Sitka Counseling

Nearly half of all cancer deaths in the U.S. are preventable — and smoking is a leading risk factor

A new study by the American Cancer Society found that 44% of all cancer deaths among U.S. adults were attributable to lifestyle, with cigarette smoking taking the lead as one of the deadliest risk factors. The study also found that most cases and deaths were from lung cancer.

On World Lung Cancer Day, Aug. 1, organizations across the country are spreading awareness about the risk factors attributed to this deadly disease. The occasion also provides an opportunity to reflect on the role that to***co continues to play in the consistently high rates of lung cancer cases and deaths.

Decades of research have established that smoking causes cancer — and yet, it’s proven difficult to knock out to***co-related death and disease. Here are four important factors that must change to close the cancer gap and help Americans live longer, healthier lives.

Increase access to smoking cessation programs and resources. To reduce cancer rates, especially lung cancer, all people must be empowered to quit with free and easily accessible resources and programs. Digital programs as well as in-person programs should be made available to people from all backgrounds and identities.

Raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings, especially in rural areas. Keeping up with routine doctors' appointments and undergoing routine cancer screenings are important factors in reducing the risk of cancer, especially for current to***co users or people with a history of to***co use. This is especially necessary for people living in rural communities for whom access to routine health care may be more limited.

Increase to***co taxes in states with high smoking prevalence and strengthen local to***co control policies. The research is clear: increases in cigarette taxes can have profound effects on cigarette use, particularly in areas where to***co use is high. Increased cigarette tax revenue can also be directed toward to***co control efforts to further magnify impact.

Focus on populations disproportionately affected by to***co. To***co is not an equal opportunity killer. Black Americans, the LGBTQ+ community, and other vulnerable populations targeted by the to***co industry have long faced a disproportionate burden from to***co-related diseases and death. Increased taxes have a much greater impact on these groups, and policymakers should ensure that to***co control policies and quitting programs are easily accessible for these populations.

Did You Know Day!!!!!!!

Did you know that approximately 82% of high school aged youth in Sitka DO NOT currently drink alcohol (Did not have an alcoholic drink in the past 30 days).

Often times youth (and many adults) think "everyone is using alcohol" but that is just NOT the case. SInce 2019 alcohol use by school aged youth in Sitka has gone down (from 26,2% to 17,8%).

Soooooo if you and your friends choose not to drink, you are part of the majority of youth who choose to live a more healthy and safe lifestyle.

For Parents wanting to talk to their teenagers: How to Start A Conversation: 10 Questions Teens Ask About Drugs and Health with potential answers (Taken from the National Institute on Drug Abuse)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA), goal is to help people get accurate, science-based information about drugs and health. To help you start a conversation about drugs and health, they've compiled teens' 10 most frequently asked questions from more than 118,000 queries they received from young people during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®. It’s okay if some of this information is news to you—lots of other people are asking, too!

10. Why do people use drugs when they know they might cause problems?
Every day we make choices that affect our health. People take drugs for a lot of different reasons, like to deal with life’s challenges, to escape from reality, to relieve pain, or to try to fit in—just to name a few.

Some people can be aware of the negative effects of drugs on their health and in their life and still struggle to stop using them. This is because repeated drug use can lead to changes in the brain that make it hard to stop using them, even when people want to stop. When this happens, the person is experiencing a medical problem known as substance use disorder. Addiction is a severe form of substance use disorder.

All addictive drugs cause the brain to release the chemical dopamine. Dopamine is usually released after pleasurable and satisfying activities. Dopamine causes the brain to remember rewards, like food and s*x, and reinforces the desire to seek them out again. Repeatedly using a drug floods the brain with more dopamine, which can change the way the brain responds to that drug.

With repeated use, a greater quantity of drug is needed to produce the same pleasurable effect. When the drug is not available, people may experience the negative symptoms of withdrawal, which may include stress, anxiety, depression, and sometimes physical symptoms such as sweating, vomiting and pain. Repeated cycles of drug use and withdrawal can disrupt brain function to the extent that people may have difficultly experiencing pleasure in their daily lives. At this point, many people continue drug use to avoid the lows caused by withdrawal rather than seek the highs they once experienced.

Fortunately, treatment can help people with a substance use disorder counteract these disruptive effects and lead healthier lives. The sooner a person receives treatment, the better the chance that they will recover.

