Talking to Your Kids About Drugs
Starting a conversation about drugs with children can be difficult and awkward. However, communication between parents and children about this difficult topic is one of the most important protective and preventative factors. It may seem early, but starting these conversations with elementary school children is appropriate. Youth can experiment with drugs and alcohol even in elementary school, and it’s a great time to start clearly … Continue reading Talking to Your Kids About Drugs
Alpine School District
Alpine School District (ASD) is the largest school district in Utah, serving over 80,000 Utah County students. The goal of ASD is to help students gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to lead happy, productive lives. Ensuring students understand the risks of substance abuse and then helping them gain skills and dispositions (like communication and resiliency) to successfully resist drug and alcohol misuse is … Continue reading Alpine School District
Defend Your Mental Health
Depression, anxiety, or just chronically not feeling good affects a lot of people. It can be difficult to cope with negative feelings. There are many things you can do to support good mental health, including healthy hobbies, healthy coping strategies and increasing resilience. One of the most effective things you can do is choosing realistic, positive thoughts. It’s not about telling yourself everything is rainbows … Continue reading Defend Your Mental Health
Protect Your Teens
Teens today face a lot of challenges. When teens are struggling, they are more likely to make poor choices that will affect their future negatively, such as misusing drugs and alcohol. On the other hand, when a teen feels good, they thrive! As parent’s, grandparents, teachers and mentors, we can do a lot to help protect our teens against some of those challenges. Check out … Continue reading Protect Your Teens
How to Regulate Overwhelming Emotions
Handling big, negative emotions can be challenging. When you become overwhelmed by sadness, worry, or anger, there are some things you can do to help you get through that moment. One strategy is called the Four A’s. This simple tool can help in many different situations. The Four A’s Lynda Silva, Ph.D. Awareness Try to notice the emotion when it is just starting—when the ‘wave’ … Continue reading How to Regulate Overwhelming Emotions
Understanding The Signs of Stress
According to the Oxford Dictionary, stress is “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” Though we typically talk about stress negatively, not all stress is bad. Eu-stress, or good stress, is stress from positive things. Like going to a party for example, may be fun and exciting, but it can still cause strain on energy levels, … Continue reading Understanding The Signs of Stress
Healthy Coping Strategies
Practicing healthy coping strategies affects every aspect of our well being. They help us navigate difficult situations effectively and have more joy in life. There are lots of healthy ways to cope with stress. Below are some suggestions for things you can try: Emotional: Consistently do activities that make you happy. Small and simple things can go a long way to energize you. Listen to … Continue reading Healthy Coping Strategies
Risk Factors
What is a risk factor? A risk factor is a condition that increases the likelihood of a problem behavior. Let’s use the example of heart problems, what are the risk factors? Diet, smoking, family history, not exercising, and high cholesterol. All of those things increase our risk for having a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. The more you have the more you are at … Continue reading Risk Factors
2019 Utah Legislative Alcohol Policy Summit
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What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist – a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone has been nicknamed the “Lazarus Drug” because it can bring an individual who is no longer breathing, “back from the dead.” However, naloxone only works on an OPIOID overdose. It will not work on any other substance or overdose. How does it work? Opioids bind to receptors in … Continue reading What is Naloxone?