Friday, October 24, 2025
Free Online Registration for K-8 Students Ends Tonight
Just 1 More Day 'til the Red Ribbon Run
Lake Mirror in Lakeland
Thursday, October 23, 2025
DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day This Saturday
Studies show that medications in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse.
InnerAct Alliance is proud to support the DEA - Drug Enforcement Administration's Fall National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25 in partnership with participating law enforcement locations in Polk County.
Take Back Day provides a convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medication. We are committed to helping families safely dispose of unused or expired medications and keep our communities healthy and drug-free! π
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Happy Red Ribbon Week: October 23 – 31
Red Ribbon Week, sponsored by the National Family Partnership, is celebrated each year from October 23 to October 31. It has become the nation's largest drug-use prevention message campaign.
Red Ribbon began with DEA Agent Kiki Camarena's ultimate sacrifice in 1985 - the same year InnerAct Alliance started serving Central Florida. For 40 years, we've honored his legacy by proving prevention works through positive action, not just remembrance. We join other communities across the country to wear red and display red ribbons to raise awareness and take a stand for healthy, drug-free living.
Fast Facts
How Can You Get Involved?
*wear red, hang a red ribbon on your door to show support
*talk to the youth in your life about making healthy choices
*share resources about healthy lifestyle choices on social media
*host or join a Red Ribbon Week event in your school or community
How Can You Participate in our local Red Ribbon Run?
*register your kids & family to participate in the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, Oct. 25 at Lake Mirror
*K-8 Students register FREE by midnight Friday, Oct. 24 for the Kids Fun Run or $5 day of the event
*adults can run with their children in the Family Fun Run on Saturday, Oct. 25 - registration fee $5
Why It Matters
*youth who avoid early use are less likely to develop addiction later in life
*campaign like Red Ribbon Week promote positive community norms
*even one caring adult can make a difference in a young person's future
*the majority of youth choose to stay drug-free
*prevention education helps to create environments where young people thrive
Red Ribbon Week is a reminder that prevention saves lives. Together, our actions send a powerful message that a drug-free future is possible for every young person!
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Ease Anxiety with a Calm Mind
These days everyone is juggling many responsibilities. Teens especially may find themselves having to balance schoolwork, exams, duties at home, drama with friends. Add in after-school sports, clubs, a part-time job, and that's a lot on their plates. It's no wonder our youth feel a little stressed and overwhelmed now and then.π
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges among teens. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 1-in-3 teens has an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
If life in general has you feeling a bit overwhelmed, check out "Calm Minds: A Guide to Easing Anxiety" to learn the difference between stress, worry, and anxiety. This is a great resource for youth to learn practical tips on how to manage stress, challenge negative thoughts, and build healthy habits.
Read more at:
https://www.wethinktwice.acf.hhs.gov/calm-minds-guide-easing-anxiety?
Monday, October 20, 2025
Week 4 Red Ribbon Challenge – Invest in Yourself & Your Future
Our final Red Ribbon Challenge Week 4 (October 20-26) sponsor, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, challenges you to learn more about yourself, your family, and other people, places, and cultures by Investing in Yourself & In Your Future - it's a valuable way to expand our horizons and increase knowledge!
Suggested fun activities for this week include researching family roots to view photos, watch videos, and learn more about where our ancestors come from. Take it one step further to explore traditions of other countries to learn about different food, dances, and celebrations.
It's also a good habit to start saving money - research new places to travel on a family vacation or travel virtually on your laptop or iPad. Create a travel poster or brochure for inspiration!
Another great way to invest in yourself is to eat right and exercise. You're invited to "Run the World" at the Red Ribbon Run this Saturday morning, October 25, at Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Students in grades K-8 can pre-register FREE before 10/25 to participate in the Kids Fun Run ($5 fee on event day) - Adults pay $5 to run/walk with their children in the Family Fun Run. After the Run Heats, visit the World Tour Vendor area for healthy snacks, activities, and entertainment.
