Thurston County, Washington

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 19

County facilities will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
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Thurston County Washington

Public Health and Social Services

Preventing Substance Misuse

Help prevent substance misuse in our community with these simple steps:

1

Talk with the people you care about.

Have a conversation about drug misuse and overdose. Addressing the risk of drug misuse is a conversation to have with all those who you love and care about including friends and older adults. 

2

Spend time together. Connection is prevention.

It sounds so simple and it’s true. When young people have a person that they feel they can talk to, it makes a difference! Make time to have fun together. Check out the Community Resources section below for some local ideas.

3

Store and dispose of medications safely.

Store your medications safely to protect the people you love. 

  • Keep medications in their original containers with caps on.
  • Store medications and other drugs in a locked location (like a drawer, cabinet, or lock box).
  • Avoid storing medicine in the bathroom, kitchen, purse, or other visible places.
  • Carefully keep track of your medications so you know how much you are using. 

Dispose of medications you don’t need any more in a free drop box. 

Parents and caring adults have a big influence on the young people they care about. Take time to talk with the youth in your life about substance use. Need help getting started?

Parent resources about drug education and addiction

Parenting isn’t easy. Fortunately, there are some great free resources available. Here are a few local options. 

Power Parenting Workshops

Free monthly online workshops that discuss a different topic every month.

The Parental Compass

Free podcast on parenting topics.

We offer a variety of prevention-based services. Reach out to us for more information: PHSS_Prevention@co.thurston.wa.us

Helpful Resources: 

Here are some curricula we recommend: 

Curriculum about fentanyl and opioids - WA Friends for Life Prevention Resources

Curriculum about substance use and harm reduction for high schools

Curriculum about vaping – lessons for elementary, middle, and high school

Thurston County has some fantastic organizations that serve young people. Here are some of them.

Local youth serving programs

Teen Health resources

Harm Reduction Resources 

Thurston County Community Connections & Care Resource Guide

South Sound Resource Guide

Local Events 

Treatment and recovery resources:

Want to get involved with local prevention work? 

 

Contact Us

Reach out to us for more information: PHSS_Prevention@co.thurston.wa.us or visit Substance Use Prevention