On February 26, youth leaders from the Kansas Youth Prevention Action Council (KYPAC) took to the Kansas State Capitol to participate in Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day. Hosted by the Kansas Prevention Collaborative, the event brought together youth and adults with the shared goal of building a healthier Kansas through advocacy and connection.

This year’s event focused on normalizing support-seeking by promoting healing, hope, and prevention strategies, and encouraging people to overcome challenges related to mental health and substance misuse. The advocacy day brought together groups working on different areas of prevention, including those focused on suicide prevention, opioid misuse, and problem gambling.

KYPAC members attended meetings with legislators including Representative Silas Miller to talk about the importance of statewide youth prevention efforts. They also joined their peers from Zero Reasons Why to speak on a youth panel about substance abuse, mental health advocacy, and the importance of data in driving prevention initiatives, such as the Kansas Community that Cares data.

KYPAC youth leader Arabella Taylor spoke with 13 WIBW about the fight against substance misuse, emphasizing the important role that young people play in preventing drinking, vaping, and other substances. Watch the interview here.