Fentapills – Real Talk About Fake Prescription Pills

 

Have you heard the word "Fentapill"? It's the catch-name for millions of fake prescription pills that have flooded the market since 2014.

Drug dealers are in it for the money. As long as there's a demand for Xanax, Oxycodone, Percocet, and the like, they will find the easiest, most profitable way to supply the drugs. Drug trafficking organizations have been pressing fake pills using fentanyl as the active ingredients since 2014. Why? Because it's cheap and strong, it goes a long way. Fentapills cost almost nothing to make so every dollar the dealers take in goes right in their pockets. That's nearly 100% profit.🤑

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine. It works by binding to the body's opioid receptors in the areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, sedation, addiction, respiratory depression, unconsciousness, coma, and death.

Fentanyl is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S. Pill pressers are not pharmacists and they do not have quality control labs. They make their pill batches in the garage. That means some percentage of what they sell are loaded with deadly doses of fentanyl. 

What percentage? There's the catch - no one really knows. Authorities estimate there could be 300-500 million fentapills in circulation at any time. A small fraction of that number is enough to kill thousands of people. 

Bottom line - do not buy or take random pills! Assume that any prescription pill you buy outside of proper channels is FAKE and, more importantly, may be DEADLY. 🕱

Facts About Fentanyl

https://songforcharlie.org/facts-about-fentanyl/

Positive Parenting Advice from Ann Landers

 

Parenting can be challenging but it's the most rewarding job you'll ever do - it's not about being perfect but about helping children grow and develop into good people.👦👧

For 56 years, Ann Landers, the popular newspaper columnist, offered advice to millions of readers on issues and everyday problems related to human relations, health, and general well-being. 

In one of her advice columns, she shared that while it might be easy for parents to do things for their kids, it is best to let them do it themselves. Her thinking was that when you teach children to do something for themselves, you also teach them to be successful.

Not only are they learning to take care of themselves, but you are also helping to boost their confidence. Each time you let your child do things for themselves, it shows them that you believe in them. In turn, they believe in themselves a little more too, which is a motivational feeling. 

Give Mother Nature an Assist in Substance Abuse Prevention

 

According to the U.S. Border Patrol, the strength of Hurricane Debby, which made landfall yesterday as a Category 1 storm, washed 25 packages of cocaine on to a beach in the Florida Keys.

Border Patrol said a good Samaritan discovered 70 pounds of cocaine wrapped inside a trash bag among seaweed, leaves, and other debris that had washed up on the beach. The man contacted authorities about the washed-up stash. The cocaine seized had an estimated street value of over $1 million.

Authorities confirmed that bricks of cocaine and other drugs often wash up on south Florida beaches as smugglers traffic the illegal substances from South America to the U.S. 

Back to School Tips

 

In the aftermath of stormy weather from Hurricane Debby, summer's sun still shines brightly...soon school bells will be ringing with the first day of school for most Polk County students coming up next Monday, August 12.

Many families are shopping for new school supplies and other essentials that come with the start of a new school year. To help make the back-to-school transition a bit easier, our friends at Lakeland Mom have you covered with a Back-to-School Guide for Polk County (link below) to help you find all the information you may need to download school calendars, get a list of back-to-school events, sign up for after school programs and homework help, and much more.

It's a good idea for parents to help their students transition from summer break to a more structured back to school routine before the start of the new experience by not waiting until the last minute when everyone is in a rush. Think about introducing earlier bedtime and morning wake-up schedule this week so your child's body clock will have a few days to adjust and they'll be well rested. 

Some youth thrive on change, but others may find the transition difficult to navigate. Watch for signs of distress as children enter a new grade. Help them prepare by monitoring mood changes, sleep patterns, and signs of isolation. 

You want your child to know you are there for them every step of the way to avoid the dangers of stress and the harmful temptation to turn to substance use and other risky behaviors to cope. Keep the lines of communication open by talking about their feelings. Encourage healthy coping mechanisms such as daily exercise, nutritious meals, staying connected to positive social supports, and modeling healthy ways to manage stress.

Wishing you a safe and successful 2024-2025 school year!

https://lakelandmom.com/back-to-school-guide-polk-county/? 

Welcome Back Polk County & IAA Teachers!

 

Welcome Back Polk County Teachers
especially the prevention specialists on the IAA team!😊

As you begin a week of teacher pre-planning, we are excited for the start of a great new 2024-2025 school year together.🏫 We appreciate and thank you for all you do to support our most precious resource - our children!👦👧

The Dog Days of Summer

 

You've no doubt heard the term "dog days of summer"🐶 but do you know the meaning behind it?

The "dog days" refer to the hottest days of the year, typically in July and August. The phrase originated thousands of years ago in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. People noticed that the dog star Sirius⭐ rose and set around the same time as the sun after the summer solstice - usually July 3 through August 11. 

This period also coincided with some of the hottest and most humid days of the year in the northern hemisphere.🌞The Romans believed that Sirius's brightness increased the sun's warmth making the days even hotter.

Why not plan a fun family celebration of the "dog days of summer" with a hot dog grill out, a dip in the pool, and refreshing watermelon, ice pop, or shaved ice to stay cool?🍉🍧

Happy August and National Wellness Month!

 

August is National Wellness Month - a perfect time to focus on taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Research suggests that self-care promotes positive health outcomes, such as fostering resilience, living longer, and becoming better equipped to manage stress. Even small acts of self-care added to our daily lives can play a big role in taking good care of our minds, bodies, and souls. It helps to reinforce the belief that our needs are valid and should be a priority.

To encourage the practice of regular self-care, InnerAct Alliance is happy to share these cute and creative monthly inspiration graphics from our friends at Positively Present reminding us of simple ways to incorporate proactive self-care in our lives each day. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

During August, we encourage you to...seek out your flame, entertain new ideas, notice what's working, and learn something new this month!