January 2025

Resolve to Dispose of Unused Medication Safely

As you kick-off the new year, we hope you will carve out some time to clean out your home medicine cabinet to support our community's efforts to safely dispose of unused, expired, and unneeded medications. Thanks to our community, in 2024 the City safely disposed of over 1,660 lbs. of medication.

Be in that number in 2025 by resolving to safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pet prescriptions, at these Alexandria drop-box locations:

• Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray 2204 Mt Vernon Ave., open Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sat: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Inova Alexandria Hospital Emergency Department 4320 Seminary Rd.; available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. 

• Alexandria Police Department Headquarters 3600 Wheeler Ave., just inside front entrance, available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day 

Needles are not accepted in permanent medication drop boxes. Dispose of needles and syringes at a separate permanent drop box for these items located at Inova Alexandria Hospital at the same location and hours as the permanent medication drop box.

Help eliminate opioid misuse and its harmful effects throughout Alexandria by learning more about the importance of safe medication disposal and sharing this information with others. You could save a life. Learn more at alexandriava.gov/opioids.

Resource Spotlight: Staying Safe and Calm Over Winter Break and Beyond

Last month, SAPCA coordinator Emma Beall joined Formed Families Forward for a parent workshop at Charles Houston Recreation Center about staying safe and calm over winter break and beyond. During this event, Emma shared information about several community resources and supports, including:

• Lock and Talk, a statewide campaign that provides residents with free cable and trigger locks for guns and free locking medication boxes. These locking devices are part of a suicide prevention program that aims to curtail access to lethal means and increase awareness about suicide prevention;
• The Alexandria Teen Text Line, a resource for teens and parents who have non-urgent questions about alcohol, drugs, health, relationships, pregnancy, violence or gangs. Text TEEN to 571.40.2898 to get answers to non-urgent questions within 24 hours, Monday through Friday; and
• Parent Handbooks, a resource guide created by Operation Parent that raises awareness about the latest trends, warning signs, and tips for effective parent/child communication.

SAPCA appreciates this opportunity to connect with parents and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners to promote prevention resources in the new year!

Five Things You Should Know about Cannabis

On July 1, 2021, cannabis use was legalized for adults, 21 years or older, with certain conditions. Since then, you may have heard a lot about cannabis, also called marijuana, from friends, social media, or the news. Here are five things you should know about cannabis:

1. Cannabis is a term used for edible, inhalable, topical, or other products made from the cannabis plant. Commonly used cannabis products include candy, baked goods, and vape pens.

2. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis. In most cases, people use THC to refer to delta-9 THC. THC can be extracted from cannabis, and products made with THC in its concentrated form can be strong. It is illegal for those under 21 years of age to purchase or consumer THC products in Virginia. 

3. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound in cannabis used in products such as topicals, oils, inhalants, and edibles. CBD is nonintoxicating when used in normal doses. Smokeable/inhalable CBD products are illegal for those under 21 years of age of purchase or consume. 

4. Cannabis has several effects on the developing brain and body. Youth cannabis use can result in:

• Poor decision-making skills
• Poor impulse control
• Changes in memory
• Decreased coordination
• Decreased attention
• Loss of motivation; and
• Increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, hallucinations, and paranoia

5. As a parent/guardian, you are one of the biggest influences in your child’s life. Demonstrating healthy and safe decision making encourages your child to follow your lead and learn to develop responsible habits. It’s important to start talking to your child about cannabis early. Age-appropriate conversations can help your child understand the risks of cannabis use. Use the following tips to have open and honest conversations about cannabis: 

• Provide clear and factual information
• Emphasize that your primary concerns are health and safety
• Include dialogue on being a leader, making positive choices, and identifying trusted adults
• Be prepared to listen and answer questions.

To learn more about cannabis, visit cca.virginia.gov

Student Spotlight: 2024 ACPS Reflections Contest Winners

Each year, the Alexandria City High School (ACHS) PTSA hosts the Reflections Contest to encourage students to create and submit theme-based artwork. This year's contest theme was "Accepting Imperfection." Please join us in recognizing and congratulating this year's winners of the PTSA Reflections Contest:

• Estella Henton, 1st place, Visual Arts Division
• Maya Fitzgerald, 1st place, Literature
• Lola Carpio, 1st place, Photography
• Sadie Szamosfalvi, 1st place, Music Composition

In addition to receiving a $25 prize and being recognized at the December 16 PTSA meeting, these students will also advance to the next phase of the competition at the state level. We wish Estella, Maya, Lola, and Sadie the best of luck in the next phase of this contest!

Learn more about the Reflections Contest here.

Quick Links

Washington Wizards Winter Reading Challenge

The Washington Wizards challenge you to read, stay active, and be engaged this winter by completing the Winter Reading Challenge. Earn the reading badge and at least one other badge to complete the challenge and earn a completion prize and a chance to win tickets to a Washington Wizards game.

The challenge runs from December 16 - February 16. Learn more about the Winter Reading Challenge at alexlibraryva.org/winter-reading.

Alexandria Library Hosts Teen Winter Creativity Contest

Looking for a creative challenge this winter? The Teen Winter Creativity Contest is a self-expressive contest for writers, visual artists and photographers in grades 6-12. All three categories -- writing, photography, and two-dimensional visual art -- are open-ended, meaning that, besides format, there are no writing or artistic limations. Students may submit something they have been working on or something new. The deadline for submission is February 16, 2025.

Click here to review the contest rules and guidelines.

Join the Green Teen Club!

Join the Green Teen Club, a free program for teen adventurers and nature enthusiasts ages 11-18, for exciting field trips and hands-on activities. During this program, teens will delve into local ecosystems, hike scenic trails, learn about conservation, and encounter fascinating wildlife.

The Green Teen Club meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center (5750 Sanger Ave.)

Click here to learn more.

DASHing Words in Motion: Call for Submissions

The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Transit Company have collaborated for 11 years to present the “DASHing Words in Motion” poetry contest. Over the past 11 years, the contest inspired 228 poets to submit 434 poems that were considered for placement on the DASH buses and trolleys during April for National Poetry Month.

The competition is open to writers 16 years or older who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria. The online submission deadline for DASHing Words in Motion is January 17, 2025. To submit poetry, click here

DASHing Words in Motion brings recognition to writers, promote an appreciation of poetry as an art form, and provide inspiration to individuals using the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH Buses and Trolleys. The competition’s primary goal is to encourage a broad range of ideas and subject matter. Possible inspirational ideas might stem from: the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus motto “Keep Alexandria Moving,” bus stops, neighborhoods, buses, roads, or other modes of transportation within the City of Alexandria, community, and connection we make while we get from one place to another.

Learn more here.

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 

4850 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22311