forward to a sober life and leave his past of drug use behind. Twenty-two months sober, running has motivated Jose to be a better person and look at life a different way.

If you feel lost or even know you want sobriety, this episode featuring Jose will expose the importance of finding meaning in your life on life’s terms and finding a positive passion. This can change your life forever just like it has for Jose. You, too, can find your passion, and run with it!

This podcast interview shared historical information on the initiation, process, and creation of the AADAP’s 50th Annual Gala Booklet, a total of 86pages and 47 separate stories. The booklet being a collective effort came to completion because of John Saito, Dean Nakanishi dedication long days and nights to the project. Several writers contributed their own personal histories to make the booklet in to a one-of-a-kind and valuable publication.

To cap the first season of Prevention 365 podcast series, host Carol Almeda engages in a synthesizing discussion with AADAP Prevention Director Jeanne Shimatsu. In this season finale, Jeanne and Carol converse on how the practice of preventing substance use/abuse has evolved into a multi-dimensional approach that shows how substance use/abuse is intertwined with the broader issues related to public health and social justice. Within this dynamic social landscape, there remains a constant in AADAP’s prevention work which is to focus on informing , organizing and mobilizing communities to keep them motivated in pursuing the goal of attaining drug-free and quality lives.

Both Jacki Jing and Joyce Lee grew up in the US as Asian American women and they share the many challenges and obstacles they experience and how they overcame them. They also share the struggles of dealing with mental health as they grew up with cultural differences. Please join us on this week's episode as we continue to bring awareness to mental health.

Take a personal and inspirational look at those who work daily to prevent substance use disorder in their communities and provide support to those who may be most vulnerable in our National Prevention Week podcast, "Creating Purpose-Driven Lives".

Theo Motzenbacker, Outreach Health Educator with AADAP Health Intervention Program (HIP) mentions that harm reduction is “baked into our lives”. People take risks all the time and we find ways to mitigate them. For instance, riding in a car gives one the risk of car accidents, so, wearing seatbelts is a form of harm reduction. Should one choose to drink at a bar one night and go home with a designated driver is a harm reduction practice. Join us in a conversation as he dispassionately explains harm reduction strategies when dealing with the reality that there are people who use drugs and not everyone is ready to take the step towards sobriety and some people will never be.

As underage drug use continues to be an issue especially for young people, we explore how peer-pressure and transparency are connected and how it can be the driving force for young people to make the right decisions when faced with stress. Join us as we dive into a conversation with Octavia Weathers, a Cal State Dominguez Hills - Community Health Science student, on the importance of the roles parents play in a young person's life and how it can directly influence the choices they make especially around using, abusing or misusing drugs. We cannot always anticipate the ways in which drugs are advertised in our communities but we can adjust to the change and embrace a new reality which we create an open space that is free of judgement for youth to be open, honest and receptive to prevention education around drugs and drug use!

For National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, a college student will answer questions regarding substance use and then share experiences about how substance abuse is prevalent in our communities.

Drug abuse is at an all time high, but what can we do about it? Established in 2011, Team AMP (AADAP Marathon Program) is the official endurance event training team for AADAP. Over 200 individuals have participated with Team AMP, all together raising over $250,000 to support AADAP’s mission to help those recovering from drug abuse and to “Change Lives and Save Families.” You can learn more about our runners here: https://teamamp2022.causevox.com/