Introducing 40 Years – 40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance - Story #1: Pride of Lakeland Was Born

 

For four decades, InnerAct Alliance has been Polk County's trusted prevention leader. We're celebrating our 40th anniversary by sharing a special memory from each year that our agency has been in existence since 1985 - along with the incredible programs that continue our mission today!🙌

Story #1: Pride of Lakeland Was Born

In 1986, we organized our first "Just Say No" Anti-Drug March through downtown Lakeland. Nearly 3,000 students rallied together at the Civic Center, making a visible statement against drugs. This 1989 photo from The Ledger shows Scott Lake Elementary students with their creative banner leading the charge!

Today, that spirit lives on through our Annual  Red Ribbon Run - one of Florida's largest drug prevention awareness events! Thousands of K-8 students and families father around Lake Mirror each October for our FREE one-mile fun run celebrating healthy, drug-free lifestyles. 

Celebrating Generations of Prevention: The photo above shows a Dad who ran in the Red Ribbon Run as a young boy, and now his kindergartner plans to run too! 🎀

Please Support 40 More Years of Prevention!

$40 one-time gift = prevention services for a family

$40/month = up to 12 families in 2026
$400/month = 120 families in 2026

Donate by

texting IAA to 26989

https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

click on QR Code

Stay tuned as we share more stories celebrating our community's commitment to preventing harm and promoting health!

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #Prevention Works #PolkCounty #RedRibbonRun #DrugFreeCommunity 

2026 Spring Project Prom Shopping Dates Announced

 

Countdown to Prom is underway! Unfortunately for some teens, expenses associated with attending this milestone social event may be out of reach. InnerAct Alliance and the UthMpact coalition are proud to continue the Project Prom effort, now in its 14th year, to provide free formal wear to deserving high school students and educate youth and parents about risky behaviors that may occur during prom and graduation.

Student Shopping Days will take place on Saturdays: February 7, February 21, March 7, and March 21 from 11:00am to 4:00pm at the Project Prom Store at the Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. Highway 98 North in Lakeland (use entrance to the right of Dillards). Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a pledge to celebrate alcohol and drug-free and receive their dresses and suits at no cost.

Since 2013, over 6,000 prom ensembles have been provided at no cost to teens in Polk County. Community members may support the effort by donating gently used dresses, men's suits, shoes, and accessories. Especially needed are women's dresses in sizes XS (0-3) and plus sizes (18+) and men's suits in smaller sizes, dress pants (waist 30-36) and dress shirts (all sizes). Donations may be dropped off at the Project Prom Store on shopping dates or at the InnerAct Alliance office (8:30am-4:30pm weekdays) at 621 S. Florida Avenue, in Lakeland.

UthMpact's goal is to promote a safe and fun Prom Night. For information, please call Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777.

Visit www.inneractalliance.org

   
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Project Prom of Polk County, Florida

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=project%20prom%20of%20polk%20county%2C%20florida

 

Some Risky Substances Marketed & Sold as “Legal” or “Natural”

 

Social media and online influencer marketing has gone a long way in an attempt to normalize use of some substances labeled as "legal" or "natural" to give people the perception that these products are relatively harmless for human consumption. Truth is that they are not safe and use of many of these substances can put young people at risk.

Following up on Monday's post, Pharmacists Partner in Prevention, we've learned that pharmacists are now speaking out about commonly used substances in the gray zone of legality and safety that have become more accessible to youth. What's worse is that they are being placed for sale in plain sight on the sheves of neighborhood gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops. 

Druggists warn that there is a need to share factual information with the public about the many hidden health risks in substances like nitrous oxide, kratom, delta-8 and delta-9 THC, and salvia divinorum. Studies show these products are associated with dependence, neurologic injury, psychiatric effects, and accidental harm in the youth population. 

Let's examine some of these substances marketed as "legal" or "natural":

Nitrous Oxide - known as "whippets" or "laughing gas," these products are frequently misused for their euphoric effects. The flavored containers, intended for culinary use, are marketed under brand names such as "galaxy gas" that have gained popularity among youth through social media. Recreational use of nitrous oxide can results in irreversible neurologic injury and related health complications.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) - Kratom, marketed as a dietary supplement for pain relief, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal, has been linked to seizures, liver damage, hypertension, and opioid-like withdrawal symptoms. FDA analysis has identified contamination with heavy metals and pathogenic organisms in unregulated products.

Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC - these THC products, widely marketed as "legal" cannabis alternatives, can be found on store shelves in the form of edibles, vape cartridges, and tinctures. Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. Delta-8 THC is a synthetic form with similar psychoactive effects. These products have raised concerns about inaccurate labeling, excessive THC, and contamination from chemical products. Effects such as anxiety, paranoia, impaired cognition, and psychosis are known to be amplified in adolescents and youth.

Salvia Divinorum - when smoked or chewed, salvinorin A is known to produce rapid-onset hallucinations, dissociation, and loss of environmental awareness. Psychoactive effects of Salvia use can bring on panic reactions, accidental injuries, and prolonged psychological distress - its sale as a novelty or incense product may obscure its clinical risks.