Register to Participate
http://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html
πRegister for the Kids Fun Runπ
https://www.athlinks.com/event/inneract-alliance-red-ribbon-run-155599
Friday, October 17, 2025
Clean Out the Family Medicine Cabinet for DEA’s Prescription Take-Back Day
StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day next weekend on Saturday, October 25 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Medicine stored in home cabinets is highly susceptible to abuse. Discarding medication by flushing or throwing it in the trash also creates potential health and safety hazards. This event helps educate about the potential for abuse and offers a convenient, responsible means of disposal.
Our community's Prescription Drug Take-Back Day may include the following Polk County locations (pending confirmation of participation) for citizens to turn in Human and Pet prescription and over-the-counter medications in liquid and solid form, as well as vaping pens and e-cigarette devices with batteries removed. Please place medication in a clear, air-tight plastic bag.
Bartow Police Dept. - 450 N. Broadway Ave.
Haines City Police Dept. - 35400 Highway 27
Lakeland Police Dept. - 219 N. Massachusetts Ave.
Lake Alfred Police Dept. - 190 N. Seminole Ave.
Lake Hamilton Police Dept. - 100 Smith Ave.
Lake Wales Police Dept. - 133 E. Tillman Ave.
Winter Haven Police Dept. - 125 N. Lake Silver Dr. NW
Countdown to the Red Ribbon Run Saturday, Oct 25
For over 30 years, families have gathered at Lake Mirror Promenade every October to run, walk, and celebrate drug-free, healthy choices together. This isn't just our biggest event, it's become a Lakeland tradition where three generations often participate side by side!
*FREE registration for K-8 students before 10/25
*Chip-timed Kids Fun Run race heats with trophies for top finishers
*Family Fun Run for Adults & Kids just $5 (not timed)
*World Tour Activities & Vendor Area celebrating healthy choices
*InnerAct Alliance is celebrating its 40th Anniversary
π Register Today to
Participate π
https://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run.html
https://www.athlinks.com/event/inneract-alliance-red-ribbon-run-155599
Thursday, October 16, 2025
What Is Harm Reduction?
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
10 DAYS until the Red Ribbon Run Saturday October 25
There's still time to register to participate in the 2025 Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 25 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland!
For decades, our community has gathered for this incredible tradition and we can't wait to see you there with us! Whether you're a Red Ribbon veteran or this is your first time, you're in for a morning filled with joy, connection, and celebration of drug-free choices!
What's going on?
*Race Heats for K-8 Students - a chance for our young champions to shine! Timed race heats to win medals and trophies...or just run for fun!
*Family Fun Run - a chance for parents to run or walk with their kids! Non-timed race heats, perfect for all ages and fitness levels!
*Free Registration for Students in Grades K-8 before event day 10/25/25 - $5 on Saturday 10/25
*Parents pay $5 to run or walk with their kids in the Family Fun Run
Why This Matters: Data proves our approach works - most kids DON'T engage in risky behaviors because of community-wide prevention efforts like this! When you participate on October 25th, you show our youth that healthy choices are the norm - not the exception.
Your registration supports FREE prevention education programs that reach thousands of students across Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties!
Register Today to Participate
https://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run.html
https://www.athlinks.com/event/inneract-alliance-red-ribbon-run-155599
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
What Do Teens Find Appealing About Vaping
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), today's youth report reasons they choose to vape as social influences like friends and siblings who vape; marketing that uses enticing flavors like candy and fruit; and a misconception that vaping is less harmful than other tobacco products. Other factors may include curiosity, peer pressure, and the highly addictive nature of nicotine in e-cigarettes. Many also like the fact that vapes are discreet, easy to hide, and generally viewed as cool and relatively harmless.
Monday, October 13, 2025
Have you seen the Red Ribbon Run TV Commercial on Spectrum TV?
Have you seen the Red Ribbon Run TV Commercial
Register Today to Participate
Join Us for Week 3 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges
Families can get involved in supporting prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events and online Red Ribbon Challenges this month that feature different health-oriented challenge activities each week on InnerActAlliance.org for children to complete with their family and friends.
Red Ribbon Challenge Week 3 (October 13-19) encourages a Healthy Mind & Healthy Body, which begins with being smart and making healthy choices when you eat, exercise, and care for yourself and others. Suggested activities include trying different exercises, meals, and snacks. Try calming ways to soothe your mind and body, like practicing Yoga stretches and poses. Another way to energize is with a cold glass of milk or a yummy milkshake to build strong bones.
