Central MetroWest Substance Awareness & Prevention Collaborative
Uniting communities through connection and collaboration to prevent youth substance use and misuse, foster a culture of wellness, and ensure every young person has the support they need to thrive.
%
of youth haven’t vaped or used alcohol in the last 30 days
%
of youth haven’t used cannabis in the last 30 days.
%
of students report having a supportive adult in their lives.
%
Uniting Communities through Connection & Collaboration
Whether you’re a parent or caregiver, or youth looking for guidance, an educator seeking resources, or a community member eager to create change, CMSAPC brings seven communities together to build a healthier, united region.
-
Support for parents, caregivers, and youth
-
Educational resources for educators
-
Community health and prevention programs
-
Opportunities to lead local change
Explore Our Local Coalitions
Ashland
Hudson
Marlborough
Natick
Northborough
Southborough
Westborough
View All Communities
Youth Substance Use Prevention Resources
Community Events
View our Events Calendar to stay informed about workshops, training sessions, and wellness activities happening across Central MetroWest.
Follow Us & Join the CMSAPC Online Community
💬 “Everybody at school does it! Why can’t I?”
We’ve all heard the classic response:
“Well, if everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you jump too?” 🙄
It might be a classic, but let’s retire that one.
Responses like this can come across as dismissive and can insult the intelligence of our teens. More importantly, they can shut down a conversation when what we really want is to keep our teens talking to us.
Welcome to our new Talk Early. Talk Often. Q+A with Your Teen series, where we’ll take real questions and comments parents may hear and offer another way to respond.
Instead of the cliff:
💚 “It might feel like everyone is doing it, but most teens actually aren’t. What matters most to me is helping you make choices that are healthy and safe for you.”
You don’t need a clever comeback. Listen to what your teen is actually saying, respect their ability to think for themselves, and keep the conversation going.
🗣️ Talk Early. Talk Often.
🔗 cmsapc.org
#TalkEarlyTalkOften #CMSAPC #ParentingTeens #ParentingTips #YouthPrevention ParentResources PreventionWorks MetroWestMA
IN FOCUS: Fall for Wellness is September 27th. Among many incredible things happening, attendees will have a chance to attend a 20 minutes Narcan training, provided by the Greater Boroughs Partnership for Health. It could literally save someone's life. Check it out and everything that is happening at westboroughconnects.org.
@followers
Did you miss our "Talk Early. Talk Often." kickoff webinar? It’s worth another watch! 🎥
As we approach the one-year anniversary of "Talk Early. Talk Often.", we’re looking back at the conversation that helped launch the campaign.
Pediatrician Dr. Safdar Medina and youth speaker Shea Finnegan joined us to talk about youth cannabis use from two important perspectives, providing parents and caregivers with information, insight, and practical ways to start these conversations at home.
One of the biggest messages from our campaign remains the same: you don’t need to have all the answers to start the conversation.
▶️ Watch the full webinar below, and feel free to share it with another parent or caregiver who could benefit.
💬 Talk Early. Talk Often.
#TalkEarlyTalkOften #CMSAPC #YouthPrevention #ParentResources #CannabisPrevention #ParentingTeens #SubstanceUsePrevention #MetroWestMA
EN 
ES 
PT