Recent research by the American Heart Association has found that teens and young adults (ages 13-24) who vape nicotine and/or THC are more likely to also report symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts than teens who do not vape. Of those who vape, around 20-30% reported that they started vaping to help cope with stress,…
This week, HC DrugFree completed another series of Life Skills classes for middle and high school students! Classes were comprised of more than 30 enrolled students, several older high school mentors from HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council, and an amazing team of college students who taught the class with oversight from HC DrugFree’s adult staff.…
“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…
Submitted by a Howard County parent and teacher According to a poll of students in the HC DrugFree Spring 2023 Life Skills class, of the 62% of the students who answered the question “What do yo think influences your decisions the most?” almost HALF said their parents. A little less than half of respondents said peers. What…
On Wednesday, August 31st, Howard County held an International Overdose Awareness event at St.Johns Episcopal Church in Ellicott City to recognize those who have overdosed or been affected by opioid misuse . Many organizations were present. The event offered different resources, including Naloxone Training, an Overdose Response Demonstration, and a Program of Celebration. I represented…
Submitted by Howard County college student (former TAC member): In high school I was looking for ways to get involved with community groups for service hours and to make friends. I naturally found the Teen Advisory Council (TAC) when looking for programs that fit. The TAC was helpful because I felt like I was part…
In a collaborative effort with the Kerala Cultural Society, recent HCPSS grad and member of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC), Adhithyaa Nair was interviewed by Sidhaarth Raghunath about issues related marijuana use in teens, including different perceptions about the safety of marijuana use, how it affects the nervous system both in the short and…
I thought the Safe Driving program HC DrugFree presented to teens and parents in December was very informative because it felt like a natural next step from everything we already discussed in HC DrugFree’s Life Skills Classes to the Middle Schoolers. It’s funny, actually, I learned that there’s still a lot more I need to…
I’m a college student who graduated from HCPSS a few years ago. I regularly heard stories from friends and saw posts on social media about teenage parties. Despite not attending these parties, word quickly got around of everything that happened. Drinking, vaping, and smoking marijuana were all popular activities. Typically, a few people would bring…
Middle schoolers should take advantage of the Life Skills classes this summer! Watching Netflix, playing video games, and going to the pool are all great ways to relax while not in school but the summer break is also a perfect opportunity for middle schoolers to do things that are beneficial to their well-being in other…
