Tips to Stay Sane While Self Quarantined During COVID-19

Flavored E-Cigarettes Hiding in Plain Sight

Flavored E-Cigarettes Hiding in Plain Sight

Youth e-cigarette use has become an epidemic in our country. Adults play an important role in protecting youth from these harmful items.

You can help by educating yourself, dispelling myths among friends and family, and talking to your kids about the serious health risks associated with vaping and nicotine addiction.

Check out these great resources from our Friends at Tobacco Free Polk regarding vaping and our youth:

youtube.com/watch?v=htAsfUEoEC4&amp:feature=youtu.be

https://tobaccofreeflorida.com/blog/tipsforparents/ 

Help is Available: Crisis Resources and Hotlines

You are NOT Alone - Help is Available

Crisis Resources and Hotlines

A message from National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health: https://www.ffcmh.org/crisis-hotlines

Friends and Colleagues,

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is placing additional stress on everyone, including parents, youth and children. To help anyone who experiences a crisis, we created a new resource page that lists free, national hotlines and helplines to address the areas of need listed below. 

• Mental Health Treatment and Support
• Crisis and Suicide Risk
• Substance Use
• Child Abuse or Neglect
• Domestic/Family Violence
• Access to Food
• Parenting

We hope you will find these resources helpful in your efforts to remain safe and healthy and to provide support to others.

Make Sure You're Counted! Fill Out the U.S. Census!

Friendly Reminder:
Complete Your U.S. Census 2020

What matters to you: Schools? Transportation? Hospitals? Data from the U.S. Census Bureau will help inform planning efforts for all these important community resources.

Make sure you're counted by filling out the U.S. Census 2020. An accurate count means that communities across the nation will receive the funding, services, and business support they deserve and need.

About 143 million households received an invitation in the mail to respond to the 2020 Census but it's even quicker and easier to fill out the Census online. The process is QUICK, EASY and SECURE!

To learn what to expect and fill out your 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov

Family Fun Prevention Activities for National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

Family Fun Prevention Activities for
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

March 30-April 5, 2020

The week of March 30-April 5, 2020 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, a week devoted to empowering teens with resources so they can SHATTER THE MYTHS about drugs and alcohol. 

Here's a list of Fun Activities for Families to do together:

 Play Kahoot! Marijuana Myths: Can You Tell Fact From Fiction?

Take the National Drug and; Alcohol IQ Challenge

Play the Jeopardy-style interactive game: Drug Facts Challenge!

Take an exploration on Brain Power! to learn the effects of drugs on the body

To learn more about science-based information on teen drug use and its effects, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (NIDA) website at: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/

Take Part in National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week: March 30 – April 5, 2020

InnerAct Alliance is partnering with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to celebrate National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week from March 30 to April 5, 2020 and connect students with science-based resources to SHATTER THE MYTHS about drugs and alcohol.

With families spending more time at home to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, this is an opportune time for parents to engage in meaningful discussion with their children to share fact-based information about drugs and alcohol. Knowledge can help teens make informed decisions and help families stay healthy and substance-free.  

According to the 2019 Monitoring the Future Survey, which annually tracks substance abuse outcomes among U.S. adolescents:

Marijuana continues to be the most used illicit drug by adolescents

1-in-4 12^th graders reported vaping nicotine in the past month, along with 1-in-5 10^th graders, and nearly 1-in-10 8^th graders

Many teens say they vape for the flavor, to experiment, for social reasons, or to feel good

From 2018-2019, the number of 12^th graders saying they vape because they are “hooked” more than doubled to 8.1%, up from 3.6%

Our agency's youth coalition, UthMpact, has compiled the following "UthMpact Facts" to share the reality that most Polk County teens are making the right choices by choosing not to drink, smoke, or use substances. This can help students avoid succumbing to peer pressure because they feel more confident to make informed personal decisions after knowing and considering all the facts.

87% of Polk County students DO NOT use marijuana
96% of Polk County students DO NOT use tobacco
98% of Polk County students DO NOT ABUSE prescription drugs
88% of Polk County students DO NOT use e-cigs or vape
84% of Polk County students DO NOT use alcohol

Please visit the NIDA for Teens website at https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week for more information and free science-based resources and activities to help teens learn the real facts about the effects of various drugs on the brain and their body. We hope you stay safe & healthy!

Update: DEA National Medication Take Back Day Canceled