Each month, SAPCA highlights one key fact about substance use. This month we discuss ways to talk about substance use prevention with youth.

While having discussions about drugs and alcohol may seem difficult, these conversations play a key role in preventing youth substance use and abuse. The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids provides the following tips for parents and supportive adults interested in discussing these important topics with children and teens:

• Choose a good time & place
• Approach your talk with openness, active listening & "I" statements
• Understand your influence 
• Offer empathy & support
• Keep in mind that the adolescent brain is still developing

This holiday season, make a resolution to start a conversation about substance use. It's never too early to spark a conversation about prevention.

 

On Tuesday, December 17, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams released an advisory highlighting the dangers of e-cigarette use. "I am officially declaring e-cigarette use among youth an epidemic in the United States. Now is the time to take action. We need to protect our young people from all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes," said Adams. 

Many young people do not realize e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the highly addictive drug found in cigarettes. 

In 2016, 7.5.% of Alexandria high school students reported e-cigarette use. Nationally, e-cigarette use has been growing quickly. The percent of U.S. 12th graders that reported vaping in the last month increased from 11% in 2017 to 20.9% in 2018. Dr. Adams also reported that "in 2018, more than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, currently use e-cigarettes."

Fast Facts for Parents and Supportive Adults

• E-cigarettes are marketed as safer than traditional cigarettes, but pose many dangers to health and often lead to smoking tobacco
• Many flavored e-cigarettes, often marketed to young people, contain a chemical compound (diacetyl) that can cause permanent damage to the respiratory system
• Because e-cigarettes are so new, there is a lack of data on long term effects of these devices . While the FDA has not yet come up with regulations for these devices, teens who vape are at risk of health effects,  both known and unknown. 

The Surgeon General's full advisory can be found here.

To view a PDF of this flyer,  please click here.

On December 7, SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall and Volunteer and former SAPCA Vice Chair Shelly Morgan presented wreckED to 100 students at Bishop Ireton High School. wreckED is a substance abuse prevention program developed by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. wreckED engages students in dialogue about the consequences of underage drinking, marijuana use, e-cigarette use and abuse of prescription and over the counter medication. wreckED also discusses peer pressure and provides students with examples of how to refuse in stressful situations. A big thanks to health teacher Lauren McCarthy for working with us to present wreckED to her students -- we greatly appreciate your commitment to a substance-abuse free Alexandria!

Dreaming of sunny days lounging by the pool? You're in luck: 4-H Junior Camp Teen Counselor and Camper Registration is open for business! As a reminder, 4-H Camp will run June 30th- July 4th this year. Don't worry, we'll be back in plenty of time to enjoy 4th of July festivities.2019 4-H Junior Camp Counselor and Camper Registration now OPEN! 

4-H invites campers 9-13 to join us for an overnight week of fun June 30-July 4 at the Northern VA 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal, VA. Since we'll be heading home on July 4th, kids will be back in time for July 4th evening festivities. Campers have their pick of classes including options like archery, canoeing, ropes courses, and much more. There's pool time, team challenges, a roaring evening campfire, and a whole lot of fun. The camp fee is $350 (same as last year) and includes transportation from the 4-H Center of Thursday (we ask families to drop their child off at the center on the 30th). Registration is open now. There are scholarships available, so please don't let the price stop you from applying.  You can find the application here. For those who would like to apply, we ask that they either mail the application or drop it off at the Alexandria Extension Office location at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Alexandria VA 22314. 

To apply to the Teen Counselor Program, please complete the application (available here) and drop it off or mail it to your local office. If you register before Friday, January 11th by 5pm your Counselor fee is $50. After the 11th, that price increases to $150-so don't delay! Scholarship are available. No prior camping experience is required to participate. Counselors are eligible for verified community service hours following the conclusion of camp.  

For more information please contact Reggie Morris, Extension Agent 4-H at rbmorris@vt.edu or 703-746-5547.

Are you in grades 6 through 12 and love to write?  Alexandria Library is hosting a "free write" or open-ended contest, which means there are no writing guidelines. Entries must be in middle school or high school (grades 6-12) to be eligible to win. It can be about any topic and written in any format. Deadline to enter contest is January 31, 2019. For questions about the contest, please email iwest@alexlibraryva.org.

Click here to enter.

Please consider donating to the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria to continue funding our efforts to reduce underage substance use and abuse in Alexandria!