Previous Story
‘Our Lives. Our Health. Our Future’
“Our lives. Our Health. Our Future” was the binding theme after Gov. Eloy S. Inos signed a proclamation last Friday, May 16, declaring the week of May 18 to 24 as National Prevention Week.
The proclamation highlights the important role of everyone in maintaining a healthy life and ensuring a productive future.
National Prevention Week seeks to raise awareness of behaviorial health issues and help create healthier and safer communities.
The proclamation states that across “the Pacific, U.S., and throughout CNMI, we need to recognize the seriousness of behavioral health issues in our communities, the power of prevention, and the tireless efforts of those working to make a difference.”
The proclamation states that substance abuse and mental health problems affect all communities nationwide and the CNMI community “is not immune to these problems.”
According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 20.7 million adults with substance use disorder and 43.7 million adults with mental illness received services that year.
The proclamation also states that the CNMI Public School System’s 2013 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System has found out that 19.8 percent of high school students smoked one or more cigarettes in the past 30 days, 33.6 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days, 33.2 percent used marijuana one or more times in the past 30 days, and 15.9 percent considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months.
Gov. Eloy S. Inos, seated, is flanked by providers, volunteers and other community members after signing on Friday a proclamation declaring May 18 to 24 National Prevention Week. This year’s theme, “Our Lives. Our Health. Our Future.” highlights the important role each community member has in maintaining a healthy life and ensuring a productive future. The CNMI is not immune to the nationwide problems of substance abuse and mental health. (Haidee V. Eugenio)
“With support and commitment, these can be prevented and I call the community to support this public awareness and prevent substance abuse,” Inos said.
In a bid to enhance substance abuse and mental health systems, the CNMI has worked collaboratively with Pacific, national, and local partners toward data-driven outcomes, enhanced infrastructure, and sustained prevention, treatment, and wellness services, guided by the cultural humility of the people of the CNMI.