9. What are the effects of drugs like Xanax® and Percocet®?
Xanax® and Percocet® are both brand names of prescription drugs. Both can help treat certain medical conditions when used as directed by a doctor, but they have the potential to be misused. They work in the brain in different ways:

Xanax®, or alprazolam, is a prescription depressant that helps produce a calming effect. Many people experience anxiety disorders and have difficulty sleeping, and prescription depressants can help treat these symptoms.

Percocet® is prescribed to treat severe pain from serious injuries or after surgery. It contains the analgesics (pain relievers) acetaminophen (the same drug as in Tylenol®) and oxycodone, which is an opioid analgesic. Opioids affect the brain's reward circuit, causing euphoria (the high), and flooding the brain with the chemical messenger (dopamine) which reinforces the brain to seek out the drug again.

Xanax® and Percocet® can cause severe adverse health effects, including overdose, if taken in large quantities or if taken with certain other drugs. Large doses of acetaminophen in Percocet® can also cause life-threatening liver damage. If you are prescribed these drugs, carefully follow your clinician’s instructions, and do not share them with others.

8. What are bath salts?
When teens ask us about bath salts, we understand that they’re probably not referring to Epsom salt for a relaxing time in the tub. They’re talking about synthetic cathinones, which are stimulants made in labs. Bath salts and similar drugs cause extreme wakefulness and elevated heart and breathing rates. Many people seek out these drugs because they are viewed as a cheaper substitute for stimulants like methamphetamine and co***ne.

Using bath salts can cause severe intoxication, hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, and addiction. Serious health effects including dehydration and kidney problems can also occur. An additional danger of taking these synthetic drugs is that they might contain other substances with their own harmful effects, including life-threatening overdoses.

Bath salts are usually white or brown crystal-like powder that are ingested in several ways, though snorting or injecting these drugs further increases the risk of harmful effects.

Despite their health risks, some of these drugs are sold legally in stores or online in small plastic or foil packages with the words, "Not for human consumption." In addition to "bath salts," synthetic cathinones are sometimes labeled as "plant food," "research chemicals," or "glass cleaner."

7. Can you get addicted to ADHD meds?
Many teens who have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take prescription stimulants like Adderall® or Ritalin® to help treat their symptoms. When taken as directed, these medications can be helpful and safe, and have a very low risk for addiction. If your doctor prescribes stimulants, it’s important to follow the instructions and to discuss any concerns about addiction or dependence.

Sometimes people who don’t have ADHD take drugs like Adderall® or Ritalin® in an attempt to get high, to stay awake longer, or to stay focused while studying. According to the Monitoring the Future annual survey on teen drug use, there was a significant increase in the misuse of the ADHD medicine Adderall® among 8th graders from 2015 to 2020.

This can be especially harmful because people often take these medications at a higher dose or through a different route than prescribed. Misusing ADHD medications can cause headaches, nausea, feeling anxious, and sleeping problems. Misusing prescription stimulants can also lead to addiction. These drugs can also make you feel paranoid, cause your body temperature to get dangerously high, and make your heart beat too fast. While stimulants may help with a lack of focus in some people, they may diminish other skills (like creative thinking).

6. Is va**ng bad for you even if it’s just flavoring?
It can be. Research shows that many teens and young adults don’t realize that the flavors they use actually can contain ni****ne, an addictive compound found in to***co. Many v**es also contain propylene glycol, glycerin, chemical flavorings, and other compounds with unknown health effects. As a result, people who v**e—even just flavoring—may inhale and ingest potentially harmful chemicals.

Recent studies showed that students who had already used any type of e-cigarette by the time they started 9th grade were more likely than others to start smoking ci******es and other smokable to***co products within the next year. And we know that cigarette smoking is a leading cause of cancer and other illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ci******es cause more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year—from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. This represents about 1 in every 5 U.S. deaths, or 1,300 deaths every day.

Other va**ng products can also cause harm. In 2020, thousands of people got sick and dozens died from an illness called EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette or va**ng-use associated lung injury. Vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing va**ng products, is strongly linked to EVALI. When heated and inhaled, vitamin E acetate can damage the lungs.

5. How can I help someone with a problem stop taking drugs? How can I help if they don't want help?
Supporting a loved one through a struggle with substance use can be difficult for adults and teens alike. This process can be especially complicated when someone is resistant to getting help. While you may not have control over someone else's substance use, support is available to cope with how that substance use may affect you.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates the National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish). SAMHSA has resources available online for families coping with mental and substance use disorders and also provides a confidential online treatment locator.

