Spring Forward This Weekend to Daylight Saving Time

 

Daylight Saving Time officially begins this Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m. - it's time to change our clocks to spring forward one hour, losing an hour of sleep. Many people choose to change their clocks before they go to bed on Saturday night. With the change, it will stay lighter in the evening.

A little bit of history, Daylight Saving Time became established law in the U.S. with the passage of the Standard Time Act in 1918. It was implemented as a way to maximize daylight hours to help save on energy consumption during World War I. Hawaii and Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time.

Some health experts argue that daylight saving time disrupts the body's natural day-to-night rhythms. It is also associated with cardiovascular problems and mood changes.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has issued Daylight Saving Highway Safety Tips since the time change is known to adversely impact sleeping patterns and raise the risk of drowsy driving, which can lead to more crashes. AAA recommends drivers get enough rest before hitting the road and also reminds us that it is important to avoid distractions when driving, obey the speed limit, and never drive while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. 

Daylight Saving Highway Safety Tips

* Be sure to get enough rest
*Avoid distractions
*Obey speed limits
*Drive sober

Wishing you a safe & fun weekend! 😎

Risks of Vaping & E-Cigarette Use for Youth

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes were the most commonly-used tobacco product among middle and high school students with 1.63 million (69%) currently using e-cigarettes - this includes 410,000 (3.5%) middle school students and 1.21 (7.8%) high school students.

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat liquid and produce an aerosol or mist of small particles in the air. Often they are used to inhale nicotine and marijuana. 

Most tobacco use starts and is established during adolescence. No tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, are safe for children, teens, and young adults. Knowing the facts may help to counteract the myths about vaping and e-cigarettes that appear on the internet and social media, on TV, in movies and music, or talked about among friends.

The CDC offers the following Quick Facts that are important for everyone to know:

*Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine can harm the parts of an adolescent's brain that controls attention, learning, mood, and impulse control

*E-cigarette vapor can contain harmful substances such as nicotine, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals such as nickel, tin, lead, and flavorings that have been linked to lung disease

*E-cigarette marketing, the availability of flavored products, social influences, and effects of nicotine and influence youth to start or continue vaping

*E-cigarette use can increase risk for future addiction to other drugs

*Smoking and vaping can harm your lungs by weaking normal defenses that help fight bacteria and disease, causing lasting airway inflammation, and cause more severe symptoms if you come down with a cold or virus

Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html?

Facts About Illicit Fentanyl

 

This message cannot be repeated often enough - just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be enough to kill. That's about the size of 5-7 grains of table salt.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, similar to morphine, but about 100 times more potent. It has a legitimate medical use when prescribed by a licensed medical professional to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery.

Illicit fentanyl is primarily manufactured in clandestine labs and smuggled into the U.S. to be sold on the illegal drug market. The tasteless, odorless substance can be added to fake tablets or mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin or cocaine - often without the user knowing it is there.⚠

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person's body size, tolerance, and past usage. A fentanyl overdose can happen in seconds or minutes and lead to respiratory failure or death.🕱

InnerAct Alliance is committed to keeping our community informed and sharing evidence-based educational programs to prevent substance abuse and promote healthy choices. Talking about the dangers of fentanyl and supporting youth not to use illegal drugs is the best prevention. Even if you believe your child would never touch a drug of any kind, talk with them about the dangers of experimentation. Knowledge saves lives!

Self-Care Suggestions for March

 

A new month is upon us so what better time to feature Positively Present's self-care suggestions for March! Self-care is an important part of wellness. It is the time and energy you put into taking care of both your mental health and physical health. 

Some cool ideas from this colorful graphic include creating new connections, noticing beautiful moments, tuning into your intuition, and even enjoying breakfast at midnight...or even for dinner!🥚🥓

Self-care practices look a little different for each person - based on their own personal wants and needs. It can help you become more aware of how you feel and what is happening around you.🧘When you take time to care of yourself, you are better able to fully engage in life's experiences and who knows, you may even expand your wisdom and understanding. 

When your mind, body, and soul are balanced and healthy, you are more likely to feel in harmony with yourself and your goals. So, choose a suggestion for March Self-Care and enjoy it for a day, a week, or maybe even for the whole month!😊

Dealing with Peer Pressure & Influence

 

Peer pressure, or influence, comes in all shapes and sizes - some good, some bad. It can have a tremendous impact on a young person's behavior. Research shows the most impressionable age for peer influence seems to be the middle school years when children are forming new relationships and choosing their identity among friends. This is also the most common age when kids begin experimenting with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other risky behaviors. Often, the drive to engage in this kind of behavior is the result of peer pressure - and the pressure to conform is very real at this age.

Prevention partners at "Talk It Out" describe the 6 types of peer pressure and offer tips for parents who want to help their child make healthy, life-long choices:

*Spoken Peer Pressure - this type of peer pressure occurs when a teen asks, suggests, or persuades others to engage in a specific behavior. If this is done one-to-one, the recipient of the influence has a stronger chance of adhering to their own core values. But if done in a group setting, pressure to go along with everyone can be high.

*Unspoken Peer Pressure - occurs when a teen is exposed to the actions of one or more peers and is left to choose whether they want to follow along. Many young teens may lack the mental maturity to control impulses and make wise long-term decisions, so they tend to be more susceptible to influence from older or more popular friends.

*Direct Peer Pressure - this type of peer pressure can be spoken or unspoken and is normally behavior-centric. Examples may be when a teen hands another teen an alcoholic drink, makes a sexual advance, or looks at another student's paper during a test. The other teen is faced with having to make an on-the-spot decision. 

*Indirect Peer Pressure - similar to unspoken peer pressure, indirect peer pressure can be subtle but also be a strong influence on impressionable youth. When a teen overhears a friend gossiping then reacts to the gossip, that is an example of indirect peer pressure. Or if a middle schooler learns that the popular kids' parties include alcohol or drugs - that indirect pressure may tempt them to experiment as a way to gain acceptance.

*Negative Peer Pressure - an example of negative peer pressure is asking a young teen to engage in behavior that is against their moral code or family values. Teens see the actions of others with stronger personalities and are put in a position to follow the leader or walk away. Often teens find themselves engaging in behavior that goes against their beliefs because they want acceptance. They may lack the skills to come up with a quick excuse or reason to say no.

*Positive Peer Pressure - a group dynamic can be a very positive peer influence if behaviors are healthy, age-appropriate, and socially acceptable. Examples may be when a peer group wants to make good grades, teens can be positively influenced to study...or when the school football team pledges to abstain from drinking to stay healthy, other students may adopt the same behavior. 

Despite the inevitable influence of friends, many teens say that their parents remain the strongest influence in their lives. Key components for parents to maintain positive influence on their teens are: understanding the types of peer pressure their teen may face, supporting healthy relationships, modeling responsible behavior, and keeping an open, judgment-free family dialogue flowing. 

For more tips: https://www.talkitoutnc.org/