Central MetroWest Substance Awareness & Prevention Collaborative

Central MetroWest Substance Awareness & Prevention Collaborative CMSAPC consists of Ashland, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Southborough & Westborough Massachusetts. We want every young person to thrive!

We aim to unite communities through connection & collaboration to prevent youth substance use/misuse.

10/16/2025

We believe strong communities start with strong families. That’s why we’re proud to introduce our new prevention initiative: Talk Early, Talk Often.

Backed by the MassCALL3B Grant from the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), this campaign brings together seven communities — Ashland, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Southborough, and Westborough — with one mission: support youth in making healthy, informed choices about cannabis and other substances.

Parents and caregivers told us they want:
✅ Real information
✅ Conversation tips
✅ Confidence talking about cannabis
✅ Resources that fit busy lives

Talk Early, Talk Often encourages open, ongoing conversations between adults and youth — not lectures or “one big talk,” but small, honest moments that build trust over time. Research shows that kids who talk with trusted adults about substance use are less likely to engage in risky behavior. Those conversations truly make a difference.

This campaign lives both online and in your community through:
📱 Instagram & Facebook
🌐 A resource-packed website
🙋 Local ambassadors
👨‍👩‍👧 Events and workshops

We’re here to offer tools, tips, and real stories from real families.

Starting the conversation can feel uncomfortable, but you don’t have to do it alone. Follow us, share the message, and let’s build a healthier future together.

Talk early. Talk often. They’re listening.

Data is the backbone of effective prevention. It shines a light on the challenges we face, helps track progress, and ens...
10/09/2025

Data is the backbone of effective prevention. It shines a light on the challenges we face, helps track progress, and ensures resources are directed where they’re needed most. Understanding substance use starts with accurate, reliable data.

These statistics provide a snapshot of the issues our community is addressing, with a focus on youth and substances of first use (alcohol, ni****ne, and ma*****na).

Here are some key findings specific to our Central MetroWest community:

📊Youth Alcohol Use: 21% of local youth reported drinking alcohol recently, 12% reported recent binge drinking, and 40% reported lifetime use – overall, a significant decline in use since 2006.

📊 Youth Electronic V***r Product Use containing Ni****ne (EVPs): Fewer than one in five high school students report lifetime EVP use (18%), and one in ten (10%) report current use. Reports of EVP use have declined by more than half since they peaked in 2018.

📊 Youth Ma*****na Use: Following a sharp decline since 2018, fewer than one in five youth (18%) have tried ma*****na in their lifetime, and one in 10 (10%) report having used it in the past 30 days.

When compared to state and national averages, the CMSAPC region shows both strengths and areas for improvement. For example:
▪️Alcohol Usage: Despite notable declines in alcohol use both locally and nationally, current alcohol use and binge drinking in MetroWest is higher than national rates.
▪️ Va**ng Rates: Lifetime and current use of EVPs in MetroWest is lower than in the nation.
▪️ Cannabis Use: MetroWest rates are lower than national rates for both lifetime and current cannabis use.

Today: Join the Conversation on Youth Cannabis Use with Dr. Safdar Medina! The Central & Metrowest Substance Addiction P...
10/07/2025

Today: Join the Conversation on Youth Cannabis Use with Dr. Safdar Medina!

The Central & Metrowest Substance Addiction Prevention Coalition (CMSAPC) is proud to launch its Talk Early. Talk Often. youth cannabis prevention campaign... and it all begins today with an important and engaging online discussion!

🗓 Event Details
Topic: Youth Cannabis Use with Dr. Safdar Medina
Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (EST)
Location: Online via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

As cannabis becomes increasingly accessible, understanding its effects on youth health and development is more critical than ever. Today’s webinar will explore the realities and risks of youth cannabis use, offering both medical insight and real-world perspective.

Dr. Safdar Medina, a pediatrician affiliated with UMass Memorial and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School, will share evidence-based insights into how cannabis impacts young people’s brains, behavior, and long-term well-being.

Joining him is Shea Finnegan, Wellness Associate at Herren Wellness, who will offer his lived experience and reflections on prevention and recovery — emphasizing the importance of early, open conversations between parents, caregivers, and youth.

The Talk Early. Talk Often. campaign is all about starting meaningful conversations before substance use becomes an issue. By fostering open dialogue and equipping families with accurate information, CMSAPC aims to empower communities to make informed, healthy choices.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, healthcare professional, or community member: this event is a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions, and be part of a supportive network working toward youth wellness.

