Walk to Help Stop Prescription Drug Abuse!

Join your family, friends and co-workers at the 2nd Annual Walk-A-Thon In Memory of Kyle Hall, the 19-year-old son of Kirk and Cathy Hall of Lakeland, who died in November 2007 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

The event is being held to raise funds to help educate children about prescription drug use and to establish a scholarship that will be awarded each year to a deserving Polk County high school student.

The 2-Mile Walk will take place on Saturday, July 31st, at Lake Parker Park's Blue Heron Pavilion in Lakeland. Registration will begin at 4:00 PM and the Walk will start at 5:00 PM. Adults $20.00; Students $15.00; Children under age 10 Free.

Part of the proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the substance abuse prevention programs and services at InnerAct Alliance. For more information, please call Kirk Hall at (863) 640-2915 or e-mail: rkh1952@aol.com

Celebrate Summer Safely!

Summer should be a time for chilling out, not stressing out! That goes for parens as well as kids. So, what's your plan to keep your teen out of trouble this summer?

Summer vacation can be a risky time for teens. Some tend to make poor decisions when they have unstructured, unsupervised time. In this economy, summer jobs for teens may be scarce and recreation programs may not be as plentiful due to the lack of funding.

The lack of structure and supervision, added freedom and more time with friends may increase temptation and access to alcohol and drugs. According to recent research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the rate of marijuana use among teens spikes in June and July.

Planning ahead could be the key for your family to enjoy a safe and happy summer break. Ensuring that teens are engaged in positive activities like camps, volunteering, or supervised outings with friends can be a great way to deter youth from things that are harmful to them, like alcohol and other drug use.

The following are some creative ideas you can discuss and plan with your teen for the summer:

• Plan a supervised camping trip with friends
• Visit some colleges online or plan a trip to visit some colleges
• Volunteer in the community
• Take a dance, art, or cooking class or learn some other new skill
• Attend a summer camp for teens
• Become a mentor or camp counselor
• Babysit, pet care, yard work, painting or other odd jobs to earn money

Besides structured activities, it's also a great idea to schedule time to do some fun things as a family, such as going to the movies together, taking a walk, or sharing a meal. Teens who spend time, talk, and have a close relationship with their parents are much less likely to drink, take drugs, or have sex.

Have a safe and fun summer!