Impaired Driving: Talk with Your Kids

 

Impaired driving remains an issue that affects Americans every day. On average, 3-in-5 people will be involved in a crash due to impaired driving in their lifetime. Impaired driving can have serious consequences, including injury and death.

The most effective way to stop impaired driving is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Know the facts and talk with your kids about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

*Almost 1-in-4 teen car crashes involves an underage drinking driver

*Everyday about 800 people are injured in a drunk-driving crash

*Each day in America, another 29 people die as a result of drunk-driving crashes - that's 1 person every 50 minutes

*Marijuana use is increasing - 13% of weekend nighttime drivers have marijuana in their system

Click this link for tips to help parents talk with kids about drunk and drug-impaired driving

https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/prevention/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources/impaired-driving

13 Simple Ideas to Help Your Mental Health

 

Mental Health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life's setbacks and hardships.

Often, we have to work harder these days to ensure strong mental health simply because there are so many ways that life can take a toll on our emotional well-being. That's why it is important to take time to do things that help you live well.

Try one of the 13 Simple Ideas suggested by our friends at Positively Present to help find what you need and enjoy.😴🎵🎨🧩🌲🧘🌴💃 Practices like these can help elevate your mood, become more resilient, and enjoy life - this is an essential part of overall health and YOU are worth it!💓

Learn the Suicide Warning Signs for Youth

 

It is important to take the time to learn the warning signs for suicide, help those in crisis, and change the conversation. It could truly help to save the life of a family member or friend. 

Take Action if you notice these signs in family or friends:

*Talking about or making plans for suicide
*Expressing hopelessness about the future
*Displaying severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress
*Showing worrisome changes in behavior

Specifically, this includes Significant:

*Changes in sleep (increased or decreased)
*Anger or hostility that seems out of character or context
*Recent increased agitation or irritability

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat: https://988lifeline.org/

Project Prom featured in Today's LAL Today!

 Thanks to our friends
at LAL Today for featuring
Project Prom in today's issue
with a great article and photos!

👗🤵🎀

Final Two Project Prom Shopping Days: March 29 & April 5

 

InnerAct Alliance and UthMpact are proudly hosting our 13th year of the Project Prom effort to provide formal wear and accessories to deserving high school students. The final two Student Shopping Days are coming up quickly on Saturdays: March 29 and April 5 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Project Prom Store at Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 US Hwy 98N in Lakeland (use entrance to the right of Dillards).

Students with a Polk School ID can sign a pledge and receive their dresses and suits for FREE! Congratulations to those who have already pledged to celebrate alcohol and drug-free and took home special dresses and suits on our Project Prom shopping days. Over 5,500 prom ensembles have been provided at no cost to young women and men in Polk County since 2013.

Please 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 taken to the Project Prom Store on shopping dates or to the InnerAct Alliance office at 621 S. Florida Avenue in Lakeland (8:30am-4:30pm, weekdays). 

For more information, call the IAA office at (863) 802-0777 or visit our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPromofPolk

The Latest Vaping News

 

While some smokers use vaping as a potential smoking cessation tool, studies suggest vaping does not effectively help people quit smoking - in fact, it may even lead to continued nicotine use and keep users smoking longer.

A new study out of the University of California at San Diego refutes the notion that vaping helps people quit smoking cigarettes. The study looked at 6,000 smokers and found that smoking cessation was more than 4% lower for those who vaped every day. Those who vape - but not every day - showed similar results of more than 5% lower success rate than smokers trying to quit without vaping.

Vaping introduces harmful substances into the body. Researchers say the safest and most effective methods for quitting smoking are FDA approved replacements such as nicotine gum and patches.

In 2024, the CDC estimated 8.1% of middle and high schoolers used some sort of nicotine. Most use vapes. CDC studies show that 85% of those who vape choose flavored e-cigarettes. Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, said, "Take the flavors away and you're encouraging more tobacco use. When you ban flavors in vaping products, you end up advantaging traditional combustible cigarettes."

Recently here in Florida, a settlement was reached between the state and e-cigarette company Juul as a result of the company's past marketing practices that targeted children. On March 10, 2025, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a $79 million settlement with Juul Labs, Inc. - $30 million of which will go toward the Vape Free Florida Fund to aid in the enforcement of the State's nicotine and vapor laws. 

As a result of the settlement, Juul shall not take any action to reach youth in Florida in the advertising, promotion, or marketing of Juul products. Additional terms of the settlement include:

*Juul shall not use models under age 35 in its ads

*Juul shall not use brand names or cartoons in its ads

*Juul shall not have its products/logos on TV or in movies

*Juul shall not make any claim or representations comparing quantification of amount of nicotine in Juul products to that found in combustible tobacco products

*Juul shall not advertise products in media or outlets in Florida unless 85% or more of the audience of media are not youth

*Juul shall not use billboards in Florida

Read more:
https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-james-uthmeier-announces-79-million-settlement-juul-and-establishes

Know Your Anxiety Triggers

 

Anxiety is a mental health condition that can cause feelings of worry, fear, or tension. For some, anxiety may also cause panic attacks and physical symptoms like chest pain. Anxiety disorders are very common. It is estimated that nearly 40 million people in the U.S. are affected.

What Triggers Anxiety? Causes can be complicated and it is likely that a combination of factors, including genetics and environmental reasons, can play a role. Some events, emotions, or experiences can also cause symptoms of anxiety to begin or become worse.

It is important to discover what triggers your anxiety. Being aware of the cause can help you better manage it. So, next time you skip a meal or a workout, overdo sugar or caffeine, or decide to leave that chore until later, consider that it may have an adverse effect on your mental health.