More information about future Life Skills and other classes and events will be shared in our newsletter. Quick Links: Summer 2025 registration is OPEN! FREE! Life Skills Training for Grades 6-9 (and slightly younger/older). Also, looking for High School Student Assistants! Classes taught by HoCo-raised college students. We will consider students younger than 6th grade, especially…
“The days are long, but the years are short”- such a wonderful sentiment when you look back at your kids’ growth and remember, wistfully, of the early days… Record scratch… but does that sentiment hold true when you are parenting teenagers? In. The. Summer? It’s hard enough just parenting teenagers- it requires a few extra…
Join us for our next Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meeting, to be held on Monday, June 9 at 5:30 via Zoom. If you are not already a TAC member, please visit our TAC webpage to learn more and submit your registration. If you are a member, please remember to register to receive the Zoom link.
We’ve all been there: shaky hands, avoiding eye contact, and the dreaded topic. Talking to your parents about drugs can feel awkward or even scary. You may worry they’ll overreact, lecture you, or not understand where you’re coming from. But having these conversations regarding substance use, even before you’re in a tough situation makes a…
The world of beverages is rapidly evolving to address shifting social and cultural norms. As cannabis becomes increasingly mainstream, a new player has entered the beverage scene: cannabis-infused drinks. From sparkling waters to mocktail-inspired elixirs, they promise a new kind of experience. One without the reputation of alcohol. But how do cannabis drinks actually compare…
June is Pride Month: a time to celebrate diversity, promote acceptance, and recognize the resilience of LGBTQ+ youth. At HCDrugFree, we believe that every person deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ teens often face unique challenges that can increase their risk of substance misuse, making prevention and community support more important than…
Recently, a mom found a dozen small silver canisters hidden in her teenager’s backpack. At first glance, it looked like they were part of a science project. How harmful could that be? It just looked like little batteries. But after a quick online search, she realized these were “whippets,” small cartridges filled with nitrous oxide,…
So you’ve finished up 12 years of painstaking education, late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. You’ve taken the exams, survived group projects, maybe even cried over a math final or two. Now it’s time for one last hurrah: Senior Week. It sounds like the perfect combination, right? A beach house with your best…
Many people think that mental health problems are an inevitable part of aging, but despite common later-life stressors– such as retirement, social isolation, physical health problems, grief, or changes in living situations– conditions like depression and anxiety are preventable and treatable! Many older adults (about 25%) experience these issues, which deserve the same attention and…
Though many people are aware of the dangers of smoking and alcohol, the risks associated with cannabis and marijuana are often underestimated, especially when it comes to teenagers’ perceptions. In a recent report based on research, experts advocated for increased policies and prevention against youth and adolescent cannabis in front of Oregon’s state senate Committee on…
