‘Tis the Season for Holiday Parties but not for Underage Drinking!

 

'Tis the Season for Holiday Parties but not for Underage Drinking!

It’s the time of year when family and friends gather to share Holiday cheer, eat delicious food, enjoy scrumptious desserts, and toast in the New Year. InnerAct Alliance and our coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, wish you a safe and happy holiday season. In this joyous spirit, let’s all resolve to support our youth and keep the lines of communication open about the risks of alcohol and substance use.

Kids follow the lead of influential adults. As such, they may mirror adult behaviors and be tempted to celebrate with alcoholic drinks. Parents are still the #1 influence in their children’s lives so it’s important to be a good influence and communicate that even if adults may be drinking alcohol at holiday parties, under no circumstances should they drink. We are happy to share some quick tips to spark family discussion about safe Holiday Celebrating!

Encourage your teens not to drink & Suggest ways for them to avoid and decline alcohol! – As parents of a teen, this should always be your primary message. Underage drinking is not only illegal, but research consistently proves that drinking during adolescence before a teen’s brain is fully developed poses a significant health risk. And, it’s extremely dangerous when done in excess or when mixed with driving.

Never drive or get into a car driven by someone under the influence! – Incidents of drinking and driving among teens have diminished over the past decade due to increased knowledge and awareness, but sadly, thousands of teens and adults still fall victim to alcohol-related auto accidents. Offer your teen the assurance of a No-Questions-Asked ride home from anywhere at anytime to help prevent them from ever getting in a car with a driver who may be under the influence.

Adolescents and younger teens should not be allowed to attend parties where alcohol may be present! - If your child is going to a holiday party, call ahead to make sure that the event will be alcohol and drug free and well-chaperoned.

Truth is that most kids do not drink alcohol. The "UthMpact Facts" social norm campaign highlights  positive results from statistics in the annual Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) showing most Polk County Youth ARE making the right choices - 83% Choose NOT to Drink Alcohol! Knowledge like this can help kids avoid succumbing to peer pressure because they feel confident to make more informed personal decisions after knowing and considering the facts.

Keep the holiday season merry and bright by giving your children the gift of positive influence and open, supportive communication!

Holiday Challenge for Families!

 

Happy Holidays from 

InnerAct Alliance and our coalition partners 

StandUP Polk and UthMpact! 

Follow InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk, and UthMpact Online & on Social Media!

 

Happy Holidays from the Board and Staff at InnerAct Alliance!

Happy Holidays from the Board and Staff at InnerAct Alliance!

This busy time of year it’s more important than ever to reconnect as a family. Parents, YOU are the number one influence in your child’s life. Instead of a pile of store-bought presents, give the gift of time to your children. Play games or plan a family outing for everyone to enjoy together. Bake cookies or go for a ride in the car to view the neighborhood light displays. When you attend parties, let your kids know that even though adults may drink alcohol, under no circumstances are they allowed to drink. If your child is going to a holiday party, call ahead to make sure that the event will be alcohol and drug free. Keep the season merry and bright by giving your children the gift of time, positive influence, and communication that will be remembered long after the stockings and packages are opened! 

Please Consider Supporting InnerAct Alliance This Holiday Season!

The Holidays are a time to reflect on the past year and reunite with family and friends to celebrate. In the true spirit of the season, it is also a great time to support the causes we care about and do our part to help transform our communities to keep our most valuable resource, our children, safe and healthy! 

Safe and healthy communities are an important part of InnerAct Alliance’s mission to educate children, teens, and families about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Researchers have observed increases in substance abuse, drug overdoses, and mental health issues in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in March 2020. As a result, our kids may potentially suffer adverse effects for years to come. 

To help meet these health challenges, InnerAct Alliance and coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, share a common goal to expand prevention initiatives in the Lakeland and Polk County community, which include science-based education classes taught to nearly 15,000 students in 70 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as outreach to over 100,000 citizens via informative presentations and social norms messaging, a premier youth leadership program, and family-oriented awareness events such as the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign and motivational rallies for fifth-grade students countywide. 

You can assist our efforts to educate more students in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties on the dangers of drugs, alcohol, bullying, and violence and provide families with the tools to be successful in life that will lead to a brighter future for this community! 

If a monetary donation is within your means at this time, please consider a tax-deductible Holiday Donation to InnerAct Alliance at https://donorbox.org/giving-tuesday-fundraiser-1 to help cover the cost of materials to expand our prevention programs and services. The link will be live until January 2022. A written acknowledgement will be sent to all donors upon receipt of their tax-deductible gift to our 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  

“Community engagement and support are vital to continue our agency’s programs to educate children, teens, and families about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, along with bullying prevention. Any and all donations will be appreciated!” said Angie Ellison, executive director of InnerAct Alliance. 

Know the Facts about Polk Youth Culture – The UthMpact Facts!

