40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #7: Our Prevention Supporters

 

40 Years - 40 Stories | Story #7: Some Things Haven't Changed - Our Prevention Supporters!

Community support has always been a key component in the success of our nonprofit agency, from our humble beginnings as Pride of Lakeland and the Drug Prevention Resource Center to today as InnerAct Alliance. 

Why Collaboration Matters

Drug prevention education requires diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives from schools, families, law enforcement, and health providers to address the multifaceted nature of substance abuse. Our local law enforcement partners at the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Lakeland Police Department provide critical intel on substance use trends, enforcement strategies, and foster trust and support in our community.

THEN: Sheriff Lawrence Crow served as Polk Sheriff for 18 years (1987-2005) and was beloved by students! This throwback photo shows Sheriff Crow high-fiving students at our Fifth Grady Rally events!

NOW: Sheriff Grady Judd continues to support our prevention education efforts wholeheartedly! He takes time each year to meet and speak with our UthMpact Student Leaders on Law Enforcement Leadership Day, and of course, everyone wants a selfie!

Right now, you can bid on awesome Sheriff Judd items and fun experiences and all proceeds support prevention education efforts in our community:

https://new.biddingowl.com/items?QueryAuctionId=c3054624-b21d-476e-8d19-0a903b6fd135&QueryCategory=%20A   

Scan the QR code or visit Bidding Owl to place your bid today!

Donate by

texting IAA to 26989

https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate  

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #Sheriff Grady Judd #PolkCountySheriff #LawEnforcementPartnership #CommunitySupport #PreventionEducation #UthMpact #BiddingOwl #PolkCounty

The Dirty Dozen Negative Impacts of Teen Marijuana Use

 

Following up on yesterday's blog about today's higher potency marijuana, we want to share the "Dirty Dozen" - a list of 12 significant negative consequences of adolescent marijuana use compiled by the organization Johnny's Ambassadors and based on scientific evidence. These harms are particularly concerning because the adolescent brain is still developing until around age 25. 

The "Dirty Dozen" Negative Outcomes of Teen Marijuana Use include:

Marijuana Dependence - nearly half of regular marijuana users may develop Cannabis Use Disorder CUD) characterized by cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

IQ Decline -  persistent use during adolescence can lead to a significant and potentially permanent loss of IQ points and cognitive decline, affecting memory and learning.

Anxiety & Depression - there's a strong association between cannabis use and increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.

Increase Odds of Other Substance Use - marijuana users are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs concurrently or later in life.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) - regular heavy use of marijuana can lead to severe cyclic nausea and vomiting.

School Dropout - marijuana use is correlated with lower grades, disengagement from school activities, and an increased likelihood of dropping out, which impacts future success.

Psychosis & Schizophrenia - High-THC products can trigger paranoia, delusional thinking, and psychotic breaks, potentially leading to long-term mental illnesses like schizophrenia, specially in genetically susceptible individuals.

Decreased Fertility Rates - regular marijuana use may lower fertility rates in both males and females and increase the risk of premature and low-birth weight babies. 

Lowers Your Motivation to Do Things - researchers tested the short-term effects of cannabis on motivation in humans and found smoking the equivalent of a single "spliff" of cannabis makes people less willing to do things including work for money while high.

Impacts Brain Development - use during critical growth periods interferes with normal brain function and development, which may derail cognitive processes and increase likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Addiction & Health Risks - high-potency THC products increase the likelihood of addiction and early use correlates with higher risks for dependence. Smoking marijuana can harm lung health and long-term use is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and arrhythmias. 

Impaired Driving - marijuana use impairs judgment, coordination, reaction time, and perception, making driving under the influence very risky both to yourself and to others. 

Effects of marijuana use can impair you for the rest of your life. Know the Facts &
 learn more about Marijuana  

https://www.justthinktwice.gov/drugs/marijuana

 

It’s Not Just Weed - Marijuana Up to 4x More Potent in the Past 3 Decades

 

We've all heard the phrase "it's just weed" used in instances meant to downplay or dismiss the use of marijuana, but what you need to know is that today's cannabis is up to 4 times as potent now as it was just 3 decades ago. In fact, the amount of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana seized by the DEA has spiked from 3.4% in 1993 to 15.34% in 2021.  

Truth is - marijuana is a mind-altering drug made of dry, shredded, green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the cannabis sativa plant. THC is the main ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect that can be highly addictive.

High THC levels in marijuana are linked to increased problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, and loss of coordination. A higher percentage of THC also intensifies the effects associated with regular use of cannabis, including physical dependence and withdrawal following discontinuation, as well as the psychological addiction or dependence. 

Even more disturbing is that often people may be unaware that marijuana, especially when it contains increased THC, is a risk factor for psychosis and schizophrenia, as well as the fact that it stunts brain growth. 

Resources for parents, teens, and educators can be found on the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/risk-factors/cannabis-and-teens.html 

and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cannabis-marijuana websites.

Come back to the IAA Blog tomorrow to learn more truths about Today's Marijuana.

40 Years – 40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance - Story #6 Huge Impact! Meet Our Founder!

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #6: Meet Our Founder:

Our agency was founded in 1985 by a small group of individuals who came together and worked tirelessly to offer much-needed resources and drug education information to our community.

