National Prevention Week 2025

National Prevention Week, celebrated this year May 11-17, is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health.

Each year, National Prevention Week provides an opportunity to for us raise awareness about the work being done by the COCA Prevention Staff to deliver substance use prevention programs to youth and the community. This year, we are taking a By-the-Numbers look at the impact they have across Berks County.

COCA Prevention Programs By the Numbers for the 2024-25 School Year

6 – Number of prevention specialists on COCA’s staff

33 – Health fairs and community events they attended to provide resources and education

250 – Students in 10 classes who participated in Marijuana Real Talk
375 – Elementary students in 15 classes who learned about media balance through Kids & Technology lessons
550 – Students in grades 6-9 who learned about technology addiction through Teens & Technology
975 – Students in 39 classes who learned about brain health through Brain Games

1,525 – Students in 61 classes who learned about healthy friendships and peer pressure through Friendships Matter
2,700 – Students in 108 classes who learned about the health risks of vaping through Escape the Vape

2,125 – Students in 85 classrooms in grades 1,2,3 & 5 who participated in the 10-session Too Good for Drugs social and emotional learning program

40,000 – Red Ribbons distributed during National Red Ribbon Week in October, promoting drug-free

1 –  Showcase Winner of PA Department of Education’s Prevention Impact Award recognizing COCA’s Prevention Department as a “dynamic and innovative direct service team. Despite their small size they’ve delivered prevention services to over 2,000 youth in fall 2024 alone.”