Research new ways to boost your cardio - see how far you, family, and friends can run or walk. Remember to stretch and warm up your muscles first!
Register to "Run the World" and participate in the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 25, at Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Students in Grade K-8 can register FREE before 10/25/25 and Adults pay just $5 to run or walk in the Family Fun Run with their kids:
https://www.athlinks.com/event/inneract-alliance-red-ribbon-run-155599.
Hope to see you all at the Red Ribbon Run at Lake Mirror on October 25 - a fun day for all!
Friday, October 10, 2025
Register Today to Be Guaranteed a Free Red Ribbon Run T-Shirt!
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Study: More Teens Are Vaping Flavored Marijuana
Results show teenage weed users have started to prefer vaped cannabis to other forms like smoking or edibles.
60% to 66% among 10th graders
41% to 53% among 10th graders
36% to 50% among 12th graders
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
IAA is Looking for Prevention Volunteers & Talented Performers
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Alcohol & Teens: What Does Teen Drinking Look Like Today?
Teens may be drinking less, but binge drinking and youth-targeted products still make alcohol a major risk for our youth. Our prevention partners at Partnership to End Addiction offer an impactful new resource for parents that can help them talk to their teen about alcohol to protect their health.
From social media influence and peer pressure to how alcohol affects the developing brain, a new 10-minute You Tube video shares facts and data showing what today's underage drinking actually looks like, the real risks of teen alcohol use, and what parents can do to prevent it. Learn why early alcohol exposure is dangerous, how binge drinking impacts teens, and steps that parents can take to encourage effective communication with their children to keep them informed, educated, and most of all, safe.
For more resources and information
https://drugfree.org/alcohol-resource-center/
Monday, October 6, 2025
Week 2 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges Begin Today!
Families can support prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events and online Red Ribbon Challenges during October presented by InnerAct Alliance and our Red Ribbon Run title sponsor Publix Super Markets.
The Red Ribbon Challenge features different health-oriented challenge activities each week for children to complete with family and friends. Sign up on IAA.org at: https://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html
Red Ribbon Challenge Week 2 (October 6-12) sponsor, Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc. encourages Kindness & Tolerance. We are encouraged to find ways to promote the positives and look beyond differences to appreciate the person. Suggested activities for this week include participating in a kindness circle, finding opportunities to do a random act of kindness, offering a helping hand at home or school, and registering to "Run the World" and participate in the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 25, at Lake Mirror in Lakeland.
Students in grades K-8 register FREE before 10/25/25:
Adults pay $5 to run in the Family Fun Run with their kids.
See you at the Red Ribbon Run on October 25th!
Remember: Kindness Starts with You!
Friday, October 3, 2025
A Great Day in Support of Substance Abuse Prevention
It was a great day and night at Il Forno Italian Restaurant (northside and southside) where owner Mick donated 10% of the day's receipts in support InnerAct Alliance's Ruby Anniversary and 40 years of educating and promoting substance abuse prevention in our community!
Red Ribbon Run Memories π- during the course of a great event, we learned that 2 of the Il Forno servers participated in the Red Ribbon Run as they were growing up...and one of them even had our prevention instructor as a teacher of their fifth grade Prevention class in school - so cool! π
Special Thanks to all of the InnerAct Alliance board members, friends, youth leaders and their families, staff, and many new friends who participated in the October 2nd special event to support prevention education and healthy choices! πͺ
Last Project HOCO Shopping Days: Saturday Oct 4 & 11
Just a reminder that our final two Project HOCO Students Shopping Days are coming up this Saturday, October 4 and next Saturday, October 11, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Project Prom Store at Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. Highway 98 North in Lakeland (across from Rack Room Shoes).
During the first two September Shopping dates, UthMpact teen volunteers provided over 200 homecoming ensembles at no cost to young women and men in Polk County. Students with a Polk County school ID can sign a pledge promising to make healthy and safe choices and receive their dresses or suits for free!
