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!

InnerAct Alliance Recipient of 2010 Community Champion Award

Lakeland, FL - InnerAct Alliance is proud to be named a recipient of the 2010 Community Champion Award from the Florida Department of Children and Families for effectively using evidence-based practices to prevent Substance Abuse in the 10th Circuit of Florida.

InnerAct Alliance has been recognized for providing evidence-based prevention education to 4th-9th grade students in Hardee, Highlands and Polk County schools through programs including Project: ALERT, Too Good for Drugs, and Keep A Clear Mind. These best practice educational programs have been proven to positively influence students' attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The Too Good for Drugs program also offers the added value of Too Good for Violence lessons built into the curriculum to address elevated school-based bullying incidents as a contributing factor for substance abuse.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2010. The agency's mission is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support and Leadership Development.

Our efforts to serve the community include providing science-based education programs to nearly 15,000 students in 69 schools, as well as outreach to over 100,000 citizens via informative presentations, drug-free puppet shows, and family-oriented awareness events including the Annual October Red Ribbon Campaign and motivational rallies for fifth grade students countywide.

For additional information on InnerAct Alliance's prevention programs and services in the community, please contact Angie Ellison, Executive Director, at (863) 802-0777.

WinterHaven/HainesCity Area Winners of the Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contest

Lakeland, FL - InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry & Essay Contest for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the "Red Ribbon Rally" this morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug rally will focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and others drugs. Overall winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Guest speaker for the Rally will be Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who now travels full-time throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors.

A similar rally for Lakeland area schools took place last week on Tuesday, May 4th at The Lakeland Center.

InnerAct Alliance congratulates the following Overall Contest Winners:

Poster Contest:
1st Place - $100.00 - Serena Mercado, Davenport School of the Arts
2nd Place - $50.00 - Viktoria Dvorska, Eastside Elementary
3rd Place - $25.00 - Christian Otero, Lena Vista Elementary

Poetry Contest:
1st Place - $100.00 - Donavan Macomber, Lena Vista Elementary
2nd Place - $50.00 - Michemana Jean, Pinewood Elementary
3rd Place - $25.00 - Christina Fail, Lake Shipp Elementary

Essay Contest:
1st Place - $100.00 - Bryson Bova, Garden Grove Elementary
2nd Place - $50.00 - Kaitlyn Short, Elbert Elementary
3rd Place - $25.00 - Scott Glidewell, Pinewood Elementary

Congratulations also to the School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Berkley Elementary!

Encourage Safe Celebration This Graduation & Summer Season

Lakeland, FL - Teens and alcohol or drugs are combustible combinations. This time of year, when kids are attending proms and graduation celebrations, is especially volatile. There may be more pressure to end the school year on a "high" note by partying with illicit drugs, alcohol, or even prescription drugs.

How will your teen celebrate? Statistics from a recent study released by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation show that the percent of teens who say that their friends get high at parties increased from 69 percent in 2008 to 75 percent in 2009. The study further reported that 56 percent of teens believe Rx drugs are easier to obtain than illegal drugs, and more than half (55.9%) of people who use Rx drugs non-medically say they got the drugs from a friend or relative for free. The National Study on Drug Use and Health Report also reports that there is significant increase in first time use of marijuana during the summer months.

What's a parent to do? You want your child to enjoy the freedoms that come with the end of school, graduation and summer time, but it is important to encourage fun within certain parameters. Parents, YOU are in the best position to help your child make good decisions. It is critical that you be firm, clear and consistent when talking with your teens about drinking and drug use, and make sure they know they'll be held accountable for their actions.

Here are a few simple tips, offered by the partners of StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, on what you and the parents in your community can do to keep teens safe during upcoming graduation celebrations and throughout the summer months:

• Set clear rules about no drug and alcohol use, establish consequences, and reinforce expectations.
• Talk to your child about peer pressure and provide them with strategies to resist it.
• Provide safe, fun alternatives such as chaperoned alcohol and drug-free graduation and summer parties.
• Be aware and ask questions; know who your teen will be with, where they will be, and at what times.
• Be sure that teens know that one bad choice to use drugs or alcohol can change their lives forever.
• Be a good role model.

For more information on talking with your teens about the dangers of substance abuse, call StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777. Visit the interactive Be The Wall web site at www.bethewall.com and take the pledge to keep alcohol out of the hands of teens so they will enjoy a safe, happy, and alcohol and drug-free graduation and summer season.

Lakeland Area Winners of 5th Grade Rallies Poster, Essay & Poetry Contests

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for 5th Grade Students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the "Red Ribbon Rallies," which take place this morning at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM at The Lakeland Center.

The anti-drug rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place, and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Guest speaker for the Rallies will be Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who now travels full-time throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors.

Another Rally for Winter Haven and Haines City area schools will be held next week on Wednesday, May 12th, at 10 AM in the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven. Contest winners for those schools will be announced next week.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups, and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

Congratulations to the following Contest Prize Winners:

Poster Category:
1st Place - $100.00 - Rachel Oestreich, South McKeel
2nd Place - $50.00 - Zackhary Ebare, Southwest
3rd Place - $25.00 - Lesley Marrero, Sleepy Hill

Poetry Category:
1st Place - $100.00 - Thalia Gonzalez, Medulla
2nd Place - $50.00 - Ashton Serrano, Highlands Grove
3rd Place - $25.00 - Emma Kratt, North McKeel

Essay Category:
1st Place - $100.00 - Christian Cody, Sleepy Hill
2nd Place - $50.00 - Paige Sharrow, South McKeel
3rd Place - $25.00 - Katya Viegas, Scott Lake

Congratulations also to the School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Highlands Grove Elementary!

Fifth-Graders To Participate In Red Ribbon Rallies - May 4 & 12, 2010

Nearly 6,000 fifth grade students have been invited by InnerAct Alliance to attend Red Ribbon Rallies in May to encourage the choice of a positive lifestyle without the use of drugs. Events will take place on May 4 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, and on May 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven

The anti-drug rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Guest speaker will be Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who now travels full-time throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of the book titled, "Who Packs the Parachute," and co-author of "Teen Power Too," and the book "Teen Power and Beyond." Community leaders will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Fifth grade students have been challenged to create original essays, poems and posters that convey topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Contest winners will be recognized during the rallies with cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 awarded to overall first place winners in each contest category.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug -free puppet shows, informative presentations, and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

For more information on the Fifth Grade Rallies on May 4 and 12, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.