Prevention Resources
Need Help?
Here are some text and phone support resources for young people:
Crisis Text Line: 741741
National Suicide & Crisis Hotline: text 988
Local Mobile Crisis Unit: call 211
Trevor Project: Text "start" to 678-678
United States Surgeon General: Warning regarding Youth Marijuana Use
Marijuana Talk Kit
drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/...
From the Partnership to End Addiction and Drugfree.org
Be In The Know- Cannabis CT
Get the facts on Connecticut's cannabis laws, how cannabis impacts your health, guidelines for families, and signs of problem use.
For information about the impacts of underage cannabis use:
https://beintheknowct.org/youth/
Did you know? 84% of Connecticut teens choose not to use cannabis.
Marijuana Edibles- Preventing Poisoning and Overdose in Children
Many marijuana edible products look just like common candy and treats that children are familiar with such as gummy candies, lollipops and cookies to name a few! A single gummy bear commonly contains 5mg to 10mg of THC, the active ingredient in Cannabis. Read up on the dangers of children consuming edible products containing Cannabis and learn how to protect your child from accidental poisoning and overdose.
Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
This article from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse is a quick read with tips on talking to your child about Marijuana and communicating risks to your child. Additional resources are available on the webpage as well.
Talking to Your Kids: Communicating the Risks
The Cannabis Talk Kit- Know How to Talk to Your Teen
This comprehensive resources is from Drug Free Kids Canada. The Toolkit includes a summary of facts about Cannabis and includes specific examples of what you can say and how you can answer your Teen's questions or respond to their statements. Click the link above to download the Toolkit.
21 For A Reason
Connecticut has established 21 as the legal minimum age for drinking alcohol, purchasing tobacco products, cannabis use, and casino gambling. The 21 for a Reason Blog provides information about the risks of these activities for underage youth and discusses why the minimum age is 21 for a Reason.
https://www.seracct.org/21-for-a-reason/
Alcohol Use
Alcohol can take a very serious toll on health- both short term and long term. Learn more at:
https://www.drugfreect.org/alcohol/
REFUSAL SKILLS
Refusal skills are important for young people to learn and practice. Lack of refusal skills are considered a risk factor for substance use. Refusal skills provide individuals, particularly youth, with the ability to effectively say no to risky behavior like the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.
Learn more about teaching children refusal skills: https://youtube.com/watch?v=_NUo_52vkkg&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
Weeding Out the Truth
The Weeding Out the Truth campaign was created to help adolescents and parents get the facts about alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use.
https://www.seracct.org/weeding-out-the-truth/
The Hub- CT
This website is from the Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwestern CT and has information and resources for parents and caregivers on many prevention topics ranging from alcohol and cannabis to illicit drugs and gambling. Check out these links for many resources on these specific topics:
Alcohol Use
Cannabis Use
Nicotine/Vaping
Mental Health
Problem Gambling/Gaming
Suicide Prevention
Fentanyl Awareness
NAMI- National Alliance on Mental Alliance
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Visit https://namisoutheastct.org/ for information on support and services available through NAMI Southeastern CThttps://nida.nih.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-parents-need-to-know/talking-to-your-kids-communicating-risks. Wednesday night Support Groups on Zoom!
You are not alone. In NAMI Support Group meetings you will:
Receive support from those who understand
Find Help and Hope
Learn about local resources
Discover how to Advocate for your loved one
2-1-1 Resources and Referrals
https://uwc.211ct.org/categorysearch/mental-health/
https://uwc.211ct.org/categorysearch/substance-abuse/
https://uwc.211ct.org/categorysearch/crisis/
Rehab and other treatment services search engine: www.freerehabcenters.org
You Think You Know-Prescription Drug Misuse
Drug Enforcement Agency #OnePillCanKill
EXPOSED: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
What every parent of teenagers should know.
This original video was created by several local Youth Prevention Councils to help parents learn how to recognize common items teenagers can easily obtain to conceal drugs, alcohol or paraphenalia. Parents can also learn helpful tips to have a conversation with your teenager about drug and alcohol use. Exposed: Parent Education Film - Youtube
Screenagers Movie
A movie about stress, anxiety, depression and the impact of screen time. Includes solutions for how parents, educators and teens can help.
https://www.screenagersmovie.com/
Connecticut Social Host Laws
- Providing and allowing minors under 21 to drink in Connecticut is against the law.
- Individuals who knowingly permit minors to possess or consume alcohol may be fined, imprisoned, or both.
- Minors may be fined for violating the law.
- Anyone who owns or controls private property, including a dwelling unit, is prohibited from knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, permitting anyone under age 21 to illegally possess alcohol in the unit or on the property.
- Contact Youth Services for free Tamper Evident Stickers that you can use at home to secure your alcohol and deter youth usage.
- Check out this brief video about Social Host Laws: https://youtu.be/dI4ZBS2X5tI
TALK. THEY HEAR YOU.
SAMHSA Youth Substance Use Prevention Campaign
The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and substance use among youths under the age of 21 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to address alcohol and other drug use with their children early.
Parents have a significant influence in their children’s decisions to experiment with alcohol and other drugs. Check out these resources to help you start talking to your kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol and using other drugs at a young age.
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