Youth Prevention Program
The Youth Prevention Program was created in response to the Boston Youth Substance Use Prevention Strategic Plan released in 2018.
The program focuses on supporting Boston stakeholders, community partners, and residents. We do this through four key areas:
- Educational material and media messages to youth and their families
- Health education around substance use and social-emotional learning.
- Expanding engagement with all youth populations
- Coordinating prevention efforts between public, private, and nonprofit sectors
CopeCode Club
CopeCode Club supports Boston youth in identifying healthy ways to cope with difficult feelings. These include stress, anger, and self-esteem. This campaign includes:
- stories from a youth perspective
- an activity kit for interactive engagement, and
- a social media challenge for virtual fun!
Contact Dishon Laing (dlaing@bphc.org) if you're interested in getting involved.
Resources and toolkits
ResourcesEmergency support
If you are in immediate need of help or experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1. We also have a list of emergency support resources below.
Emergency support services
Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline
- 1-800-327-5050
- Call Monday through Friday, from 8 am. - 10 p.m., or weekends from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Helpline is the only statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services. Helpline services are free and confidential. Caring, trained specialists will help you understand the treatment system and your options.
Samaritans Hope
- 877-870-HOPE (4673)
- Call or text 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Samaritans works to prevent suicide and support those who have lost someone to suicide. You can find support with Samaritans if you need to:
- talk to someone about how you’re feeling
- grieve the loss of a loved one to suicide, or
- learn how to help others in crisis.
Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741
The Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained crisis counselor receives the text and responds, all from their secure online platform. The volunteer crisis counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
The Trevor Project
- 1-866-488-7386
- Call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to:
- lesbian
- gay
- bisexual
- transgender
- queer, and
- questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Are you a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk? Call the TrevorLifeline now.
The Network/La Red
- Voice: 617-742-4911
- Toll-Free: 800-832-1901
- Call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Network/La Red is a survivor-led, social justice organization. It works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, SM, polyamorous, and queer communities. The Network/La Red’s hotline provides confidential:
- emotional support
- information and referrals
- safety planning, and
- crisis intervention.
You don’t have to leave or want to leave your relationship to get support.