Prom is a night that students look forward to long before their junior or senior year. It is idealized in pop culture for many of the reasons that keep parents awake at night with worry. Risky behaviors: AAA surveyed 16-19yr old kids asking if they or...
Today marks the 13th anniversary of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, an observance launched by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2010. The purpose of this event is to inspire dialogue with youth about the science of drug use and addiction. Although it...
by Joseph Byrum As a parent, you want your children to grow up to lead happy and healthy lives. This, of course, includes protecting them from drugs and alcohol. You can always encourage your kids to make positive life choices, but you’ll want to address the...
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 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,...
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...
Most teens don’t drink regularly. Why do so many East Texans believe the myth that they do? One of the questions we ask students during alcohol presentations is “What percentage of teens do you think drink regularly?” More often than not, students think that most of their...
It’s day four of the National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week and today’s topic is marijuana. In the US, marijuana is defined as any cannabis plant that has greater than 0.3% THC. THC is the naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. THC...
Today is Day 2 of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. Today let’s talk about vaping and its potential complications with the COVID-19 pandemic. Top priority for everyone right now is not only preventing the spread of the coronavirus to other people but keeping ourselves and...
As part of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, we’d like to remind parents about the importance of talking to their children and teens about underage drinking. You may be thinking, “We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, why would I worry about talking to...