Meth Awareness Week Kicks Off November 30

NEW YORK- November 18, 2015

"National Meth Awareness Week will be observed Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4, in an effort to combat the abuse and use of methamphetamine. Meth Awareness Week is coordinated by The Meth Project, a large-scale, teen-targeted prevention program of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, which aims to significantly reduce meth use through public service messaging, public policy and community outreach. The week will kick off with a digital media campaign and social content that ask teens to get involved and take action.

This year’s theme, 'Raise the Volume,' encourages participants to get involved within their communities to help amplify the message of choosing life over meth. With participation from state partners including Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the awareness campaign will launch with various local events and enhanced digital media support." Read more

For resources to speak with youth about the dangers of substance abuse, click here

Resource for mentors and parents about how to explain terror to children and adolescents

The Chronicles of Evidence Based Mentoring, November 18, 2015

"The attacks in Paris raise difficult questions for mentors. Should mentors, teachers, and other caring adults shelter young people from stories and explanations, and shift conversation elsewhere. Although this might be a good idea in some instances, there may be situations when it’s helpful to talk through difficult topics with mentees. Particularly when young people are eager to discuss and understand, events such as this, when handled well, provide mentors, teachers, and other caring adults with profound “teachable moments.” As this powerful New York Times video points out, the best way to start is to respond to the young people’s questions in a clear, compassionate manner that they can understand.

Explaining terror to children

Of course, discussing politics, religion, and world events can be difficult, particularly when there are competing ideas about what is best for our country – ideas that are rooted in differing values, culture, and worldview? Promoting the welfare of a young person does, in many cases, require that mentors build rapport not only with mentees, but also with the mentees’ primary caregivers so that they may develop an understanding of the family’s circumstances, belief systems, and expectations. If mentors lack such sensitivity they can misuse their power with heavy-handed persuasion. Power differentials inherent in the ages and roles of adults and youth can widen when there are also differences in class and cultural backgrounds. Mentors may not even be aware of the social inequities driving these differentials or how these can play out in interpersonal relationships (Fisher, 1997). Mentors may express beliefs or opinions that are at odds with the experiences, values, and beliefs of their mentees, creating conflict for the young person. They should thus strive to refrain from religious or political proselytizing, raise their own awareness of power dynamics in cross-age and cross-cultural relationships, and seek consultation from mentoring programs to effectively negotiate these differentials. Training can be critical to the success of mentoring relationships. Moreover, programs can improve efforts to reach volunteer mentors with backgrounds more similar to the youth being served (Liang & Grossman, 2007)." Read more

Holiday Help for Parents

By Jacqueline Longo, Program Coordinator, Youth Leadership
The Governor’s Prevention Partnership, November 20, 2015

"The holiday season can pose a greater increase in underage drinking and other risky behaviors such as alcohol impaired driving and illegal drug use by our youth. Below are some tips to keep our youth safe during this festive time of the year. For additional material and for our full version of  'A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Underage Drinking' please visit The Governor’s Prevention Partnership website at www.preventionworksct.org.

Make time to talk.
While the holiday season is a time for young people to meet up with old friends, it is also a time to connect with family. Talk to your teen about the risks of underage drinking and drug use, while encouraging him or her to spend quality time with both family and friends.

Don’t relax your rules just because it’s the holiday season.
Although it is the holiday season and most youth will have a break from school and after school activities, teen’s still need limits and close monitoring. Expectations may need to be re-negotiated or reiterated for college students returning home." Read more

For more resources on talking with youth about prevention of underage drinking and substance abuse,click here.

60 Minutes Story Highlights Heroin Epidemic in Suburban Communities

CBS, November 1, 2015

On Sunday, 60 Minutes ran a story about the heroin epidemic, as it increasingly spreads to suburban communities across the country. All of the young people profiled in the story became addicted to heroin after abusing prescription drugs – some starting with painkillers prescribed following an injury, others were misusing them recreationally. This piece brings attention to the fact that heroin is inexpensive and available in all of our communities, and a problem that has the potential to impact any young person.

Federal and local authorities all over the country say it's the biggest drug epidemic today. Not methamphetamines or cocaine, but heroin.

You might think of heroin as primarily an inner-city problem. But dealers, connected to Mexican drug cartels, are making huge profits by expanding to new, lucrative markets: suburbs all across the country. It's basic economics. The dealers are going where the money is and they're cultivating a new set of consumers: high school students, college athletes, teachers and professionals.

Heroin is showing up everywhere -- in places like Columbus, Ohio . The area has long been viewed as so typically Middle American that, for years, many companies have gone there to test new products. We went to the Columbus suburbs to see how heroin is taking hold in the heartland. Read more

For resources to talk to youth about the dangers of substance abuse, click here

and Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

Heroin’s Low Cost and Easy Access Attract People Addicted to Painkillers: Study

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, October 29, 2015

"A study of people addicted to painkillers who began using heroin confirms that many of them were drawn to heroin’s low cost and wide availability.

Researchers surveyed 15,000 people being treated for drug addiction, and conducted in-depth interviews with 267 of them. They found almost half of those interviewed were addicted to opioid painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet before using heroin, HealthDay reports.

Three-fourths of those interviewed said they tried heroin because of its lower cost and greater availability." Read more

For resources to talk to youth about the dangers of substance abuse, click here