If someone is experiencing an overdose, mental health crisis, or another emergency, call 9-1-1.

4. If a pregnant woman takes drugs/smokes/drinks alcohol, what happens to her baby?
Pregnancy is an important time to maintain or adopt healthy behaviors. Decades of research show exposure to certain substances can be unsafe for the health of the woman and the baby. Many drugs, including opioids, alcohol, and stimulants, have been associated with harm to the developing fetus. Using or being exposed to some substances can increase the risk of miscarriage and can cause migraines, seizures, or high blood pressure in the mother. A 2013 study found the risk of stillbirth was 2 to 3 times greater in women whose blood tests showed exposure to to***co and about 2 times greater in women whose blood tests showed exposure to cannabis, stimulants, or prescription pain relievers.2 Pregnant women should refrain from drinking alcohol and talk with their health care provider before using any medicines or drugs.

3. Can ma*****na be used as medicine?
Although the medical use of ma*****na is legal in many states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not determined that the ma*****na plant is safe and effective for treating any disease or condition and has not approved it as a medicine.

Although the ma*****na plant has not been approved as medicine, the FDA has approved formulations of two of the components of ma*****na—THC and CBD—as medicine for specific conditions. THC, which stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is responsible for ma*****na’s “high”, the euphoric and addictive effects of the drug. CBD, or cannabidiol, does not produce a high and has not been shown to lead to addiction.

CBD derived from the ma*****na plant has been approved for seizures associated with specific disorders, and laboratory-made THC has been approved to help with appetite in people with AIDS and to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy for people with cancer. Although not available in the United States, a combination of plant-derived THC and CBD has been approved in multiple countries to treat some symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

The National Institutes of Health, including NIDA, continue to support research on the potential medical uses of ma*****na and its components. Currently, however, ma*****na products (including CBD) are being marketed as treatments for many conditions for which there is insufficient or no evidence of their safety or effectiveness.

2. Which is more habit-forming – smoking ci******es or va**ng ni****ne?
Ni****ne in any form is highly addictive, and many who start using one form of ni****ne transition to another.

NIDA’s 2020 Monitoring the Future survey showed that the number of teens who say they v**e ni****ne has leveled off but remains high. The number of teens who say they smoked ci******es in the past month declined significantly since the mid-1990s and is now at or near the lowest it ever has been. Because both smoking and va**ng are so addictive, it is helpful to speak with a doctor when trying to quit either. A good strategy is never to start.

And the question we receive most often from teens is …

1. What is the worst drug?
It’s only natural to want to know what’s best or worst, good or bad. That’s why we love these types of lists! But in the case of drugs and alcohol, there isn’t a “worst” just as there isn’t a “best” drug.

We don’t define drugs as most or least harmful. All drugs have the potential to produce negative health effects or lead to a dangerous situation in the short or long term. Whether a drug causes a serious health issue—like a life-threatening overdose—can depend on how much a person uses, how they consume it, and other factors.

However, some drugs are so potent that a life-threatening overdose can occur the first time a person uses them. For example, the synthetic opioid fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than he**in. Because fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as he**in, co***ne, methamphetamine, and M**A (Molly), fentanyl may be ingested unknowingly at unknown quantities, which can lead to overdose. Injecting potent drugs can be particularly dangerous because this route delivers the compounds more directly to the brain than ingesting or snorting drugs. Injection also carries the risks of injury and infection.

Similarly, some drugs are more frequently associated with addiction and dependence than others. For example, more than half of people who regularly use ci******es meet the criteria for a to***co use disorder, while only about 1 in 11 people who regularly use ma*****na (cannabis) meet the criteria for a cannabis use disorder. Certain drugs can have a stronger effect on the brain than others. Research has shown that methamphetamine, in particular, may damage cells and structures within the brain that can cause long-term problems with emotion and memory.

Certain physical or mental illnesses, as well as family health history, also influence someone's chances of developing an addiction or other negative health effects of drug use. Age is an especially important factor when calculating the risks of substance use. Because the brain develops through a person’s mid-twenties, teens and young adults tend to be more vulnerable to negative health effects of many drugs. All of this means certain substances may pose different risks to different people in different situations.

Going by the numbers, determining the deadliest drug also depends on perspective.