 

Know the Facts about Polk Youth Culture

The UthMpact Facts!

The UthMpact teen coalition has taken an active role to normalize perceptions regarding risky behaviors with its social norms marketing campaign “UthMpact Facts” that helps correct false perceptions and celebrates the positives of today’s youth culture. This powerful peer to peer approach is based on statistics among Polk County youth published in the annual Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) that demonstrate the reality that most youth in our community are not using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 

Often, the perception by youth is the exact opposite. They believe that most of their peers are drinking and using marijuana; they may also think that is true of most adults. If perception is that drinking and using drugs is what most of the population does, youth rates will increase. 

UthMpact Facts help close the gap between perception and reality by sharing proven facts that show most POLK TEENS ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES by choosing NOT to drink, smoke, or use substances. This can help students avoid succumbing to peer pressure because they feel confident in making more informed personal decisions after knowing and considering all the facts. Good news is that the social norms approach works, as there has been an average 30% shift in changed perceptions!

New funding will allow UthMpact to bring UthMpact Facts to more interested middle and high schools in 2022…and hopefully even a few elementary schools!

Important New Data Released on Opioid Overdose Deaths in Central Florida

 

Important New Data Released on 

Opioid Overdose Deaths in Central Florida

Over the course of the pandemic, authorities say the opioid crisis has only gotten worse and on historic levels. The CDC reports that drugs laced with Fentanyl are killing more Americans than guns, car crashes, and the flu.

To increase awareness, prevention partners at Project Opioid in Orlando recently released "The Surging Overdose Crisis in Central Florida", a report sharing new statistics on the staggering increase of fentanyl-related deaths in our community. Data shows a 28% increase in opioid deaths from the start of the pandemic to March 2021 - that amounts to 51 people a month, over a person a day.

According to the statewide initiative, the leading driver has been Fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid now showing up in fake pills in an alarming reate. As many as 4 out of 10 fake pills are now containing a lethal dose of Fentanyl.

The crisis is leading to an expansion of treatment facilities and increased use of lifesaving measures by first responders. Public safety professionals in Seminole County alone report that they have deployed Narcan, a medication used for the treatment of opioid overdose emergencies, more than 700 times to reverse the effects of death. Efforts are being made to strengthen penalties for dealers with the goal of increasing awareness to bring together new resources for saving lives.

To learn more about the accelerating overdose crisis in America and the urgent response needed to save lives, visit the Project Opioid website at:
https://projectopioid.org/

Top 8 Reasons Why Teens Try Alcohol & Other Drugs

 

Other People – Teenagers see parents and other adults drinking alcohol, smoking, and sometimes, abusing other substances. The teen social scene often revolves around drinking and smoking pot. Sometimes friends urge one another to try a drink or smoke, but it’s just as common for teens to start using a substance because it’s readily available.  In their minds, they may see drug use as a part of the normal teenage experience.

Popular Media – Forty-seven percent of teens agreed that movies and TV shows make drugs seem like an OK thing to do, according to a 2011 study. Not surprisingly, 12-to-17-year-olds who viewed three or more “R” rated movies per month were seven times more likely to smoke cigarettes, six times more likely to use marijuana, and five times more likely to drink alcohol, compared to those who hadn’t watched “R” rated films (Amy Khan, 2005).

Escape and Self-Medication – When teens are unhappy and can’t find healthy outlets for frustration, they may turn to chemicals for solace. Depending on the substance they’re using, they may feel blissfully oblivious, wonderfully happy, or energized and confident. Teenage years may take an emotional toll, sometimes even causing depression, so given a chance to take something to make them feel better, many can’t resist.

Boredom – Teens who can’t tolerate being alone, have trouble keeping themselves occupied, or crave excitement are prime candidates for substance abuse. Not only do alcohol and marijuana give them something to do, but those substances help fill the internal void they feel. They provide a common ground for interacting with life-minded teens, a way to instantly bond with a group of kids.

Rebellion – Rebellious teens choose different substances to use based on their personalities. Alcohol is the drug of choice for an angry teenager because it frees them to behave aggressively. Methamphetamine, or meth, also encourages aggressive, violent behavior and can be far more dangerous and potent than alcohol. Marijuana may reduce aggression and is more of an avoidance drug. LSD and hallucinogens are also escape drugs, often used by young people who feel misunderstood and long to escape to a more idealistic world. Smoking cigarettes can be a form of rebellion to flaunt independence and make parents angry. Reasons for drug-use are as complex as teens themselves.

Instant Gratification – Drugs and alcohol work quickly. The initial effects feel good. Teenagers turn to drug use because they see it as a short-term shortcut to happiness.

