The Health Department provides evidence-based information about health risks related to certain behaviors, including substance use risks. Working with experts in the field of health communication - at the Department and beyond - we develop this messaging through evaluation to inform our campaigns. We consider:
- Who is at risk for health consequences due to substance use?
- What does this audience need to know about the health consequences of substance use and what might they already know, think and believe?
- Why should the audience change their behavior – what are the health benefits of this change?
- When is the best time to reach this audience – when will they be most receptive to the message?
- Where is the best place to reach this audience – what are their normal influences of their behavior?
The Department’s health messaging campaigns follow a science-based development process that includes: formative research, brand development and testing with the intended audience, strategy and creative development, implementation and evaluation.
The 2019 Policy and Communication Evaluation (PACE) Vermont study found that up to 62% of people who were aware of specific Health Department campaigns described changing their behavior as a result of the messaging. Read about the PACE Vermont study and the results. Learn more about this evaluation at pacevt.org.
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Substance Use Health Messaging Campaigns
Parent Up provides tips for parents and caregivers about talking with their kids about alcohol and cannabis. ParentUpVT.org
Share from the Health Department's YouTube channel.
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| Influence Poster | Cannabis Poster | Influence Rack Card | Cannabis Rack Card |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
Let’s Talk Cannabis provides science-based information about cannabis and how it affects our bodies, minds and health. LetsTalkCannabis.com
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| Rack Card | Adult Fact Sheet |
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| Youth Fact Sheet | Parents/Mentors Fact Sheet |
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| Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Fact Sheet | Health Care Providers Fact Sheet |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
Part provides ways people can properly and safely store and get rid of unused or expired prescription medication. healthvermont.gov/DoYourPart
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VT Helplink alcohol and drug support center provides information, support and referrals for substance use treatment, recovery and harm-reduction services in Vermont. VTHelplink.org
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| Connections Poster | Reach Out Poster | Rack Card |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
End Addiction Stigma provides awareness and simple actions we all can do to address substance use disorder stigma. EndAddictionStigmaVT.com
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Rx Aware provides health risk information for people who have opioid prescriptions to reduce addiction and overdose. healthvermont.gov/RxAware
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Know OD provides harm-reduction information for people who use opioids about preventing and reversing overdose. healthvermont.gov/KnowOD
Share from the Health Department's YouTube channel.
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| Avoid Using Alone Poster | Use New Syringes Poster | Go Slow Poster |
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| Fentanyl Poster | Narcan Poster | Call 9-1-1 Poster |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
One More Conversation encourages health care providers and patients to discuss substance use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 1MoreConversation.com and healthvermont.gov/1MoreConversation
Share from the Health Department’s YouTube channel
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| Provider Tip Sheet | Alcohol Fact Sheet | Cannabis Fact Sheet |
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| Opioids Fact Sheet | Tobacco Fact Sheets | Rack Cards |
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| Fact Sheet Flyer |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
Healthy at Home provides simple steps to keeping your home, and everyone in it, healthy and safe, including safe storage of alcohol, cannabis and prescription medications. healthvermont.gov/HealthyAtHome
Share from the Health Department's YouTube channel.
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| Fact Sheet |
Order these and other materials for free at VADIC.org
Resources for Grantees and Partners
The Vermont Alcohol and Drug Information Clearinghouse (VADIC) offers print materials of Health Department messaging campaigns for free. Order at VADIC.org
Campaign videos can be found on the Health Department's YouTube channel.
Support Resources
Social Marketing Resources
- “We Heart Health Literacy” blog
- “Pathways to Behavior Change” - Agents of Change Summit 2016 presentation by Rescue Agency
- “How to Tell Stories that Change People” – presentation by Rescue Agency
- Social Marketing Association of North America
- SAGE Journals – Social Marketing Quarterly
- CDC Health Communication Science Digest