Wood County Prevention
Eastwood Local Schools- September 2017
Suicide Prevention Month
Here are the names of the students who participated: Baylee Teffi, Jordon Egbert, Reese Delgado, James Wasylyshyn, Talia Barker, Cooper Comes, Ashley Heskett, Billy Barker, Maddie Booms, Logan Frobose, Alexis Rose, Ben Zellin, Jordan Davidson, Eli Garza, Alissa Ray, Erik Fertig, Tabitha Escalante, Brody Pattterson, Jonna Nissen, Connor Stewart, Shaunna Jubenville, Jack Chappiues, Alyssa Harper, Sydney Sobieralski, Jakob Nutter, Hannah Owens, Cole Good, Justin Gentry, Libby Dix, Luke Coffman, Kyla McCoy, Gabe McDonald, Ashley Hodulik, Montgomery Kramer, Rory Farmer, Zion Perkins, Alyssa Hoodlebrink, Hunter McClish, Hannah Beaudoin, Griffin Coffield, Skye Lavelle, Caleb Peters, Cordelia Howard, Austin Fry, Maddie Pioterek, Connor Oberhouse, Ashlyn O'brien, Mason Steele, Desiree Riley, Braden Nieschwitz, Abbey Mackay, Zach Sechkar, Sheridan Schulman, Isaac Badenhop, Cora Rennollet, Cameron Clay.
Don’t be silent. If you or anyone you know is struggling with anything, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a parent or a trusted adult. If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone face to face, then text 4hope to 741741 for the new crisis text line.
One Step Ahead
One Step Ahead (OSA) is a drug free leadership program for high school students. Through the program, students develop the skills to become a positive leader within their schools and communities. Students are also equipped with the knowledge and abilities to not only make positive choices for themselves, but also to encourage their peers to make healthy decisions.
If you are in middle school the group is called Junior Teen Institute. Same concept different name.
Our meeting times for JTI are still in the process of being set up.
In the Media
Here are a couple of news articles to keep you updated of what is going on in our society. It is important to know this type of information when it comes to educating our youth.
Opiate Epidemic:
http://www.startribune.com/epidemic-at-work-businesses-forced-to-deal-with-drug-abuse/446942243/
Marijuana:
http://michiganradio.org/post/study-marijuana-use-among-college-students-continues-rise
Alcohol:
Start Talking: Know! Transition Increases Risk
While there is much excitement about the start of a new school year, there may be much apprehension and anxiety as well. This may be especially so for youth entering into their first year of middle or high school, and for adolescents of any age transitioning to a new school (due to a move or a number of other reasons). The thought of unfamiliar faces, new teachers and coaches, increased academic and athletic expectations, lockers that possibly won’t open and sharing hallways with older students – the risk for first day jitters is at an all-time high. But there is another “risk” factor that increases during such times of transition as well – the risk for the onset of substance use.
Middle school is the time when substances like alcohol, cigarettes and possibly marijuana, tend to make their first appearance. According to the 2016 Monitoring the Future(MTF) study, by 8th grade, 23% of students drank alcohol, 10% smoked cigarettes, and 13% used marijuana. As young people progress into high school, the risk for use of these particular substances, and others, grow significantly due to an increase in access and availability, drug use by upper class-men and an increase in substances being used at social activities. To compare, among 12th grade students, 61% drank alcohol, 28% smoked cigarettes and marijuana use had more than tripled, with 45% having used in the past year.
It is also important to note that among high school seniors, the MTF study showed the use of small cigars (16%) and prescription drugs (12%) to be significant.
When it comes to the reasons young people give for drinking, smoking and using other drugs, not much has changed over the years. Teens use in an attempt to:
• Ease anxieties;
• Loosen up at social gatherings;
• Relax when stressed or to “stop feeling” when sad or
depressed;
• Fit in or give in to peer pressure;
• Improve academic or athletic performance;
• Lose weight or gain muscle;
• And of course some teens use simply to get high,take a risk or satisfy their curiosity.
What has changed over the years, according to the MTF study, alcohol, tobacco and drug use among teens declined significantly in 2016, and have hit their lowest rates since the 1990s. In looking at the percentage of students still drinking and smoking, however, we see that there remains work to be done. Parents are the first line of defense in the prevention of substance use among youth; and while it may seem very basic, here are some things you can do to protect your child, regardless of age or grade level:
Include these items on your Back-To-School To-Do list:
1. Be active and supportive in your child’s daily life.
2. Ask questions about substance use and reinforce non-use messages.
3. Make clear your expectations and consequences for breaking rules.
4. Know where your child is and who they are with at all times.
5. Make sure young people are being monitored when hanging out together. For times you are not
physically present, check in with them regularly.
6. Keep an eye on your child’s social media activities.
In general, middle and high school youth are interested in gaining independence, trying new things and taking some risks – all normal aspects of development. Unfortunately for some, these normal aspects of development may increase the tendency to experiment with substances. Being there for them and having regular and ongoing conversations about the dangers of substance use can and does go a long way toward keeping them safe, healthy and drug-free.
On- Site Prevention Specialist- Hannah Madaras
I am the On-Site Prevention Specialist for Eastwood Local Schools. I am in the district every Tuesday and Friday.
My responsibilities:
- Problem Identification (Referrals: Behavior, ATOD use, social support)
- Life Skills Education Classes in HS
- Class Action Education Classes in HS
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer
- One Step Ahead Advisor
- Junior Teen Institute Advisor
Email: hmadaras@eastwoodschools.org
Location: Eastwood High School, Sugar Ridge Road, Pemberville, OH, United States
Phone: 419-8336411
Twitter: @ewprevention