Meet Kaye B. McConnell - Our Visionary Founder

After experiencing two heartbreaking personal tragedies as an educator in Polk County Schools, Kaye was inspired to champion the anti-drug effort. In 1975, while teaching sixth grade at Scott Lake Elementary, two students took medication that wasn't theirs from a medicine cabinet at home. Around the same time, one of her childhood friends died as a result of drug abuse.

While Kaye searched for prevention resources, there weren't any - so she began writing her own drug prevention curriculum called "Meology." Soon, she and a handful of Polk County volunteers came together to start our nonprofit.

From Humble Beginnings to Community Movement: As the agency grew, we partnered with Polk County Schools and local businesses. The "Just Say No" Marches got larger, louder, and prouder. Students loved having their voices heard saying "No Drugs in Our Town." Local and state dignitaries joined the effort, which received television coverage throughout Central Florida.

Pictured: Our founder, Kaye McConnell (left) with Dr. Marti O'Brien (right), former educator, Board-President, and Advisory Board Member, who with her husband Roger remains a strong supporter:

Were you part of those early marches? Contact us, we'd love to hear from you!

Help Make a HUGE IMPACT
$40 = student participation incentives
$400 = supplies & staff time to bring back Fifth Grade Rallies
$4,000 = bus transportation, venue rental, guest speaker & a/v set up for Rallies

Donate by

texting IAA to 26989

https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

Kudos to Polk County Sheriff’s Office for Taking Fentanyl & Meth Off the Streets

 

Congratulations to PCSO's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (H.I.D.T.A.) for spearheading disruption of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine into the county during two recent special operations resulting in key arrests along with seizures of dangerous drugs and weapons. Operation Bloodline and Operation Flatline resulted in the arrests of 51 suspects and seizure of 78lbs. of methamphetamine, 14.55 pounds of fentanyl, 13 firearms, and $20,000 in U.S. currency.

PCSO teamed up with State Prosecutors, FDLE, and other agencies to investigate a local Florida gang leaders and his counterparts in a drug trafficking organization operating in neighboring counties including Polk, Hillsborough, Osceola, Orange, Volusia, and Pasco. Using resources from the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) grant, undercover detectives were able to participate in transactions in which they intercepted a delivery of ten pounds of methamphetamine and also identified a methamphetamine supply-line chain that ran from California to Polk County. 

Sheriff Grady Judd had this to say in a February 13th statement: "Traffickers of methamphetamine and fentanyl are literally murdering people and tearing apart families. The men and women who go after these drug dealers are doing a noble, but dangerous job - putting their own lives on the line, to protect their communities from the drug-traffickers who are profiting from this destruction."

In the same statement, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier commended participating law enforcement agencies saying, "This was a highly organized, fentanyl-pushing enterprise operating in Central Florida that had ties all the way to California. We will continue dismantling these organizations from the top down. Anyone who traffics these poisons in Florida will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent."

More from the Sheriff's Office February 13 media release:  https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/polk-county-news/2026/02/13/pcso-s-operation-bloodline-and-operation-flatline-multi-agency-investigation-disrupts-fentanyl-and-methamphetamine-drug-trafficking-organizations 

Celebrate All the Love in Our Lives!

 

Wishing Everyone an early Happy Valentine's Day & Weekend Ahead! This is a perfect time to remind ourselves about the importance of all kinds of love in our life. 💖

Valentine's Day can bring out a host of different emotions, but it's not just about romantic love, flowers, and chocolate. We should embrace all of the love in our lives - that for our pets, our families, our friends, and most of all, for ourselves!

This Valentine's weekend, let's all remember to show Ourselves some love by continuing to look for the light in life, staying open to new ideas, standing up for what you believe in, and letting your true self shine...thanks to our friends at @PositivelyPresent for this colorful and timely reminder!

Self-love allows you to accept yourself fully, treat yourself with kindness and respect, and nurture growth and well-being. Not only does self-love improve your relationship with yourself, but also with others. It motivates much of our positive behavior while reducing harmful behavior. Self-love is the gift that keeps on giving long after February is over! 🌷

40 Years – 40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #5: Teaching Empathy, Kindness & Positive Choices

 

Story #5: Teaching Empathy, Kindness & Positive Choices

For four decades, InnerAct Alliance has served Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties with effective evidence-based programs to educate about substance abuse prevention and support youth to succeed in all aspects of their lives.

The Humane Education Program

One of our newest prevention efforts is the Humane Education Program, an evidence-based program that promotes empathy, kindness, and critical thinking in young children. Our humane educator uses age-appropriate literature, critical thinking techniques, and engaging activities to teach PreK through 3rd graders healthy ways to interact with their peers. Plus, there's a fun option to include live animals (or stuffed animals) in presentations!

Pictured above: Local high school students learn current social norms facts (left); Our humane educator partnering with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, students, and an adorable puppy learning about kindness and compassion (right).

Social Norms: Changing Perspectives with Positive Messages

We're also reaching high school students during lunch breaks with Social Norms messaging that proactively changes perspectives about substance use. The positive message? Most of their peers are NOT involved in substance use and risky behaviors! This FREE program provides all materials needed.

We believe every child deserves a safe, healthy, and drug-free future!

Support Our Prevention Programs:

$40 = student participation incentives

$400 = books & materials for Humane Education

$4,000 = additional support staff for Social Norms outreach

Donate by

texting IAA to 26989

https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #HumaneEducation #SocialNorms #EmpathyEducation #PreventionWorks #PolkCounty #PositiveChoices #DrugFreeFuture