January 23, 2017
Drugs: Shatter the Myths answers teens’ most frequently asked questions about drugs and drug abuse. A must-have resource for every teen! View now.
January 21, 2017
With Mid-Term Season upon us, many IHS students are feeling stressed. Research has shown that teenagers experiencing significant stress are…
~ At a higher risk for physical or mental illness
~Twice as likely to smoke, drink alcohol, binge drink, & use illegal drugs
Tips to Help Your Teen Manage Stress:
1) Teach them to budget their time. Help them to develop a “to-do” list and prioritize what needs to get done 1st, 2nd, and so on.
2) Encourage them to balance work and “play” by scheduling regular breaks in their study schedule.
3) Encourage them to regularly use healthy stress-relievers
(i.e. exercise, meditation, listening to music, drawing/coloring, etc.)
Source: Jennifer Nunziato (Traditi), LMHC, Student Assistance Counselor, Irvington High School & Middle School Phone: 914-269-5469
January 8, 2017
A new Surgeon General’s report finds alcohol and drug misuse and severe substance use disorders, commonly called addiction, to be one of America’s most pressing public health concerns. Nearly 21 million Americans – more than the number of people who have all cancers combined – suffer from substance use disorders.
“Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a drug use disorder. Yet 90 percent of people with a substance use disorder are not getting treatment. That has to change.”
January 1, 2017
It is not surprising to find that a teen who uses alcohol or other drugs is more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Using alcohol or other drugs can lower a teen’s inhibitions and cloud their judgement by influencing their ability to assess that a behavior is risky and can have lasting consequences.
December 20, 2016
The holidays are a time for fun and celebration, but, unfortunately, also a time of risk for young people.
On an average December day, more than 11,000 young people in the United States, aged 12 to 17, will use alcohol for the first time. Some of these young adults will not make it to the New Year, as nearly 400 young people under age 21 die from alcohol-related causes every month, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
December 15, 2016
There are many challenges during the holiday season. The holidays can be very emotional, they can create stressful situations where families get overwhelmed, work too hard to have a nice celebration, spend too much money or have unrealistic expectations about the holidays.
December 9, 2016
Members of Irvington High School’s Positive Impact Club attended the Youth-to-Youth Leadership Conference at the Westchester County Center on Dec. 2, where they collaborated with other high school students on suggestions and visions to enhance their schools and communities.
The 15 students from Irvington High School, who represented one of the largest groups at the conference, joined more than 330 students from across the county. The highlight of the conference was a presentation by Youth-to-Youth International director of training Ty Sells, a motivational speaker who conducted workshops for IHS students and parents last October. While at the conference, members of the Positive Impact Club worked with other students from neighboring districts to brainstorm ideas in creating and improving community-school partnerships.
Jennifer Nunziato, the student assistance counselor and Positive Impact Club advisor, and Michael Toolan, Irvington police detective and youth officer, also attended the conference. Transportation to and from the conference was funded and sponsored by Irvington About Safe Kids.
Source: Irvington Schools View article in the Rivertowns Patch.
October 25, 2016
“Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems.” There are few areas where that adage rings truer than with underage drinking. Here are the facts: It’s illegal. Most parents don’t condone it. It’s unhealthy. The best tactic is to delay it as long as you can.
In fact, there’s a lot of evidence that parents should strive to keep their younger teenagers away from alcohol because it damages the developing teenage brain.
But here’s another fact: Many teens are drinking. According to a Call to Action on Underage Drinking from the U.S. Surgeon General, by age 18, more than 70 percent of teens have had at least one drink. And they typically don’t stop at one. The report also found that teens are more likely to binge drink than adults: On average, teens have about five drinks on a single occasion.
View the full article.
October 22, 2016
Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America.
In honor of Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions, like iASK. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the red ribbon.Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families.
Take the National Red Ribbon Campaign Pledge now and be a part of the creation of a drug free America.
- As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.
- We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
- We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
- We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
- We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.
I PLEDGE TO SET GUIDELINES TO HELP CHILDREN GROW UP SAFE, HEALTHY AND DRUG-FREE.