Don’t Miss Out:he conversation starts at 11:00 AM today — reserve your spot now and be part of the movement to support youth health and prevention.

👉 Register here: www.tinyurl.com/CMSAPCWebinar 🔗 .

10/06/2025

We’re excited to kick off CMSAPC’s new "Talk Early. Talk Often." youth cannabis prevention campaign with an engaging, one-hour webinar next week. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, coach, health professional, or a community member who cares about young people, this session is for you.

A Discussion on Youth Cannabis Use (Webinar)
When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Where: Zoom (link provided after registration)
🔗 https://www.tinyurl.com/CMSAPCWebinar

What you’ll learn:
✅ The latest on how cannabis affects the developing teen brain and overall health
✅ Signs to watch for and ways to respond with care
✅ Practical, age-appropriate conversation starters for families and schools
✅ What’s changing in local use patterns and policies—and why it matters
✅ Supports and resources available in our region

Our featured speaker, Dr. Safdar Medina, is a pediatrician affiliated with UMass Memorial and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School. He sees patients at Tri River Health Center in Uxbridge, with a focus on treating mental health and substance use in adolescents. Dr. Medina is also a member of Encompass, the Northborough/Southborough Substance Use Prevention Coalition, and has spoken widely over the years on youth substance use and prevention.

We will also hear from Shea Finnegan, who will share his personal story of struggle and recovery. Growing up in Douglas, Massachusetts, Shea had what many would call a normal childhood filled with sports, friends, and family. But at 14, he began using substances, which led to challenges with mental health, addiction, and setbacks in school. After entering Herren Wellness in 2022, Shea began his recovery journey and has since dedicated his life to helping others. He has worked as a Recovery Counselor at Charles River Recovery, a Peer Support Specialist with teens in state care, and now serves as a Wellness Associate at Herren Wellness — the same place where he found his own path to recovery.

We hope you can join us for this important opportunity to learn, ask questions, and join us in starting the conversation early and often with the youth in our lives!

10/06/2025

Are you ready, MetroWest families and caregivers?! Today we launch our latest campaign, “Talk Early. Talk Often.”

“Talk Early. Talk Often.” is a regional prevention campaign designed to support parents and caregivers in having open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations with their children about cannabis use and its impact on youth brain development, mental health, and future opportunities.

The goal is simple: equip families with the tools they need to have ongoing conversations so that young people are better prepared to make healthy, informed decisions. Whether your child is in middle school or approaching graduation, it’s never too early or too late to start the conversation.

Be sure to follow us on social media as we'll be sharing resources, data, real stories, and guidance on how to discuss thse topics with your families, students, and communities.

CMSAPC is a regional, grant-funded coalition made up of schools, parents, youth-serving organizations, faith-based services, local governments, and substance use prevention groups. We serve the Central MetroWest communities of Ashland, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Southborough, and Westborough.

These towns work together under the shared belief that prevention is a community effort, with every member playing an important role in moving us closer to our shared goals. Our strength lies in collaboration, uniting dedicated individuals and organizations who share a passion for enhancing the well-being of their neighbors and families.

10/05/2025

Exciting things coming Monday 10/6 — stay tuned!

Follow CMSAPC on Facebook & Instagram before we launch so you don’t miss anything 👀

Visit our booth today at RECFest!
10/04/2025

Visit our booth today at RECFest!

09/18/2025

✨ This Sunday! ✨
Join us for “I’ll Never Do That” a powerful live performance that shares one family’s hidden struggles with addiction. As a parent falls deeper into substance use, the rest of the family must cope with the pain, challenges, and impact that remind us addiction is a “family disease.”

Presented by 2nd Act, a collective of artists in recovery, this moving story uses theater to break stigma and open up conversation about recovery and hope.

📍 Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe St
🗓️ Sunday, Sept. 21 | 4:00 PM
🎟️ Free admission | Registration encouraged

This event is recommended for adults & teens.

08/20/2025

Here are some clips from our recent Recovery Roundtable with WMCT-TV!

We sat down to talk about the importance of early conversations between parents and kids when it comes to cannabis and substance use. Prevention truly starts at home.

Want to see the full conversation? ➡️ Check out the full interview now on WMCT-TV’s YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook channels.

Thank you to WMCT-TV for producing and sharing this important content.

Address

78 Main Street
Hudson, MA
01749

Telephone

+19785622020

Website

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