Holiday Movies Can Be Healthy for You!

 

One of our favorite holiday traditions is coming together with family and friends to watch good old-fashioned Holiday movies. Classics like White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Elf, The Grinch, Home Alone, along with many other movies and kids holiday shows bring back the memories and comfort, but did you know they can actually be HEALTHY for you?

Studies have shown that watching your favorite movies can help relieve stress, boost your well-being, and even brighten your mood. Holiday movies have been linked to higher energy and sharper thinking.

If you find yourself getting a little stressed or longing for a break this busy time of year, here are a few ways that your favorite Holiday movies can actually support your health:

*Holiday movies can help you relax and turn down the noise - familiar characters, plots, and happy endings give your brain and body a break from the real-world craziness this time of year.

*Watching movies can help calm your nerves and even support healthier cortisol levels - cortisol is the body's main stress hormone. At a healthy range, cortisol helps your body achieve better sleep and increased energy.

*Movies give your mood a feel-good boost - when you watch something uplifting, your brain releases dopamine, a natural feel-good chemical that helps elevate your spirits. A healthy dose of dopamine can make your whole day feel easier, helping you stay motivated and focused. Watching a Holiday movie can even turn a challenging day into a better one!

*Brings back memories that matter - rewatching a classic movie stirs up feelings of nostalgia, those warm and meaningful memories that remind you of family connection and what's most important in life. A dose of nostalgia is known to support your overall emotional well-being. In fact, familiar memories can help ground you during stressful times and connect you to people you love.

Positive feelings of hope, gratitude, nostalgia, and laughter can actually support healthier blood pressure, calm your nervous system, and even strengthen your heart - best of all, it's a powerful reminder that when your brain is happy, your body is too! 

So, this weekend, plan a Family Holiday Movie Night - make some popcorn and hot chocolate, relax, and enjoy! 💚

DEA Reports a Decline in Fentanyl Pill Potency

 

There are some encouraging signs in the fight against fentanyl. The U.S. Justice Department of Drug Enforcement Administration reports that current seizures by DEA agents show a dramatic reduction in the average potency of illicit fentanyl pills in the United States for the first time since 2021.

Data from DEA national lab results on illegal fentanyl pills shows a drop in the lethal potency of drugs on the street from 76% two years ago in 2023 to 29% today in 2025. Additionally, fentanyl powder purity decreased to 10.3% - down from 19.5% during the same time period. 

The DEA attributes the decline in potency and purity to sustained enforcement and pressure on international supply chains that have blocked the global supply network of precursor chemicals from China to the Mexican border. This allowed the DEA to hit the illicit drug trade from every directions. As a result, the Mexican cartels have been forced to alter their operations, which includes diluting their product and even charging more per pill.

Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reports that fentanyl seizures in the southern border are down by more than 50%. The DEA acknowledges this progress but reminds the public that illegal fentanyl continues to kill. Since 2021, synthetic opioids have claimed nearly 325,000 American lives. This past year, 50,000 people lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning. 

Just because potency may be diminished, that doesn't mean that these pills are safe. You still never know what kind of pill you may be getting.

The DEA continues to intensify enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns, such as the Fentanyl Free America initiative,  to address the ongoing crisis.

To learn more, visit: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/12/03/dea-launches-fentanyl-free-america-initiative-combat-synthetic-drug-8 

Thanks to Those Who Attended IAA's Holiday Open House!

 

We appreciate all those who dropped by to share holiday cheer at the IAA Holiday Open House last evening - it was great seeing everyone and we are very grateful for the 40th Anniversary wishes, donations, and support!

Our sincere thanks to those who have championed the prevention mission and supported InnerAct Alliance since 1985 with donations of resources, time, or talent to help fund prevention programs, partner and participate in the Annual Red Ribbon Run, volunteer time, gift formal wear to the Project Prom and Project Homecoming effort, or simply like, comment, or share our social media and blog posts to help spread awareness. 

Your support makes everything we do possible...and we couldn't have done it without you! 🎀

TODAY is IAA’s Holiday Open House – Drop By Anytime 3pm-6pm

 

Today we invite you to drop by IAA's Holiday Open House any time between 3pm and 6pm at our newly-renovated office located at 621 S. Florida Avenue in Lakeland to celebrate our agency's 40th Anniversary! 

We'll share holiday treats, enjoy fellowship, and you'll have an opportunity to learn more about the free prevention education programs available in our community.

If you're not able to make it today and would like to support prevention of substance abuse in our community, please scan the QR code above, text IAA to 26989, or visit: https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

See You Later & Happy Holidays!

Join Us at the IAA Holiday Open House Tomorrow!

 

InnerAct Alliance invites the community to attend a Holiday Open House celebrating the agency's 40th Ruby Anniversary tomorrow, December 9, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. The location is 621 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Please stop by to help us celebrate the holiday season and this special milestone and share holiday treats and fellowship.

For four decades, our agency's mission has been to encourage our community to strive for healthy choices such as prevention over intervention, positivity over scare tactic, and community investment over crisis management. The results speak for themselves in the thousands of students who have grown up making healthy choices because someone believed prevention could work.

If your means allow, please consider helping to empower the next 40 years of positive change - any gift, no matter the size - demonstrates that our community values prevention, supports youth leaders, and believes in the power of positive peer pressure. 

If you're not able to stop by tomorrow and would like to donate, please visit text IAA to 26989 or visit https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us since 1985 through donations to fund prevention programs, sponsoring or participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Run, gifted gently used formal wear to the Project Prom/Project Homecoming effort, or simply liked, commented, or shared our social media or blog posts. Your support makes everything we do possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Holidays Are a Good Time to Talk to Your Kids

 

Alcohol is a part of many holiday traditions as folks enjoy a festive cocktail or toast in the New Year with friends and family. It is fine for adults who are drinking responsibly, but it is important to remember that children are careful observers of adult behavior. With this in mind, the holidays are a good time to talk with your children about drinking alcohol.

You want your children to be well-informed and that means knowing the risk of drinking alcohol long before they are tempted or faced with peer pressure. Tell them the facts and the dangerous effects of alcohol on their developing brain. 

Explain that the teen brain is still growing and changing until about age 24. Alcohol can cause permanent damage during this critical period of development. Repeated exposure to alcohol during adolescence can have long term negative effects on the brain, especially for mood and judgment. It could critically affect teens' ability to perform normal tasks, such as driving, doing math, and competing in sports.

Always remember that, as a parent, YOU play a major role in shaping your kids' attitude towards alcohol. Be firm that you don't want your child drinking AT ALL!

You Are Not Alone – Reach Out for Support

 

The Holiday season can be festive and full of joy, but around this time of year people may often experience stress, anxiety, pain, or loneliness. Try not to let yourself be defined by your past or by your challenges. Don't give up because inside, you are strong and still fighting. It's OKAY to feel your feelings.

Remember also to check in on your friends, loved ones, and others in your community - let them know they are not alone this season. Help is always available and healing is possible.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a great resource for support. SAMHSA leads public health and service delivery efforts to treat mental illness, prevent substance abuse and addiction, and offer treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring access and better outcomes for all.

Support is a click away
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help