SAFE GC Coalition: CDC Launches “Free Mind” Campaign

People may sometimes turn to drugs, alcohol, and other substances to help them cope with stress, trauma, or mental distress. Substance use may lead to developing a substance use disorder (SUD) including opioid use disorder, which can result in serious health outcomes such as drug overdose.

The drug overdose crisis is constantly evolving and remains an important public health issue. In 2024, more than 80,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. From 2020 to 2024, 75% of overdose deaths among youth ages 10–19 involved illegally made fentanyl. In addition, the number of teens reporting poor mental health has increased in the past decade. In 2023, 40% of high school students stopped regular activities because of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness and one in five students seriously considered attempting suicide.

Although drug overdose deaths have increased over the last two decades, recent data indicate we are turning the tide on overdoses in part due to public health investments such as CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. However, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, highlighting the importance of sustained efforts to ensure this progress continues, especially for youth.

Mental health conditions and SUDs often co-occur, meaning a person can have both a mental health condition and an SUD at the same time and people with a mental health condition are more likely to use substances or have an SUD than those without a mental health condition. Additionally, people who use substances or have an SUD can develop other mental health conditions.

According to the CDC, in 2023, approximately 20.4 million individuals in the United States had both a mental health condition and an SUD. In 2022, 22% or 1 in 5 people who died of drug overdose had a non–substance-related mental health condition. The most common conditions were depression (13%) and anxiety (9%). In 2022, approximately one-fourth of people who died of drug overdose with a non-substance-related mental health condition had at least 1 recent potential opportunity for intervention—such as current treatment for substance use disorders or recent emergency department visit.

Back-to-school is an opportune time to engage with youth about mental health and substance use to promote their well-being throughout the academic year. To support these conversations, the CDC has launched Free Mind, a new national campaign that provides youth ages 12-17 and their parents and caregivers with resources and information about substance use, mental health, and the connection between the two.

Researchers at the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and control maintain teens may use alcohol and other substances to help them cope with stress, anxiety, and depression and advise parents to talk openly about mental health and substance use, and knowing when to get professional help, is critical to helping teens stay healthy. This prevention campaign supports youth, parents, and caregivers in having those conversations early, before an issue arises.

CDC researchers spoke directly with youth about their knowledge and perceptions regarding substance use to develop messages, branding, and tactical strategies for Free Mind. The campaign seeks to resonate with this age group by addressing the connections between substance use and mental health, risk factors that contribute to drug use, and strategies to keep them safe. CDC also has created resources for parents and caregivers about the latest substance use and mental health challenges youth may face.

Visit Free Mind: Mental Health & Drug Use Awareness for Teens | CDC to learn more about the Free Mind campaign. For more information about CDC's overdose prevention efforts, go to Overdose Prevention | Overdose Prevention | CDC.

SAFE, Inc. is the only alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention and education agency in the City of Glen Cove. Its Coalition is conducting alcohol and substance use prevention awareness campaigns entitled, "Keeping Glen Cove SAFE,” to educate and update the community regarding use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencove or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about www.safeglencove.org.