Substance use and mental health disorders can make daily activities difficult and impair a person's ability to work, interact with family, and fulfill other major life functions. It helps to stay informed, know the facts, and invest in prevention programs and initiatives that help to educate and support individuals and communities to prevent the use and misuse of drugs and other risky behaviors.
ADDICTION - drug addiction or substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are considered drugs. When addicted, users may continue to use the drug despite knowing the harm it causes, even as it creates problems in everyday life or as it progresses into physical or psychological harm.
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR CHANGES - addiction can begin with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations. For some, drug use can become more frequent. It can cause absenteeism and loss of motivation leading to declining performance at school or at work. Physical Addiction occurs when repeated use of a drug changes the way your brain feels pleasure. Addictive Drugs can cause physical changes to nerve cells called neurons in your brain. Neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate. These changes can remain long after users stop using the drug.
CAUSES - several factors may contribute to development of drug addiction including environment (family beliefs and attitudes/exposure to a peer group encouraging drug use) and genetics (inherited traits may lead to drug use and delay/speed up disease progression). Risk of addiction and how fast it occurs can vary by the type of drug. Opioid painkillers have a higher risk to cause addiction more quickly than others. Soon, larger doses may be needed just to feel good. As drug use increases, users find it difficult to live without the drug. Attempts to stop may cause intense cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and even physical illness.
PREVENTION - the best way to prevent an addiction to a drug is not to take drugs at all. If your medical provider prescribes a drug with potential for addiction, follow the instructions and use extreme care when taking it. Use of medications should be carefully monitored to ensure users are not given too large of a dose or taken for too long a time.
40 Years-40 Stories | Story #33: Celebrating UthMpact Class XV Graduates - Audra Ezell & Kayla Ezell
As we continue celebrating our 2025-2026 UthMpact Leadership Class XV graduates, we're honored to highlight two more exceptional young leaders - sisters who both completed the program on April 1, 2026!
Today, we celebrate UthMpact Graduates:
🎓 Audra Ezell
University of South Florida
Majoring in Finance
🎓Kayla Ezell
Florida Southern College
Majoring in Criminal Justice
A Family Tradition - over the past 15 years, UthMpact has been fortunate to have many siblings participate in our unique Leadership Program and pass down the tradition to younger family members. Audra and Kayla exemplify this legacy, both dedicating themselves to leadership development and substance abuse prevention together!
The UthMpact Experience - through monthly Leadership Days, these graduates enjoyed traveling throughout Polk County to meet with community leaders and experience the inner workings of local volunteerism, business, government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. They learned crucial leadership skills while educating their peers about substance abuse prevention through projects like Project Prom, Project HOCO, and UthMpact Facts social norms campaigns.
Congratulations, Audra and Kayla! Your sisterhood and shared dedication to leadership have made a lasting impact on our community. We can't wait to see all you'll accomplish!
*Follow UthMpact: https://www.facebook.com/UthMpactPolk?
*More Info: Contact Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777
*Support: https://www.inneractalliance.org/donations.html
*Text IAA to 26989
In today's always-connected world, we walk a fine line between being "connected" or "consumed" by our interactions with technology. While the benefits of technology can offer connection, support, or even healing, it can also contribute to stress, comparison, misinformation, and unhealthy habits if it is not used mindfully.
During Mental Health Month this May, InnerAct Alliance joins our local community partners at Peace River along with national partners in mental health, to encourage healthy digital habits. This year's theme, "Wired for Wellness: Navigating Media, Gaming, & Social Connection," highlights how we can build resilience, set healthy boundaries, and use technology in ways that support, not harm, our mental health with some of the following tips:
*Pause Before You Scroll - notice how content makes you feel. If it increases stress, anxiety, or comparion take a break
*Set Simple Boundaries - create "no phone" time, such as during meals or before bed, to give your mind time to recharge
*Don't Believe Everything You See - algorithms feed you more of what you watch. Online content can reinforce fears or lead to self-diagnosis. Seek trusted sources when it comes to your health.
*Use Technology Intentionally - ask yourself, "why am I opening this app?" Connection and purpose > mindless scrolling
*Gaming Can Be Positive - video games can help reduce stress and build connection but watch for overuse, sleep loss, or withdrawal from daily life. It's important to keep a healthy balance
*Protect Your Peace Online - unfollow, mute, or block accounts that negatively impact your mental health
24-Hour Emotional Support & Crisis Line
(863) 519-3744
Text "TALK" to (863) 204-3443
Be vigilant because the substance use product market is always changing. The industry promotes tobacco products that are being sold with "tobacco-free" claims. The claims are used to describe either that the products are made with nicotine that is created in a lab (synthetic nicotine) - or that the products contains no tobacco leaf. A recent article on TruthInitiative.org shares the truth about the so-called tobacco-free products - ALL CONTAIN NICOTINE.
"Tobacco-Free" Claims Cause Confusion - young adults may incorrectly interpret the claim "tobacco-free" to believe that it means nicotine is not present in these products. Nicotine products marketed as "tobacco-free" could also create confusion about whether use violates tobacco-free policies in schools, workplaces, and other locations. ALL products containing nicotine should be considered tobacco products and be treated as such in schools and workplaces.
"Tobacco-Free" Claims May Increase Appeal - studies have found that when teens view advertising that claims to promote "tobacco-free" products, these ads tend to reduce perception of harm. In fact, it may actually increase intention to use the products compared to product sales without the claim. A study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2022 reported that flavored non-tobacco oral nicotine products, such as gum, lozenges, and gummies, were the second most prevalent nicotine products used among adolescents after e-cigarettes.
"Tobacco-Free" Nicotine Fallacy - if claims about "tobacco-free" nicotine products sound too good to be true, they probably are. Nicotine in any form is an addictive chemical.
Stay Safe and Stay Away!
