Painted Brain Competitors

The Mental Health Association of Nassau County (MHANC) is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving mental health in our community through advocacy, education, program development and the delivery of direct services.

We engage, educate, and empower individuals and their families in drug and alcohol prevention. We serve as a community resource to advance youth prevention, find necessary supports, and promote community collaboration while creating awareness. We are proactive in our work. We choose not to let others define us by being silent. The two most important risk factors are genetics and age at which a person starts to use drugs/alcohol. The younger the person the more vulnerable the brain. Scientists estimate that genetics accounts for roughly half a persons likelihood of developing SUD. So, sharing with our children whether or not they are genetically vulnerable could be a life altering conversation. Prevention education is creating a new social norm that ALL TEENS DONT use drugs and alcohol and that delaying use for all youth is the safest path. Our community can rally around our youth and help support delaying use, understanding that substance use disorder comes in different shapes, sizes, drug of choice/alcohol, frequency, and that when someone does find they need help do they know where to look for support. The message starts with each of us talking with our children so we can support the community-at-large. Community Living Above (CLA) whose original name was West Linn Community Task Force came together in 2011 when parents expressed concerns about teen drug/alcohol use in the community. Today, CLA is led by volunteer board of directors and prevention coalition members representing various sectors of our community to bring awareness and education to youth and families about substance use prevention and supports. Substance use disorder and many mental health concerns are insidious they proceed in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects many life-altering. So, in the same incremental way, it appears there is not a quick fix or solution to substance use/mental health disorders. Substance use disorders arent an adult or youth problem its a human problem. Its complicated and important that communities come ...