The Benefits of Getting Involved By Youth Connections Staff This article is part of our series about risk and protective factors. Risk factors increase the chances of a youth starting to use substances. Protective factors help insulate youth from influences that encourage substance use. We know that if kids are involved in positive things, …
The Hidden Hardships of Back to School By Emily C.T. Hankins Most students—and parents—are excited for school to start again. But for others, heading back to the classroom is not a joyous, long-anticipated event. For some school-age families, the idea of going back to school is overwhelming or even fills them with dread. What kinds …
How to be Happy By Katie Gerten, Youth Dynamics What does it mean to be happy? It’s a loaded question, right? A recent poll taken by the University of Chicago shows only 14% of us are. Really, that’s a staggeringly low number, even given the events transpiring over the past couple of years. So, what’s …
Marijuana and ADHD By Intermountain Co-Occurring Staff With the trend toward the legalization of marijuana rising in the United States, there is concern there may be lower perceptions of the risks of marijuana use among adolescents. Cannabis use is becoming more accepted throughout the United States as expanding legalization of adult-use and medicinal marijuana use …
Xanax and Youth By Craig Struble, LCSW LAC As an addiction counselor, I have seen an increase in youth’s unprescribed use of Xanax. Alprazolam or Xanax is a medication that is used to help treat panic disorders such as anxiety. Xanax falls under the drug classification called benzodiazepines or benzos. Xanax is the top prescribed …
“Changing Time 2021! A New Era in Tribal Public Health” conference was held in Billings in August. It was a chance for tribal members and tribal member partners to come together to create healthier communities. It was about historical trauma, but it was also about historical empowerment. Coming together to find not only traditional pathways, …
By: Melissa Giard, Glacier County PFS The State of Montana administers the Partnership for Success grant, aimed at working within each community across the state to implement prevention strategies to reduce substance use among high-risk populations. Typically, prevention specialists work in one county. This event was the first of its kind as there were three …
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IS MARIJUANA GOOD FOR DEPRESSION? • Johnny’s Ambassadors (johnnysambassadors.org) Guest post by Dr. Erik Messamore, Johnny’s Ambassadors Scientific Advisory Board A NATURAL QUESTION Marijuana can provide a sense of happiness and relaxation for many users, so some people with depression may consider marijuana a way to treat their depression symptoms (Cuttler et al., 2018). Research …
By: Beth Morrison, Cascade County Block Grant After spotting a cool bench with changeable advertising in front of one of our grocery stores, I started to investigate what it would take to bring a similar bench to our community and use it for prevention messaging. I quickly learned that a bench like the one I …
By: Nicole Hackley Eastern Region RTAL If you’ve ever taken SAPST training from me or you’re one of my Prevention Specialists, you’ll know I say the title phrase A LOT when I’m teaching. That or, “This is probably my favorite part” when I teach SAPST. No but really, it’s my favorite part! I can’t help …