 Know the Facts!

https://www.drugtopics.com/view/hidden-in-plain-sight-legal-substances-putting-children-at-risk

  

Test Your Marijuana IQ

 

We all know that Marijuana can affect the ability to make decisions, solve problems, and perform other cognitive functions, but...how much do you REALLY know about the effects and risks of Marijuana? You might be surprised!

One thing you should always remember is that current strains of marijuana have much higher levels of THC than was available years ago. The higher levels of THC today may lead to higher rates of addiction.

Our prevention partners at The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers an online quiz to test your Marijuana IQ. 

Click the following link to find out

https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana-quiz

Pharmacists Partner in Prevention

 

Pharmacists are essential partners in preventative health. Statistics show 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy. With their reputation as trusted medication experts working in close proximity to the public, local pharmacists are in a perfect position to provide in-person education for youth, parents, caregivers, and policymakers and share health risks of some of the substances that are labeled as "legal" but often hidden in plain sight right on the shelves at our neighborhood gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops.

Although products such as nitrous oxide inhalants, kratom, Delta-8 and Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and Salvia divinorum may be marketed as "legal" or "natural, it does not mean they are safe. In fact, these substances have been proven to put young people at risk. Studies show that they are associated with dependence, neurologic injury, psychiatric effects, and accidental harm in the youth population. Increased awareness about the very real health risks posed by these widely available products is essential for the health and well-being of our children.

Druggists can also play an important role in monitoring emerging substance-use trends and encouraging safety measures, age restrictions, and proper labeling standards. It takes a village to raise a child and we all share the responsibility for educating ourselves and our children to protect their health and well-being. This week, we will take a closer look at some commonly used substances in the gray zone of legality and safety that are widely accessible to you.

Read more: https://www.drugtopics.com/view/hidden-in-plain-sight-legal-substances-putting-children-at-risk 

IAA Prevention Education in Our Schools & Community

As the second half of the 2025-2026 school year gets underway, InnerAct Alliance remains committed to protecting Central Florida youth and strengthening families through substance abuse prevention education and community support. We believe that every child deserves a safe, healthy, and drug-free future!

Our amazing team of educators is busy teaching evidence-based prevention programs, such as Keep A Clear Mind, Too Good for Drugs, and Project ALERT, in classrooms across Polk County. These programs encourage students to make healthy life choices and help them build strong resistance skills to avoid risky behaviors and experimentation with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and other drugs.

In addition, we are excited that several schools have invited us to share informative social norms facts with high school students during their lunch breaks. Social Norms help proactively change perspectives about substance use with a positive message to students that most of their peers are NOT involved in substance abuse and risky behaviors. IAA offers this free of charge and our agency provides all materials needed.  

Our outreach team is also looking forward to participating in upcoming local community events to share prevention facts and fun activities with children and families. 

Learn more about IAA programs on our website https://www.inneractalliance.org/prevention-in-the-schools.html

For information about bringing free prevention programs to your school or community organization, please contact IAA's executive director, Angie Ellison, at (863) 802-0777.

Strategies for Mindful Internet Usage in Our Connected World

 

This month, we've featured blog posts about the impact of media use and technology on Generation Alpha and the Parents of Gen Alpha Kids and shared helpful information about potentially dangerous social media apps as well as the warning signs of cyberbullying. In the constantly connected world we live in, it's important to practice digital mindfulness to help us be more aware of our use of technology and its impact on our lives.

Studies show that for some teens, the line between the virtual world and the real world can sometimes be blurry. Although social apps and websites may be marketed as a safe and fun place to interact with others online, there is also a dark side that can shape the way teen feel about substance use.

Social media may influence some teens to experiment with dangerous substances like alcohol, tobacco, vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs. When kids are influenced by images of young people partying, they may think it's the only way to have a good time. Some companies take advantage of this to market addictive substances to children and teens even though it's illegal to do so. Marketing tricks like hiring social media influencers to promote vaping products and offering promotional giveaways to attract school-age students have helped to create a new generation of young people hooked on nicotine.

Children and teens need adult guidance when it comes to the realities and dangers of social media usage. Teach them that what they post can adversely affect important relationships, hinder potential job opportunities, and impede their goals. A good tip is to get them in the habit of pausing for a minute to "think before they post" to avoid sharing impulsive content, images, and messages they may regret later.

What Can Parents and Caregivers Do to Keep Their Child Safe?

*Keep a watchful eye on your child's social media use
*Be aware of online sites they regularly visit
*Discuss dangers of interacting with strangers on social media
*Help teens think through consequences of online actions and dangers of trending challenges
*Remind youth that what others post may not reflect reality

Parents should remind teens that after scrolling the internet, they will return to living in the real world. And that's the world in which we need to live our lives - not the virtual one. 

For more tips to help keep children safe and drug free, visit the Partnership to End Addiction's website at www.drugfree.org