In a recent episode of Pathways to Prevention, host Dave Closson sat down with Emily Hill, a passionate Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coordinator from Minnesota. Emily shared her journey into prevention work, her experience building a Youth Advisory Coalition, and the challenges of navigating marijuana legalization. If you’re a prevention professional, coalition leader, or simply passionate about fostering healthier communities, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
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From Accidental to Intentional: Emily’s Journey into Prevention Emily’s path into prevention wasn’t planned. Initially interested in healthcare but unsure of her direction, she discovered public health in college and later joined AmeriCorps’ Public Health Corps. Her first exposure to substance misuse prevention came when she was thrown into an opioid advisory meeting, struggling to spell words like “xylazine.” From there, she was hooked, realizing the power of prevention in shaping healthier communities. Eventually, she stepped into her role as a DFC coordinator, bringing fresh energy and innovation to coalition work.
Building a Strong Coalition: Lessons from the Field A key component of Emily’s work is leading a Drug-Free Communities coalition, which unites 12 sectors of the community—youth, parents, businesses, healthcare, law enforcement, and more—to reduce youth substance use. She highlighted some key lessons in coalition-building:
- Meet people where they are. Rather than expecting stakeholders to come to her, Emily actively participates in school meetings, community forums, and networking events.
- Innovate and adapt. Recognizing the need for youth voices, she launched a Youth Advisory Coalition to bridge the gap between young people and adults in prevention work.
- Persistence pays off. Gaining school buy-in took time, requiring repeated conversations, creative outreach, and leveraging existing relationships.
Youth Voices Matter: The Power of Listening Sessions One of Emily’s most impactful initiatives has been the student-led listening sessions, where students facilitate conversations about substance use and mental health among their peers. Key takeaways include:
- Students know more than we think. Emily was surprised by how much youth already understood about fentanyl, marijuana, and vaping.
- Youth are eager to lead. Given the right tools and support, students are capable of organizing, leading discussions, and influencing their peers.
- Insights drive action. These listening sessions provide critical data that inform coalition strategies, ensuring youth perspectives shape prevention efforts.
Navigating Marijuana Legalization: Challenges & Strategies With Minnesota recently legalizing marijuana, Emily’s prevention work has been significantly impacted. Some of the biggest challenges include:
- Shifting perceptions. Many adults and youth see marijuana as “just a plant,” not recognizing how today’s high-potency THC products differ from past generations.
- Social media influence. Online influencers glamorize marijuana use, making it harder to counteract with traditional prevention messaging.
- Changing community norms. With marijuana products now available in gas stations and grocery stores, youth are increasingly exposed to marketing that normalizes use.
To address these challenges, Emily and her team have focused on:
- Education-based outreach for parents, including visual comparisons of THC edibles and common candies.
- Youth-led prevention messaging via social media.
- Policy advocacy to ensure that regulations prioritize public health.
The Future of Prevention: What’s Next? Looking ahead, Emily hopes to expand the Youth Advisory Coalition across multiple school districts and create an annual county-wide youth leadership event. She envisions a future where youth-led prevention work is embedded within schools and communities, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact.
Her advice to new prevention professionals? Be open-minded, embrace learning, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Prevention work is complex, but by listening, adapting, and collaborating, real change is possible.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action Emily Hill’s work is a testament to the power of youth engagement and community collaboration in substance use prevention. If you’re inspired by her story, here’s how you can take action:
- Follow Emily’s coalition on Instagram (@SCDrugFree) to see their work in action.
- Check out the full podcast episode for even more insights.
- Get involved in your local prevention efforts—whether through volunteering, coalition work, or simply having conversations about substance use prevention in your community.
Let’s work together to empower youth, shift community norms, and build a healthier, drug-free future!
