https://outreach.ou.edu/community-services/health-human-services/southwest-prevention-center/

Community Based Prevention Services-Cleveland County, 1700 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK (2026)

05/12/2026

🚨 National Prevention Week Pop Quiz 🚨

How much do you know about the warning signs of substance use disorders?

❓ Symptoms of substance use disorders can include:

🅰️ Behavioral Changes
🅱️ Physical Changes
🅲️ Social Changes
🅳️ All of the Above

💬 Comment your answer below!

Parents and youth — this conversation matters. Changes in behavior, appearance, emotions, friendships, or daily habits can sometimes be signs that someone is struggling and may need support.

Prevention starts with awareness, open conversations, and checking in with the people we care about. A simple conversation today could make a big difference tomorrow. 💙

05/12/2026

🌟 National Prevention Week | May 10–16, 2026 🌟

Being young today comes with real pressure — stress, anxiety, social media, fitting in, and trying to figure out who you are. National Prevention Week is a reminder that your choices, your mental health, and your future matter.

Prevention is about helping young people build confidence, healthy relationships, positive coping skills, and support systems before challenges become crises.

You are not alone.
It’s okay to ask for help.
It’s okay to speak up.
And it’s okay to choose a different path.

This week, let’s encourage each other to make healthy choices, support our friends, and create spaces where youth feel heard, respected, and valued.

Your story matters. Your future matters. 💙

05/12/2026

🌟 National Prevention Week | May 10–16, 2026 🌟
A Celebration of Possibility
Every young person deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, supported, confident, and hopeful about their future. During National Prevention Week, we come together to raise awareness about the power of prevention in strengthening families, schools, and communities.
Prevention starts with connection.
It starts with conversations at the dinner table, trusted adults who listen without judgment, positive friendships, healthy coping skills, and communities that create safe spaces for youth to thrive.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 To Parents & Caregivers:
Your voice matters more than you think. Young people who feel supported and connected at home are more likely to make healthy choices. Talk openly with your children about mental health, peer pressure, substance use, stress, social media, and self-worth. You do not have to have every answer — being present, listening, and showing consistent support can make a life-changing difference.
💬 Some ways parents can support prevention:
• Create regular time to talk and check in
• Encourage healthy friendships and activities
• Model healthy coping and communication
• Learn the warning signs of substance misuse or emotional distress
• Celebrate effort, growth, and resilience
• Remind youth they are valued and never alone
🌱 To Youth & Young Adults:
Your future is bigger than any challenge you may face today. Asking for help is strength, not weakness. Your mental health matters. Your voice matters. Your goals, talents, creativity, and dreams matter. Surround yourself with people who support your growth and never be afraid to reach out when life feels overwhelming.
✨ Prevention is about empowering people before problems become crises.
Together, we can build communities where:
✔ Youth feel safe and supported
✔ Families feel connected
✔ Mental health is prioritized
✔ Healthy choices are encouraged
✔ Hope and opportunity are accessible to all
This week, let’s commit to prevention through education, compassion, awareness, and action. Small conversations today can lead to stronger futures tomorrow.

04/20/2026

💊🚗 Clean out your medicine cabinet and help keep our community safe!
Join us for the DEA National Prescription Drug & Medical Waste Take-Back Event on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. This is a FREE, convenient drive-thru event where you can safely dispose of unused medications and certain medical waste—no appointments, no hassle.
Unused or expired medications left at home can lead to accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. This is your opportunity to take a simple step that makes a big difference for your household and our entire community.
📍 Drive-Thru Locations:
• Cleveland County Health Department – Norman
250 12th Ave NE, Norman, OK 73071
• Cleveland County Health Department – Moore
424 S Eastern Ave, Moore, OK 73160
• Absentee Shawnee Tribe Little Axe Health Center
15951 Little Axe Dr, Norman, OK 73026
✅ What You Can Bring:
• Expired or unwanted pills, powders, and patches
• Medical waste such as needles, syringes, IV tubes, lancets, and scalpel blades
⚠️ Medical waste must be secured in a proper container to be accepted
🚫 Not Accepted:
• Liquids, creams, or inhalers
• Radioactive medicines
• Unsecured medical waste
🎁 FREE Items Available (while supplies last):
• Medication lockboxes
• Medication disposal kits
• Narcan (naloxone)
• Portable sharps containers
💡 Why participate?
Proper disposal helps prevent medication misuse, protects children and families, and keeps harmful substances out of our environment. It’s quick, easy, and makes a real impact.
Take a few minutes to gather unused medications and stop by—no need to leave your car!
📣 Help us spread the word—share this post and invite others to participate.
Together, we can build a safer, healthier community.

04/05/2026

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and one risk that does not get talked about enough is mixing alcohol with prescription medicines.

That combination is not harmless. It can be dangerous — and sometimes deadly.

Alcohol can interact with many common medications and may cause:
• drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, and slowed reaction time
• trouble breathing
• loss of coordination and higher risk of falls or crashes
• internal bleeding, heart problems, or liver damage
• overdose risk, especially when alcohol is combined with drugs that slow the brain and body down
• medicines to work less well — or become harmful or toxic ()

The danger is especially serious with opioid pain medicines, benzodiazepines for anxiety, sleep medications, and other sedating prescriptions. Alcohol can intensify their effects, which can severely slow breathing and raise the risk of overdose and death. ()

And it is not always obvious. Even if someone has taken the same medication before, adding alcohol can change the effect. A person may feel more impaired than expected, or may not realize how much the substances are affecting them until it is too late. ()

How to stay safe:

Do not mix alcohol with prescription medication unless a doctor or pharmacist says it is safe.
Read the medication label and warning inserts every time.
Ask your pharmacist directly: “Can I drink alcohol while taking this?”
Be extra cautious with any medicine that causes sleepiness or slowed breathing.

