The holiday season is filled with fun celebrations and we want you to enjoy all of them - safely! Please be responsible and remember the dangers that come along with impaired driving during December's National Drug & Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.🚫🍹💊
Every day, approximately 37 lives are lost in the U.S. to drunk-driving crashes - that's one person every 39 minutes. In 2022 alone, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, including innocent children and passengers. These tragedies are 100% preventable.
The effects of alcohol and drugs impair critical functions like decision-making, reasoning, and motor coordination - all essential for driving safely. Even small amounts of alcohol or drugs in a person's system can significantly increase the risk of a crash. This is not just a problem for those who drink; the ripple effects of these decisions impact families, communities, and society as a whole.
As you celebrate this holiday season, please remember to prioritize safety - arrange a designated driver, use a ride-share service, or simply choose not to drive if impaired. By making responsible choices, we can all play a role in keeping our roads safe!
Communication between parents and children about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is more important than ever with substances becoming more dangerous, appealing, addictive, and easier to conceal. Kids are much less likely to use drugs and alcohol when they have two-way ongoing conversations with their parents about the risk of substance use. Remind them early and often about family expectations - it means more to them than you realize.👪
Research shows that the most influential ages are 9-13. After that, teens tend to be more peer influenced but parents can still provide a solid foundation. Prevention statistics prove that safety factors also increase when students have prevention instruction in their schools as well!
Parents, you got this!✊Let's be our children's most trusted source of information, guidance, and support on these complicated topics by fostering ongoing dialogue and continuing to build mutual lifelong trust between kids of all ages and the adults who care about them - sounds like a great 2025 new year's resolution!
There are many ways to enjoy the holidays without drinking. It's not the alcohol that creates a special mood, it's the time spent with those you care about that makes it meaningful.
Recipes are available to mix up fun non-alcoholic Christmas drinks for those who can't drink alcohol or choose not to. Why not try one of these festive Alcohol-Free Christmas Drinks to make your holidays that much cozier:
Fancy Hot Chocolate - there's no better way to enjoy the holidays than sipping a hot cup of cocoa next to the Christmas tree🎄Enjoy this holiday drink without spirits - whether it's an alcohol-free Irish Cream recipe or simply combining your favorite hot chocolate with fun toppings like whipped cream and sprinkles.
Mulled Cider - anything mulled makes the ideal drink in the winter. Cloudy cider and apple juice🍎 are staples of the holiday season. All you need to do is make some mulling bags to have them ready. Use muslin cloth and fill it with cinnamon sticks, anise, cloves, peppercorns, and ginger. Tie it up with a food-safe string. Add mixture to a pan with your chosen liquid, heat it, and let it sit. Add oranges to the pan. Then let it cool and garnish your drink with orange-studded cloves to make it more festive.
Chai - while Chai might not be the traditional drink, this time of year, it can be comforting on cold winter nights.🥛 Heat your milk of choice in a pan and add a regular Chai teabag. Drop some cardamom pods and ginger slices into the pan. Let it simmer until the milk has taken on the aromatic flavors while being careful not to burn the milk. Finally, strain the mixture into your favorite mug and add sugar to sweeten.
Check out 30+ Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drinks
https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g29386984/non-alcoholic-christmas-drinks/
This is where InnerAct Alliance (IAA) comes in! Since 1985, our nonprofit substance
abuse prevention agency has been committed to leading local efforts to reduce the
abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other
risky behaviors through Community Awareness and Involvement;
Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. Our
IAA board of directors and staff are dedicated to making a lasting difference
in the lives of the children and families we serve.
Invest in Our Community! Each year, IAA helps to educate thousands of students on the dangers of drugs and empowers adults to live a quality life by investing in their families and community. Programs are based on prevention models proven to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors for youth in grades K-12.
Services offered in the Hardee, Highlands and Polk county areas include science-based education classes, teen-driven social norms marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, community groups, and others in need with an important substance abuse prevention message. IAA also serves as the fiscal agent for StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk.
As a nonprofit, we are proud to accomplish much while stretching every dollar received! We rely on local support since prevention program funding continues to decrease each year. During this season of giving, donations of any amount are welcome to help us work together towards a happier, healthier future for us all - thank you for being a vital part of our mission!
Increased
Financial Burden – the holiday season is a time of year when
people tend to be more generous with time and money, but feeling pressure to
buy gifts, travel to visit family/friends, or host elaborate celebrations can
lead to increased financial stress. For those already struggling to make ends
meet, the added expense of the holidays can be crippling.
Family
Dynamics – family relationships can be complicated and difficult to navigate due to
unresolved issues or tension. There’s also the pressure some may
feel to put on a happy face when they are really feeling lonely or sad.
Changes
in Routine – the holidays often disrupt normal routines, which can
impact mental and physical health. For those who rely on routine, any changes
in regular habits can lead to increased stress levels. Cold weather and shorter
days can cause feelings of depression.
Cultural
Differences – for those from different cultural
backgrounds, there may be confusion and discomfort when practicing certain
customs or traditions. Some may feel pressure to fit in with the majority,
which can be alienating.
Weather – cold
weather and shorter amount of daylight can have an effect on mental health.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression felt during seasonal
changes and in the winter months. For those already struggling with mental
health issues, cold weather can worsen existing issues or trigger new ones.
Learn more about how to maintain good mental health during the holiday season:
https://namica.org/blog/handling-stress-during-the-holiday-season/
According to recent national news reports, the fate of e-cigarettes and flavored vapes could soon be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court pending results of a hearing held on Monday, December 2 to examine claims of whether the FDA unlawfully violated the Administrative Procedure Act by blocking the marketing and sale of more than a million new candy and fruit-flavored nicotine products in recent years.
E-cigarette and vaping manufacturers traditionally market their products as a way to help adults quit traditional cigarettes. According to federal law, companies are required to show evidence that adults need sweetly-flavored products to stop using tobacco and that the benefits outweigh the risks of youth addiction.
The FDA says the companies were denied because their data was inconclusive and did not show that flavored vapes had a net public benefit as stipulated in the law. The agency's guidance on how to meet the evidence requirement is at the center of the case.
Last year, a federal appeals court sided with vaping companies saying the FDA had acted arbitrarily. If the Supreme Court upholds that ruling, it could clear the way for broader marketing and sale of flavored nicotine products.
This is of particular concern given that statistics from the CDC consistently report e-cigarettes as the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students.
The good news is that teen vaping has recently shown signs of decline in use, dropping in 2024 to its lowest level in a decade, but there remains a serious public health concern that candy and fruit-flavored products consistently attract youth to use and the nicotine in the product keeps them addicted.
The court is expected to decide the case in the coming months. We will keep you updated.
To feel your best this holiday season, gift yourself with the simple things that bring you the most comfort and joy. Try seasonal suggestions in the colorful holiday graphic from our friends @Positively Present to boost your mental and physical health.
Enjoy an afternoon nap 😴, listen to music🎵, or go for a walk to enjoy the holiday lights🎄 – actions that can help you feel more centered and relaxed during this busy time of year.
