By Nathan Grounds April 20, or “Weed Day,” is the unofficial but widely accepted holiday for cannabis enthusiasts around the world. On this day, millions of “potheads” gather to “blaze up” or smoke marijuana together. But how did April 20 become the global weed-smoking holiday it...
by Joseph Byrum Coalition Corner is an opportunity to highlight the good work that coalition members do every day and to hear their thoughts about coalition work. Byron Butts is the Executive Director for the Twelve Way Foundation, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to providing a sober living...
By Nathan Grounds March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day; a time filled with parades, shamrocks, green clothing, and plenty of alcohol. But how did this centuries-old holiday evolve from a day to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland to the biggest beer-drinking holiday in the United...
By Joseph Byrum How much do you know about electronic cigarettes? Before becoming coalition coordinator for the Piney Woods Substance Abuse Coalition last September, I didn’t know much about electronic cigarettes or how they can affect your health, particularly the health of adolescents. To be completely honest,...
Across the board, substance use is down in East Texas. Here at Next Step, we focus our work on preventing the use of four main substances most likely to be used by teens: alcohol, tobacco & vape, marijuana, and prescription drugs. The data we use comes...
International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. At Next Step, we are committed to raising awareness about women's equality and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusiveness of all kinds. To...
by Joseph Byrum Coalition Corner is an opportunity to highlight the good work that coalition members do every day and to hear their thoughts about coalition work. Crystal Dykes is a Health Educator with the Prevention Network for North East Texas (PREV-NET). How long have you been a...
By Rebecca Smith Next Step counselor Jansen McDonald, LMSW, happened upon the counseling field in an unusual way. “I majored in psychology in college just because I love to be with people, but I didn’t know what that would entail for me,” he said. “When I really...
By Rebecca Smith Next Step counselor Brittney Dougan, LMSW, recalls a 7th-grade student she felt has made some of the most progress since Brittney started with Next Step in September 2020. “She was really angry, ready to fight people at the drop of a hat,” Brittney said. “When...
By Cory McCoy Having a mentor can be one of the most fulfilling relationships in a person’s life, but often it’s hard to pin down exactly what qualities make someone a great mentor. That might be because what someone needs most from a mentor/mentee relationship can vary...