Keeping Teens Drug & Alcohol Free in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood & Riverwoods
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In this issue:
Love: Key to Prevention | Heart to Heart Talks | February Parent Program |
The Choice is Yours (video) |
60 Second Conversation Starter | Support CTAD!
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Note to Parents:
Your Love is #1!
Did you know you are the number one influence in your child’s life when it comes to substance use prevention? In fact,
3 out of 4 youth say parents, not their friends, are the number one influence in their lives when it comes to making decisions about drinking
. Your own actions, along with communicating the dangers of substance use, send strong messages to your child. Don't assume your child can read your mind and know how you feel. Show your child you love them by setting boundaries and having
short, frequent conversations. Stating your position clearly can make a huge difference in your child's decision not to drink alcohol or use drugs.
The opportunity to share your love through your positive influence is a wonderful gift. So, well done...your love is number one!
Jorie Ouimet
CTAD Coalition Member
Prevention Project Lead, Omni Youth Services &
Link Together Coalition
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Shine a Light on the Dark Web:
Keeping Teens Safe on the Internet
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Two presentations:
12:30 pm, West Ridge Center, HP
7 pm,
First Presbyterian Church, Deerfield
(
Spanish translation available upon request
)
Carol Gudbrandsen, Cyber Crimes Analyst with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, and her trained canine Browser, will educate parents on the allure and dangers lurking behind our children's devices. She will address questions such as: Can my child be breaking the law without knowing it? What are the consequences for my child as a victim or as an offender? How easy is it for my teen to get a fake ID on the internet? See
cybersecurity program flyer
for more details.
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5 Conversation Goals
Heart to Heart Talks
- Show disapproval of underage drinking/drug misuse – As the #1 influence in your child's life, send a strong message of disapproval through short, frequent talks.
- Show your child you care about their health and well-being – Let your child know you're on their team and the goal is for them to be happy and safe.
- Become a good source of information – Stay informed so you can share reliable information with your child; if you do, they will view you as a trustworthy source.
- Pay attention to your child to discourage risky behaviors – In subtle ways, show that you're aware of what your child is up to and that you really do care.
- Build your child's skills for avoiding drinking/drug use – Provide your child with tools to gracefully exit a pressured or uncomfortable situation, like texting a code word to a family member or practicing ways to say "no thanks."
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The Choice is Yours!
Parents and friends influence teens' decisions, but ultimately the choice to stay drug-free is theirs. This public service announcement (PSA)
highlights what the future has in store for teens who make the healthy choice to remain drug-free.
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CTAD teamed up with neighboring drug prevention coalitions to create the PSA series
You Determine Your Future
shown on monitors throughout DHS & HPHS.
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60 Second Conversation Starter
Speaking
from the Heart
Valentine's season is the perfect time to tell your child how much they are loved and to reinforce that their happiness and safety are your top priorities as a parent. You are in good company:
- 93% of DHS & HPHS families have clear rules about alcohol and drug use (2018 parent survey)
- During the past year, 67% of District 113 parents discussed the consequences their child would face if they broke the family's rules against underage drinking and drug use (2018 parent survey)
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It's important to keep conversations low-key and not to worry about getting everything across in one conversation. Many short talks will keep the lines open and prove more effective in the long run.
It's not one 60-minute conversation.
It's 60 one-minute conversations.
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Support our Efforts!
CTAD's goal is to build and sustain a drug-free community in which youth feel protected, confident and empowered to make healthy choices. We strive to transform the environment around our youth to help make the drug-free choice the easy choice.
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Community - The Anti-Drug is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that consists of community members working together to build a safe, healthy & drug-free environment for our youth. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN number: 451631475.
Text-a-Tip: 24/7 anonymous support for students who need help for themselves or a friend. To connect with a trained counselor, download the app "Lake County Help" in the
Apple Store
or
Google Play
. You can also text the code "224HELP" or "224AYUDAME" to 844-823-LEAD (5323).
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Community -- The Anti-Drug Coalition | 224-765-CTAD (224-765-2823)
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Community -- The Anti-Drug (CTAD) strives to build and sustain a safe and drug-free community that empowers youth to make healthy choices. The coalition is comprised of parents, youth, schools, local government, law enforcement, clergy, and healthcare providers who work together to reduce substance use and abuse among youth in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood and Riverwoods, Illinois.
Grants have been generously provided by the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park, YEA! Highland Park, Highland Park Community Foundation, and the Highland Park Human Relations Commission. This newsletter was developed in part under grant number SP021482 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of ONDCP, SAMSHA or HHS and should not be construed as such.
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