🌤️Light in the Long Days💛

🧣Winter can feel long — especially when the gray skies and cold days seem to stretch on without end.❄️ As we move through this season, it’s a good reminder that self-care isn’t indulgent; it’s necessary.❤️Whether it’s stepping outside for fresh air, connecting with someone you trust, moving your body, or simply giving yourself permission to rest, small acts of care can make a big difference. ✨

😲What’s Making Headlines❓

Boofing: Why taking illicit drugs rectally is so risky

The Conversation

...Often called “boofing”, “booty bumping” or “plugging”, the practice involves taking drugs via the rectum rather than swallowing, snorting or injecting...Boofing itself isn’t new. Alcohol enemas were documented in early 20th-century medical journals. Opium and herbal preparations were used rectally in ancient China, Egypt and Greece.

Why this matters? The rectum has a dense network of blood vessels. Substances absorbed there can enter the bloodstream rapidly, often bypassing parts of the liver that would normally reduce a drug’s potency when swallowed.The result can be effects that arrive faster and feel stronger than expected - increasing the risk of injury and potential overdose.

Early puberty may raise teen anxiety risk and alcohol, tobacco, drug use Medical Express

Sugary drinks linked to rising anxiety in teens Science Daily

Zuckerberg grilled about Meta's strategy to target 'teens' and 'tweens' NPR

🛠️Looking for tools? Check out CDC's Free Mind Campaign

A complete kratom ban is off the table in Utah this year Utah News Dispatch

...Still, there will be more regulation and enforcement on synthetic products...

After deaths, Wyoming lawmakers consider banning kratom Wyoming Public Media

Supporters tout benefits of kratom, but will it stall Michigan drug fight? Bridge MI

🌿For more on kratom visit FDA.gov and check out this great 2-pager from Know Overdose Nevada County.

Smoking fentanyl, cannabis, methamphetamine, or tobacco

Psychology Today

Not safe for homes and families because of second- and third-hand exposure risks.

Key points:

Inhaled drug particles and aerosols are not confined to primary users.
Second-hand opioid smoke contaminates indoor air.
Non-using children, pregnant women and adults can test positive for drugs after second, third-hand exposures.

Worrying 'bone-smashing' trend taking over social media has people hitting faces with hammer Ladbible

...The internet is rife with bad ideas, but a new bone-smashing technique inspired by a 'lookmaxxer' might just take the biscuit...Unsurprisingly, medical experts don't recommend it...

11-year-old boy tragically dies after doing 'chroming' social media trend Unilad

...Also known as 'huffing', 'sniffing', or 'bagging', chroming has risen in popularity on social media platforms, typically involving people trying to get high by inhaling aerosols or abusing other substances like solvents, glues, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and even gasoline...

🔎What's New📦

'New' Trends, Products, & Resources

📣Shout out to Activator Elizabeth W 🙌 from Community Connections Lincoln County (North Platte, NE) for flagging one of the latest nicotine delivery systems examples: Seno.

This oral film (think Listerine strip!), is marketed as 'nicotine on the go' - melting on the tongue with no mess and no visible sign of use. It comes in a small, discreet package and a variety of flavors…including cheese🧀🤢! 📸: SENO

🤔Did you know...just like with 'shroom spores, you can buy everything you need to create your own cannabis grow online and in stores? The fine print...while cannabis seeds can be purchased in non-recreational states (like Wisconsin) as novelty or souvenir items, cultivating them remains illegal for recreational use. Just another example of how access, marketing, and policy don’t always align — and why staying informed matters. 📸Leafly

🌟 From Our Partners🤝

Parents Against Vaping is proud to present the first Clear the Vapor Conversations event of 2026 Behind the Buzz: Helping Kids Navigate Nicotine, Stress, and Mental Health with Dr. Jonathan Avery.

🗓️ Tuesday, February 24

🕕 6:00 PM ET

📍Zoom 💵 FREE!

🎥 Recording available to all registrants

Learn more here!

📢Share your story and successes! The Wisconsin-based HOPE Consortium is now accepting presentation proposals for the 10th Annual HOPE Consortium Conference, on August 6–7, 2026 (virtual event).

They're seeking engaging, practical, and inspiring sessions related to substance use & recovery, perinatal & NAS, mental health & co-occurring disorders, peer support & lived experience, and community partnerships & innovative programming.

📅 Proposal Deadline: March 16, 2026

📩 Submit Here: 10th Annual HOPE Conference Proposal Application

👉 Learn More: www.hopeconsortium.org

We welcome submissions from clinicians, peer specialists, program leaders, researchers, and individuals with lived experience.

💡Have an idea you’re ready to explore? Whether you’re developing a new initiative, strengthening a grant, or looking for strategic guidance, I’m here to support your next step. Together, we can design practical, results-driven solutions that are built to last. 🤝 Let’s start the conversation — and be sure to ask about current discounts! 📅 Schedule a 1:1 today