Community members can support the effort by donating gently used dresses, shoes, men's suits, and accessories. Especially needed are women's dresses in sizes XS (0-3) and Plus Sizes (18+) and men's dress pants (waist 30-36) and dress shirts (all sizes). Formal wear donations may be dropped off at the Project Prom Store on shopping dates or at the InnerAct Alliance office at 621 South Florida Ave., in Lakeland (8:30am-4:30pm weekdays).
For more info, call (863) 802-0777
Visit us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPromofPolk
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Pizza! Pasta! Prevention! – Eat at Il Forno’s Today & Tonight
Eat Dinner as a Family to celebrate
InnerAct Alliance's 40th Ruby Anniversary
at Il Forno's Italian Restaurant - Northside & Southside
will be donated to InnerAct Alliance
to support substance abuse prevention!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Nitrous Oxide Use Gaining Popularity Among Teens Again
Florida is cracking down on a dangerous trend that is gaining popularity again among teens - that is use of Nitrous Oxide also known as Laughing Gas or Whippets. People are now selling it for recreational use and that is illegal here in Florida. Teen use of nitrous oxide is being fueling by social media trends and easy access to products intended for culinary use.
Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas, often called laughing gas, that is used as a medical anesthetic and as a propellant in whipped cream chargers. Teens inhale the gas from pressurized containers, called whippets, or from balloons filled from large canisters.
Some products like "Galaxy Gas" come in flavored packaging to appeal to young users. The gas produces a short, euphoric high, along with feelings of giddiness, laughter, and detachment. Because the effect is brief, users often inhale repeatedly to prolong the feeling.
Florida's Lt. Governor, Jay Collins, recently visited Orlando to announce an undercover operation that has resulted in 70 arrests. "People telling them how to abuse this, how to use this. We know what right looks like. We have to educate people and hold people accountable to stand and do the right thing, even when it's hard."
Public health officials and doctors have issued warnings about the significant long-term and short-term health risks, including severe neurological damage and even death, especially among young people.
Read more of the report on Fox 35 News in Orlando:
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-cracks-down-nitrous-oxide-sales-amid-lawsuit-health-concerns
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Family, Friends, Food & Fun This Thursday Oct 2 at Il Forno!
Monday, September 29, 2025
Week 1 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges Begins Today!
October is Red Ribbon Month! Families can support prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events presented by InnerAct Alliance and our Red Ribbon title sponsor Publix Super Markets during October. The Red Ribbon Challenges begin online TODAY and continue through October 26 with a different health-oriented challenge featured each week for children to complete the fun activities with family and friends.
Red Ribbon Challenge Week 1 is presented by our event's title sponsor, Publix Super Markets, to encourage Family Dinner & Activities. Studies show that families who eat meals together build stronger relationships and foster better communication to help kids make more informed decisions. Fun activities this week include a jumping jack challenge, exercises to stay fit, and ways to shop/cook together as a family!
Kids register FREE to participate in Weekly Challenges
https://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html
Post completed challenges on the IAA Facebook page with hashtag #RedRibbonChallenges
Register to run in the Red Ribbon Run
Saturday morning, October 26 at Lake Mirror
Friday, September 26, 2025
Shout Out to Talk Like a Pirate Day
Arrr Mateys, not sure how we missed it but last Friday was the official celebration of Talk Like a Pirate Day, created by two friends in 1995 as a day allowing everyone to channel their inner Jack Sparrow. Turns out we can learn healthy messages from pirate lore after all. ⚓
A teacher-friend asked his middle school students to come up with a pirate-themed short poem that contains a pearl of advice from our buccaneer friends. One student came up with this one...
Ahoy! Jewels, gold, and silver
bring not the real pleasure;
Making healthy life choices
'tis life's best treasure!
Are You Watching the Tropics?
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Cannabis Use Rises Among Pregnant Women
https://www.foxnews.com/health/cannabis-use-rises-among-pregnant-women-despite-serious-fetal-risks
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/health/pregnancy-cannabis-marijuana-guidelines.html
https://news.ohsu.edu/2025/05/05/evidence-review-raises-concern-about-cannabis-use-in-pregnancy



































