Taking Action to Break Language Barriers

The Addiction Policy Forum released prevention resources translated into 12 languages to help improve language access to information on the prevention of substance use disorders. The project was supported by the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, ECORN-MO, the Opioid Response Network (ORN) and the Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) to provide open-source, science-backed prevention materials for communities and families across the globe.

The need for such resources has become more pressing in light of recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which show predicted overdose deaths reaching a devastating new 12-month record, with nearly 110,000 American lives lost from December 2021 to December 2022. Prevention initiatives are critical in the face of a worsening epidemic.

"Every family deserves access to accurate health information. It’s critical that we ensure families and communities across the globe have meaningful access to health information about the opioid crisis and substance use disorders, free of language barriers."

With growing substance risks emerging among youth, from opioids, vaping, to cannabis, prevention initiatives that educate caregivers, teachers and other adults who work with adolescents are critical. The Addiction Policy Forum's prevention resources in multiple languages will help ensure that families and communities across the globe have access to accurate information to combat the growing epidemic of substance use disorders.

Available languages:

Prevention Resources in Other Languages can be accessed here