December 4, 2017
There is always great anticipation about the holiday season as this is a special time for many families. It is a special time with special events, parties when relatives and friends are more likely to gather together to celebrate this time of year. However, this time of year can also be a very challenging for many reasons.
The holidays can also be difficult when there has been the loss of a loved one or there is an ill or absent family member. The gaiety of the holidays can accentuate feelings of loss and pain. The holidays can be very emotional and can create stressful situations where there is the potential for someone to drink too much, relapse, misuse drugs, get overwhelmed, work too hard to have a nice celebration, spend too much money or have unrealistic expectations about the holidays.
In addition, during the holidays, teens and adults have more access to alcohol at intergenerational parties where alcohol is available but not necessarily monitored. Another issue is that students returning home after being at college may “invite” younger siblings to parties where alcohol and or other drugs are available. During this past year there is great concern about the use of marijuana, prescription drugs, and a significant increase in the number of teens vaping nicotine or marijuana.
Also, adults may be so busy, that there is less supervision of their teens and what they are doing. Talking to teens about these issues can be a very positive way to deal with these concerns. It gives a parent the opportunity to restate expectations, set boundaries, and state what the consequences will be if a teen uses alcohol and other drugs. A conversation with your teen can provide a chance to share both their and your concerns and expectations in regards to the holidays. Fears of parent or sibling relapse, car crashes, arrest or other alcohol related behavior can make the holiday season very stressful for teens. A conversation about these concerns can provide an opportunity to explore some strategies to help your teen reduce stress and remain alcohol and drug free.
Source: Parenting for Prevention
December 1, 2017
It is more important than ever to teach your child never to ride with an impaired driver. The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility reported in April 2017, that for the first time, drugged driving now surpasses drunken driving among drivers killed in crashes. And every day, over 27 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Learn more.
December 1, 2017
What exactly is medical marijuana?
The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine. Learn more.
November 19, 2017
November 1, 2017
Vaping, e-cigs, hookah sticks, Juul – lots of different names but all are risky for youth. Young people who “vape” are much more likely to progress to traditional cigarette use. Many vape products include nicotine and other harmful chemicals. The batteries in these devices can explode, causing injury. Get educated.
November 1, 2017
Juuling is safer than cigarettes… isn’t it?
Once you take the first hit, your brain automatically associates the sweet flavor as “good”, triggering your pleasure center to automatically equate juuling as good, fostering a lifetime addiction to tobacco and nicotine. So if you’re eighteen or older and feel like trying out a juul, please know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before you risk your health. Learn more.
October 26, 2017
For more information, visit Power to the Parent.
October 15, 2017
Members of the Irvington High School Positive Impact Club held an awareness campaign during homecoming weekend and asked students and teachers to pledge to make healthy and responsible decisions.
“The goal of the project was to demonstrate that many of our teens are choosing to make healthy and responsible choices as well as bring awareness to unhealthy and risky decision-making that can take place,” said Jennifer Nunziato, student assistance counselor and advisor of the Positive Impact Club.
As the student assistance counselor, Nunziato works to enhance positive and healthy decision-making, as well as reduce the factors that put students at risk for alcohol and other drug use. During the campaign, she and her students collected more than 300 pledges from students, who pledged to treat others with compassion, empathy and kindness, to never drink and drive, and to make healthy choices when spending time with their peers.
In exchange for a pledge, the students received a green Irvington bulldog rally towel, sponsored by the Irvington About Safe Kids coalition. iASK is a coalition that represents all sectors of the community — parents, students, educators, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, business people and more — and works to motivate youth to make healthy, happy and responsible decisions.
Source: Irvington UFSD
October 11, 2017
iASK-CAB welcomed approximately 125 attendees to its September 27th presentation – Drugs & Alcohol Use: An Irvington Perspective. This event was the first of several community conversations that will be presented this school year. The presentation is now available for viewing and we hope you will add your voice to the important conversation about the health and safety of our youth.
Allyson Felix & Tanya Hunt
iASK-CAB Co-Chairs