“NOOOO! Not my Skittles!” One Howard County middle school student lamented. “I can’t believe the companies would allow this,” another replied. “But I like Nerds…” another concerned student chimed in. These are just a few examples of the reactions we received when Howard County students in HC DrugFree’s Life Skills Class were shown photos of…
THC-infused candy and sport drinks, some disguised as popular and recognizable brands like Gatorade and Nerds, are being marketed to children. Since many of these products are being distributed in familiar packaging, unsuspecting kids and adults, may unwittingly consume THC. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical that causes most of marijuana’s psychological effects. Authorities are reporting…
Raising preteens and teens is tough. Wouldn’t it be great if adults could take a class that taught us how to help our kids avoid risky behaviors, all while learning how to say NO to drugs and alcohol? There is! HC DrugFree will again present this popular parenting class for Howard County parents, guardians, and…
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, once again attended the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum . This four-day conference is packed with multiple adult and youth-oriented opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance misuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers. The Forum brings together more than 3,000 participants representing…
On January 31, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order creating an Opioid Collaborative Community Council to assist in determining priorities for how the County should use funds received through a National Settlement Agreement with opioid manufacturers and any future settlements. The Council is charged with making recommendations to the Fiscal Year 2024…
On January 9th HC Drug Free and the Howard County PTSA Collaborative Parent Education Group hosted a virtual town hall: How Much is Too Much? Finding a Balance between Academic Performance and Student Well-Being. Guest speaker, Anne Arena, MA, CAS shared her experience as a school psychologist and what she sees happening in the lives…
Some stress can be motivating, but too much can be debilitating. So how do we help students learn how to effectively cope with academic pressure so they can be successful in all areas of their lives and prevent them from resorting to unhealthy coping strategies? Join us on Monday, January 9 from 5:30 p.m. to…
On October 29, during HC DrugFree’s medication & sharps disposal event, 100 free medication lockboxes were distributed to participating community members! These lockboxes were provided as our continued promotion of safe, secure storage of medication to keep our community safer!
As a part of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day HC DrugFree’s drive-thru site collected 1,294 lbs. of medication (45 white bins) and 23 red bins of sharps in only 4 hours! Sharps are not included in the weight.
Thank you to County Executive Calvin Ball for awarding HC DrugFree with this Certificate of Recognition for National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. The certificate was presented to HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi by Kim Pruim who represented the County Executive at HC DrugFree’s semi-annual medication & sharps collection event.
