Register Today for Annual Prevention Summit on April 17

 

Join InnerAct Alliance and the StandUP Polk Coalition at the Annual Own The Upside Prevention Summit on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the W.H. Stuart Center | UF/IFAS Extension Office, 1710 US Highway 17 South in Bartow, to learn about important issues facing our community. It is an opportunity for teachers, school resource officers, administrators, counselors, social workers, and prevention specialists to come together and share up-to-date information with a realistic view of current youth culture, emerging drug trends, and other topical issues. Admission is $28.52 and includes a light breakfast and lunch. 

Registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/own-the-upside-prevention-summit-tickets-1219654261729?aff=oddtdtcreator

During 2025, InnerAct Alliance is celebrating its 40th Anniversary of serving the community with science-based education programs that increase protective factors and decrease risk factors for nearly 15,000 students, as well as outreach to over 100,000 citizens through informative presentations, a premier youth leadership program, teen-driven social norms marketing, and family-oriented awareness events. The 40th Anniversary celebration will officially kick off at the Prevention Summit with a special Anniversary cake cutting during lunch attended by local community leaders. All attendees at the Prevention Summit will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a piece of beautiful Ruby jewelry in celebration of InnerAct Alliance's Ruby Anniversary!

For more information, please call IAA at (863) 802-0777.

Spring Break Safety: How to Keep Your Teen Safe & Responsible

 

This week is Spring Break, an exciting time for teens that offers a break from school, a chance to relax and have fun with friends. But the time off also comes with risks like peer pressure, substance use, and online dangers.

Parents can help their teen stay safe by having open conversations and setting clear rules to help them enjoy their time off responsibly. InnerAct Alliance is proud to partner with Informed Families to help promote the Safe Homes, Smart Parties Campaign, which encourages parents to take simple steps to protect their teens and keep spring break safe.

Here are some suggestions to help teens make smart choices:

Make Your Home a Safe Space - make sure your home is a secure, supportive place. Plan fun, alcohol-free activities to keep teens engaged. Don't allow underage drinking or drug use and communicate with other parents to ensure your teen is safe and attending supervised gatherings.

Set Clear Rules & Expectations - sit down with your teen and set ground rules. Talk about curfews, plans, and who they'll be with. Ask them to check in with you regularly through text or calls. If they are traveling, go over safety measures, emergency contacts, and how to handle unexpected situations.

Talk About Peer Pressure & Substance Use - peer pressure is common during spring break. Help your teen feel confident in saying no to risky situations. Practice responses they can use if someone offers them alcohol or drugs. Encourage them to stay with friends who make smart choices. Remind them that underage drinking and drug use can lead to dangerous situations and bad decisions.

Teach Online & Social Media Safety - teens are always online, so it's important they understand how to use social media safely. Explain that once something is posted online, it can't be erased even if deleted. Warn them not to share their location, which could make them a target for strangers.

Talk About Safe Transportation - no matter where your teen is, they need a safe way to get around. Make sure they have access to safe rides. Remind them never to get in a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. Encourage them to use rideshare apps, public transportation, or a designated driver if needed.

Keep Communication Open - teens need to feel comfortable talking to you. Make sure they know they can reach out for help without fear of punishment - and that they can call you anytime if they feel unsafe. Listen and let them share thoughts and concerns. Show support and understanding when discussing tough topics. 

Parents can take a stand against underage drinking and risky behaviors by joining the Informed Families' Safe Homes, Smart Parties Campaign. 

Read more at: https://www.informedfamilies.org/catalyst/spring-break-safety-tips-for-parents

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week – March 17-23: Cannabis

 

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) - celebrated this week March 17-23 - is an annual event focused on the science of drug use and addiction to educate and empower youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health. 

Today's Did You Know Fact: Studies show that 9% of people who use cannabis will develop a dependency - and that number jumps to 17% for those who start using in their teens. Early use = higher risk of addiction. Let's give teens the facts to make informed decisions. #NDAFW

Teens can test their knowledge about drugs, alcohol, and substance use by taking the interactive National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge Quiz:  

https://create.kahoot.it/details/0c339ba3-618a-4fae-a89d-c02a917e33d2

Wishing You Luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day! This holiday began as a Christian feast day celebrating the life of St. Patrick and spreading Christianity to Ireland. Today it is celebrated as a day of revelry with food, drink, music and all things Irish. Remember to wear green and on this day, may your troubles be less and your blessings be more and you come into luck like never before! 🍀

If you're looking to dish up something special for St. Patrick's Day, here are some delicious recipe ideas from corned beef & cabbage to hearty Irish stew to tasty Irish soda bread: 

https://www.almanac.com/best-st-patricks-day-recipes

Happy Pi Day – 3.14

 

You don't have to love math to like Pi Day, which is celebrated today March 14 (3.14). Pi, the Greek letter "n", is a math symbol that represents a constant - the distance around a perfect circle, or the circumference of a circle to its diameter - which is approximately 3.14159. 

Math enthusiasts like to celebrate this day by reciting the infinite digits of Pi. Pi Day was founded by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The first Pi Day celebration involved Shaw and his wife handing out slices of fruit pie and tea at 1:59pm, which are the three digits following 3.14.

Most of us can probably best relate to eating pie instead of calculating it, right? Look for local restaurants and retailers who often offer deals on this day on baked pies, pizza, and other items with special pricing based on 3.14 - enjoy!

How Are You Doing After the Time Change?

 

Just a quick check to see how you are doing since last weekend's "spring forward" for Daylight Saving Time. While losing one hour may seem harmless, it can actually throw our bodies and schedules off for a few days!

Here are some Pros and Cons of DST:

PROS👍

*safety - more daylight makes driving safer, lowers risk of car accidents, and pedestrians struck by vehicles

*good for economy - more daylight - more time for shopping after work, increasing sales

*uses less electricity - lower power bills

*active lifestyle - more time for outdoor activities after work and school

*fewer crimes - more light makes it easier for criminals to be identified

CONS 👎

*increased health issues & sleepiness - disrupts the body's circadian rhythm

*confused time schedules - not only people but also pets, businesses, industry

*decreased productivity

It's good advice to just embrace the longer hours of daylight and let go of excuses that may be holding us back!🌞

An Alert on Energy Drinks!

 

Adults frequently use energy drinks to enhance work productivity or simply as a means of rejuvenation. Adolescents may turn to these beverages for the same reasons, but also as a signal of social status among others in their age group. According to UCLA Health studies, adolescents can become dependent on feeling more energetic after consuming highly-concentrated caffeine and sugary energy drinks.

Energy drinks are characterized by elevated levels of caffeine and sugar, which can increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, cause strokes, increase addictive behaviors, cause anxiety, sleep disturbances, and many other outcomes.😓 After consuming energy drinks, many individuals experience a rapid decline in energy levels that result in decreased physical activity and a sense of sluggishness. This cycle may contribute to addictive responses for people of all ages.

The use of certain substances in energy drinks may result in the development of dependence, withdrawal symptoms, headaches, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Side effects can worsen in individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Potential side effects may be intensified in youth who experience mental health issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Parents should have healthy conversations with youth and teach them how to read product labels since many foods and beverages contain caffeine in varied amounts. Approach the topic openly and honestly - ask which benefits your child is seeking by using these drinks. Have your physician share the dangers and long-term effects of these energy drinks and suggest healthy alternatives. 🍎🍇

Thanks to our prevention partners at Drug Free Lee (www.LeeHealth.org) for sharing this alert. For more info, contact your physician or visit the Food & Drug Administration site at https://www.fda.gov