03/20/2026

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week is a time to raise awareness, share facts, and protect our communities. In Cleveland County, fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous substances affecting individuals, families, and neighborhoods because of its extreme potency and the high risk of overdose.

Did you know? Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is significantly more powerful than morphine and he**in. Even a very small amount can be deadly. One of the greatest dangers is that fentanyl is often mixed into other drugs—sometimes without a person’s knowledge. This means someone may believe they are taking something else, when in reality they are being exposed to a substance that can cause a fatal overdose within minutes.

This matters for all of us in Cleveland County. Fentanyl does not just affect one type of person or one part of the community. It impacts teens, young adults, families, schools, workplaces, and public safety. It can affect people struggling with substance use, but it can also harm individuals who may not realize what they are taking has been laced or contaminated.

There are several reasons fentanyl is so dangerous:

It is incredibly strong, making overdose more likely.

It may be found in counterfeit pills or mixed with other substances.

A person may not know they have taken fentanyl until it is too late.

It can slow or stop breathing very quickly.

The effects can be devastating for families and the wider community.

As a community, we can respond with facts, awareness, and action. Parents can talk openly with their children and teens about the dangers of counterfeit pills and unknown substances. Friends can look out for one another and take overdoses seriously. Community members can learn the signs of overdose, know when to call 911, and help reduce stigma so people feel safe asking for help.

Prevention starts with honest conversation. Education matters. Awareness saves lives.

Let’s work together in Cleveland County to protect our families, support those at risk, and make sure our community understands the real dangers of fentanyl.

03/20/2026

🌍 National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is more than awareness—it’s about empowering our entire community with knowledge, connection, and action.

Substance use impacts individuals, families, workplaces, and neighborhoods—but so does prevention, education, and support. This week is a reminder that we all play a role in building healthier, safer communities.

💡 Why this matters for all of us:

Substance misuse doesn’t happen in isolation—it affects families, schools, businesses, and public safety.

Many people struggle silently. Awareness helps reduce stigma and opens the door for support.

Accurate information helps replace myths, misinformation, and harmful assumptions.

🧠 Let’s focus on facts, not fear:

Substance use can impact brain health, decision-making, relationships, and long-term well-being.

Early education and prevention can significantly reduce risk.

Recovery is possible—and support makes a difference.

🤝 What can YOU do this week?
✔ Start conversations with family, friends, and coworkers
✔ Share credible information and resources
✔ Support local prevention and recovery programs
✔ Check in on someone—you never know who may need it
✔ Encourage youth to ask questions and seek facts

🏡 Community starts with connection
Whether you’re a parent, educator, employer, faith leader, or neighbor—your influence matters. When we work together, we create environments where people feel informed, supported, and empowered to make healthy choices.

❤️ Let’s replace stigma with support.
Let’s replace silence with conversation.
Let’s replace myths with facts.

Together, we can build a stronger, healthier community.

02/23/2026

Cleveland County parents — we cannot afford to stay quiet or assume “it won’t happen here.”

The reality is this: our kids are navigating more pressure, more access to substances, and more mental health challenges than any generation before them. Social media, va**ng, alcohol, pills passed around at parties — these are not distant problems. They are present in communities just like ours.

The message from Talk. They Hear You. is urgent: what we say — and whether we say anything at all — matters.

If we don’t start the conversation, someone else will.

This is a call to action for Cleveland County families:

• Start the conversation this week — not someday.
• Be clear about your expectations around alcohol, drugs, and risky behavior.
• Get to know your child’s friends and their parents.
• Stay involved in school and community activities.
• Lock up medications and monitor what’s in your home.
• Pay attention to changes in mood, behavior, and friend groups.

Prevention is not just a school issue. It’s not just a law enforcement issue. It’s not just “other parents’” responsibility.

It’s ours.

Strong communities are built when parents stand together — sharing information, setting consistent expectations, and refusing to normalize dangerous behavior.

And to the youth watching: your choices matter, and so does your future. Speak up. Ask questions. Reach out to someone you trust. There are adults in this community who care deeply about you and want to see you succeed.

Cleveland County is strongest when families lead from the front. Let’s act like it.

01/12/2026

Parents, your voice matters more than you think. 💬

Kids are listening—especially when it comes to choices about drugs and alcohol. The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign reminds us that simple, honest conversations can make a powerful difference. When parents speak early and often about the dangers of substance use, children are more likely to stay drug-free and make healthy decisions.

You don’t need a perfect script. Just start the conversation. Ask questions. Listen. Share your values. Those everyday talks build trust, confidence, and protection for the future.

Talk. They hear you. And what you say can help keep them safe. 💙

12/01/2025

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents, They’re Listening — Even When It Doesn’t Seem Like It! 👂💬

Talking with your kids about alcohol and other drugs can feel uncomfortable… but those conversations matter more than you think. That’s why the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign is here—to give parents and caregivers the tools, confidence, and support to start these important chats early.

✨ Kids who learn about the risks of substance use from their parents are far less likely to try it.

You don’t need the “perfect moment” — just small, everyday conversations can make a BIG difference.

Let’s work together to guide them, support them, and help them make healthy choices. 💙

👉 Learn more and get free conversation starters, tips, and resources: [insert local or campaign link]

Community Based Prevention Services-Cleveland County

05/12/2026

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