Lack of Confidence – Shy teens who lack confidence report that they’ll do things under the influence of alcohol or drugs that they might not otherwise. That’s part of the appeal of drugs and alcohol even for relatively self-confident teens; you have the courage to dance if you’re a bad dancer or sing at the top of your lungs even if you have a horrible voice. Alcohol and other drugs tend not only to loosen inhibitions but to alleviate social anxiety. Not only does it create something in common with other people, but there’s the mentality that if you do or say anything stupid, everyone will just think you had too many drinks or smoked too much weed.

Misinformation – Perhaps the most avoidable cause of substance abuse is inaccurate information about drugs and alcohol. Nearly every teenager has friends who claim to be experts on various recreational substances and they’re happy to reassure them that the risks are minimal. Educate your teen about drug use so they get the real facts about the dangers of drug use.

(Tips and information courtesy of “How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do if You Can’t,” by Dr. Neil I. Bernstein)  

Families - Get Your Game On!

 

FAMILIES - GET YOUR GAME ON!

Looking for ways to enjoy family time over Holiday Break and unplug from the ever-present screen time, how about getting your game on? Family Game Night is a great way to practice essential social skills, like managing conflict and identifying and responding appropriately to the emotions of others.

Statistics show that parents and children who participate in activities together build stronger relationships and foster more effective communication. Thanks to our prevention partners at the Mendez Foundation and Too Good for sharing their recent blog post "Game On!" (https://toogoodprograms.org/blogs/blog) to remind us that while playing games brings everyone together for family fun, it also provides an opportunity to practice social skills and learn important life lessons, all while fostering family communication and making positive, lasting memories!

The Game of Life - Practicing essential social skills, like managing conflict and identifying and responding appropriately to the emotions of others, at home gives kids a head start to manage relationships in life. Getting together as a family for a little competitive fun is an easy way to practice those skills.

Poker Face - Effective communication is necessary for us to share information without misunderstanding, advocate for our needs, and express our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. Player interaction fosters communication skills practice. For example. player assertiveness counts in UNO - if you don't act fast, that's two more cards! Communication is a two-way street. It isn't just about speaking. It's listening for understanding and meaning. It's about focusing and being present in the moment. You could miss an opportunity to play the card to win the game if you aren't listening. Don't forget the nuances of nonverbal communication. A smile could give opposing players insight into a winning hand. Getting in the habit of gauging another person's intentions builds awareness to improve interactions with others. 

Lose Like A Winner - We've all played with someone who flips over the game board when they don't win. No one likes a sore loser or a winner who gloats. It's not easy to lose gracefully, but self-awareness and self-management in the face of defeat is a skill that translates into other areas in the game of life. Learning to temper frustration and disappointment in a practice environment prepares children to embrace big picture thinking for self-regulation. Family game night is a great venue for parents to model self-regulation. Children can practice good sportsmanship and learn ways to channel frustration in productive directions. Learning to take turns, follow the rules, be patient, and have a positive attitude are part of a good game of Monopoly and essential in a class project.

Problem Solving - Family game night encourages refinement of problem-solving skills. Games require players to organize thoughts, plan next moves, think quickly, and act decisively. Scrabble builds vocabulary, but also requires planning and studying strategy of the other players. Some games require teamwork to solve problems and strategize to win.

Talk It Out - Kids of all ages relax and put aside the drama of the outside world at the game table. When the fun starts, open conversation starts. A teen whose usual answer is "fine" might actually share a story while playing an intense game of Hedbanz. A little vulnerability produced by a ridiculous game of charades tightens bonds and eases tension.

Take It Outside - Family game night doesn't mean quarantine. Plan games outside to enjoy the fresh air. Set up an obstacle course with hula hoops and orange cones or create a relay race to see who can carry an egg on a spoon the fastest. Who doesn't love a game of four square in the driveway? Cornhole, paddle ball, spike ball, tag...endless possibilities to be outside, burn excess energy, and enjoy physical activity. It's a win for the whole family.

Just Do It - Dust off the game boards and playing cards. Make family game night a regular feature and get ready to make some light-hearted family memories laughing and playing together!

UthMpact Leadership Class XI Activities

 

UthMpact Leadership XI Activities

UthMpact Class XI’s Business Leadership Day on November 3 was a busy one! The first stop was MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, where the students received a local branch tour and met Operations Manager, Rashawn Alexander. Next, the group enjoyed an informative session on writing a resume and cover letter led by InnerAct Alliance Executive Director, Angie Ellison, followed by a presentation on successful budgeting and investments by Clifton, Larson and Allen CPA. 

Afternoon activities included a trip to Catapult Lakeland to learn how the organization offers start-up resources and support for Lakeland’s entrepreneurs. The final stop of the day took the students to the RP Funding Center, where the group enjoyed a behind the scenes facility tour by Dana Walker, Senior Events Manager, which included the Lakeland Magic’s headquarters. UthMpact appreciates our community partners that provide these fun and informative days!