Communi-Key
Cumberland and Lincoln Prevention Coalition
Communicating with you, so together, we can promote a safe and healthy drug free environment.
April, 2016
April was an AMAZING month for the Lincoln & Cumberland Prevention Coalitions! We are so very excited to share with you our successful endeavors and appreciate all of the support & dedication from our communities!
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
-William Shakespeare
Regional Town Hall Meeting on Marijuana
Our Regional "Town Hall Meeting", held at Amica Mutual Insurance on April April 7th, was an incredible success!
The topic of the discussion was youth marijuana use. A panel of experts, including adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Lilia Bosch, a student assistance counselor, and a focus group of teens, among many others experienced in the field, facilitated the meeting.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lincoln Town Administrator Joseph Almond, Lincoln Police Chief Brian Sullivan, Superintendent of Cumberland Schools Mr. Robert Mitchell, The Cumberland/Lincoln Rotarty Clubs and to everyone that attended.
The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting was to learn what these professionals see regarding youth marijuana use and other risky behaviors, to understand from the youth prospective what pressures they are experiencing from their respective schools, and to educate parents along with other community members about marijuana. Education, along with community involvement is the KEY TO PREVENTION!
Check out some of the pictures from our well attended event! And be sure to view them all on our Facebook page at Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition!
Pam Shayer, M.Ed, CPS
Dr. Lilia Romero-Bosch, MD
Our amazing Youth Discussion Panel
The Youth Discussion Panel from the "Town Hall Meeting"
During the "Town Hall Meeting" discussion on Marijuana, we were fortunate to have amazing students from Scituate, North Smithfield, Lincoln, Woonsocket & Cumberland.
These students gave us a first hand account of THEIR perception of marijuana, how it is viewed among their peers & voiced their concerns and opinions. When asked where they learned about marijuana, the majority of students had one repetitive answer, their fellow classmates. Not one student said they learned about marijuana and it's effects from their parents. It was emphasized that parents need to educate themselves so they can have intelligent, accurate conversations with their child.
These students were simply AMAZING! We thank them all for making the time to be a part of this important meeting, and giving us honest answers to our questions.
Our audience was captivated by this well-spoken & thought provoking group.
Our teens have ideas & opinions...give them an opportunity to voice them!
Our future depends on them!
It's almost PROM time!
The dress is bought, hair & nails appointments are scheduled, flowers ordered,...but have YOU prepared your teen for Prom Night?!
For parents, the primary prom-related concerns aren't financial. Our biggest prom worries are the risky behaviors associated with proms, most specifically driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and unsafe sex. Prom night always seems to be linked with drunken-driving injuries and deaths, date rapes, pregnancies and STDs. It's become the night where teens' poor judgment and dangerous choices have become institutionalized.
Four easy tips are focused on: "The Talk", "The Ride", "The Connection", and "The Offer". Find out more information HERE!
10 Ways to Try to Prevent Drug Addiction in Your Child
Almost weekly now, we hear the sad news of another teen death from an accidental overdose. We know personally the pain of addiction. Addiction is a disease based on biochemical abnormalities, and it should be treated as a disease, not a crime. The epidemic is a combination of biochemical abnormalities, potency of the drug available, the collapse of the family unit and lack of education.
Prevention is much easier than treating the addiction.
We recommend the following 10 tips to try to prevent drug addiction in your child:
1. Be supportive.
2. Teach your child negative actions have consequences.
3. Randomly drug test if you have any suspicion of drug use.
4. Educate yourself about the signs of drug addiction.
5. Be involved in your child's life.
6. Don't assume it couldn't happen to your family.
7. Be the best parent you can be.
8. Keep your eyes open for signs of abuse by friends or relatives.
9. Build self-esteem in your child.
10. NEVER take drugs with your child.
For more in-depth information, please click HERE!
Stay connected!
Stay on top of all the latest news, trends and events by "Liking" & "Following us! Our Facebook page is, Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bvprevention/
And last, but not least, we are on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BVPrevention. Be sure to "Like" and "Share" us with your friends and family!
Have questions? Any suggestions? Please email Pam Shayer, at pshayer@lincolnri.org.
We want to hear from you!
Interested in becoming a member of the Cumberland/Lincoln Prevention Coalition?
Interested in finding out or becoming a member of the Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition? Please join us for our monthly meeting!
Tuesday, May 17th, 2016
(For Lincoln Residents) at 3:30pm, Lincoln Town Hall
(For Cumberland Residents) at 5:00pm, Cumberland Public Library
Please join us & learn how YOU can be a part of prevention for the community!
Please watch our Facebook page, Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition, for more exciting news!
"It Starts with YOU"
Be on the "lookout" for our ads on RIPTA buses, highway billboards, bus depots and Cinema World, Lincoln Mall, Providence Place and Warwick Cinemas! And remember... "It Starts with You... to Prevent Underage Drinking and Youth Marijuana Use."