Pathways 2 Prevention
Beyond the Program: Rethinking Prevention in 2026 with Rear Admiral Christopher Jones
59 min
Guest: Rear Admiral Christopher Jones
Listen on SpotifySummary
Host Dave speaks with Rear Admiral Christopher Jones, Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), about the current state and future of effective substance use prevention. Drawing on his perspective as a pharmacist, public health officer, and person in long-term recovery, Jones shares key insights on moving beyond single-substance strategies. The conversation explores non-negotiable principles in the field, including how economic supports connect to youth outcomes and how reframing data can build trust.
Key takeaways
- Avoid chasing a single substance, which Jones highlights as a core non-negotiable for effective prevention.
- Recognize the link between broad economic supports, such as SNAP benefits highlighted in a UNC study, and population-level declines in youth substance use.
- Flip the script on use-versus-non-use data to foster trust and engagement rather than fear and shame.
- Adopt a vital mindset shift for prevention leaders focused on continuous innovation and community engagement.
Show notes
This episode steps back from any single program or strategy to ask a bigger question: what does effective substance use prevention actually look like right now?
Dave sits down with Rear Admiral Christopher Jones, Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), to talk about what CSAP is seeing across the country, what's changing, and what's non-negotiable. Jones is a pharmacist by training, an officer in the US Public Health Service, and a person in long-term recovery, and he brings all three of those lenses into this conversation.
You'll hear why Jones believes prevention programs that chase a single substance miss the point, what a University of North Carolina study on SNAP benefits has to do with reducing youth substance use, and how reframing the same data point can build trust instead of fear. Whether you're a coalition leader, a prevention professional, an educator, or a parent trying to make sense of where the field is headed, this one gives you a clearer map.
In This Episode
● Why Rear Admiral Christopher Jones says "don't chase a single substance" is the field's real non-negotiable
● The surprising connection between a UNC study on SNAP benefits and population-level drops in substance use
● How flipping the script on use-versus-non-use statistics builds trust instead of shame
● What Jones calls the non-negotiables of prevention, no matter what substance is making headlines
● One mindset shift Jones is asking every prevention leader to make this year: innovate and engage
Guest Bio
Rear Admiral Christopher Jones is Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and an officer in the US Public Health Service. A pharmacist by training with a doctorate in health policy, he has led prevention and injury-prevention work at the CDC, FDA, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He is also a person in long-term recovery.
Links:
- https://www.samhsa.gov/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/about/offices-centers/csap
- https://pttcnetwork.org/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/prevention/talk-they-hear-you
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health
- http://dfaf.org/
More episodes from Pathways 2 Prevention
October 6, 20261 hr 16 min
Why the DEA Does Prevention: The Story Behind Red Ribbon Week
This episode explains why the DEA, primarily an enforcement agency, is deeply involved in drug prevention efforts. Sean Fearns and Kevin Collins from DEA Community Outreach and Prevention Support trace the origins of the DEA's prevention work back to the loss of Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985 and the subsequent rise of Red Ribbon Week. They also discuss current prevention challenges, including fentanyl and counterfeit pills, and highlight the free, science-based resources the DEA offers.
ListenSeptember 1, 20261 hr 5 min
Building the First Inclusive Recovery Community in the Nation with Ashley Neal
Ashley Neal discusses the creation of the nation's first Inclusive Recovery Community in Tampa Bay. She shares the journey of a tri-county partnership across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, outlining how various entities collaborated to make recovery visible and accessible. This episode covers the process of engaging county governments, uniting treatment centers, and developing a public events calendar.
ListenJuly 29, 202653 min
Inside the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy with Dr. Roneet Lev
In this episode, Dr. Roneet Lev, Chief Medical Officer at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, discusses the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. She shares insights into the public health aspects of the strategy, its key differentiators, and what it means for prevention professionals. Dr. Lev highlights new approaches including clearer language for primary prevention, the inclusion of faith, and a focus on real-time drug threat data.
ListenJuly 1, 20261 hr 3 min
The Pulse of Resilience: Building Resilience from the Ground Up
This episode features a discussion with Adam Woods and Sneha Patiyathal, two youth workers from Australia and India, about building resilience. They share their perspectives on what it looks like to support young people in different cultural settings and emphasize that resilience is a practice anyone can learn. The conversation highlights common challenges faced by youth and the impact of positive affirmation.
ListenYour people are waiting.
Join a private community built only for prevention professionals. Look around, meet your people, and choose your membership when you're ready.