In 2021, an estimated 106,699 people died from a drug overdose in the United States. The most common drugs associated with these fatal overdoses were synthetic opioids, including highly potent illicitly made fentanyl.

However, the long-term health effects of cigarette smoking are responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year. That’s about 1,300 deaths every day.

And alcohol is the substance most frequently involved in deadly car crashes. Nearly one person died every 52 minutes from drunk driving crashes in 2019.

To put it simply, what's the "worst" drug isn't an easy question to answer, and it’s important to understand the risks of any substance. NIDA supports research to help us understand the effect of drugs on the brain, how to prevent people from starting to use drugs, and how to help them if they have substance use disorder.

References:
Leventhal AM, Strong DR, Kirkpatrick MG, et al. Association of electronic cigarette use with initiation of combustible to***co product smoking in early adolescence. JAMA. 2015;314(7):700-707. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.8950
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/pages/121113-stillbirth-drug-use.aspx. Published December 11, 2013. Accessed January 31, 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health. Smoking and To***co Use, Fast Facts.
https://www.cdc.gov/to***co/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm #:~:text=Cigarette%20smoking%20is%20responsible%20for,or%201%2C300%20deaths%20every%20day.&text= On%20average%2C%20smokers%20die%2010%20years%20earlier%20than%20nonsmokers.
United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Risky Driving, Drunk Driving.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Health Statistics. Released January 2023. Accessed January 2023.

(Article from the Truth Initiative website)

Zyn rewards program follows Big To***co’s marketing playbook

Amid a dramatic increase in popularity, surging sales, and social media buzz, the flavored oral ni****ne pouch brand Zyn is now enticing users with a rewards program that allows them to score freebies using points earned by purchasing their ni****ne products.

Customers can scan Zyn cans to collect points, which can be exchanged for high-tech gifts such as Amazon gift cards, iPads, and Dyson AirWraps. However, users may not realize that Zyn – which is owned by Philip Morris International – is pulling from the same playbook that to***co companies have used to addict people for nearly a century.

Brand loyalty rewards programs for to***co products date back to the 1930s, when Raleigh ci******es included coupons in every pack that could be redeemed for items in a free catalogue. In today’s world, where everything is digital, users simply scan a code on Zyn cans to receive points and redeem them for popular items. It’s even driving a new social media trend where Gen Z and Millennial users share their winnings on TikTok.

With oral ni****ne pouches growing in popularity — and containing increasing concentrations of ni****ne – Zyn’s rewards program is cause for concern. The highly sought-after prizes could influence customers to increase consumption for a chance to win – or sway new users to start using the product.

Oral ni****ne pouches are rapidly gaining popularity
Oral ni****ne pouches from brands like Zyn, Rouge, On!, and Velo have exploded in popularity nationwide, with sales increasing six-fold between 2019 and 2022. More recently, Philip Morris announced that shipments of Zyn ni****ne pouches rose nearly 80% in the first quarter of 2024. Ni****ne concentrations are climbing, too: sales of pouch products containing higher concentrations increased more rapidly than those with lower concentrations between 2019 and 2022.

Mentions of Zyn online have also been on the rise. Total mentions across the web – including on social media platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and X – increased by 80% between April and May alone, according to Truth Initiative internal data from 2024.

Are Zyn rewards the new Camel Cash?
Brand loyalty rewards programs have historically been a key tactic in to***co advertising. Many of the biggest cigarette brands, including Newport, Marlboro, Virginia Slims, American Spirit, Kool, and others have operated rewards programs, in which customers exchange receipts for points that could be redeemed for gifts.

Camel Cash, for example, looked like $1 bills and could be found in Camel cigarette packs starting in 1991. The coupons could be exchanged for branded items – turning users into walking to***co advertisements. The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement now prevents branded merchandise from being offered in reward programs, although Zyn has manufactured branded coolers, now off the market, and branded metal pouch cans. Even if unbranded, rewards still raise concerns – and could influence customers to start using or increase their usage of addictive products.

It’s clear that the Zyn rewards program follows the example set by cigarette brands. In addition, concerns have been raised that oral ni****ne pouch manufacturers are mimicking marketing tactics used by e-cigarette companies to attract young people, including influencer marketing, appealing flavors, and sponsored events.

Click the link below or scan the QR code to register for this training.

https://forms.gle/S54D7GSsvT67Wq899

https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LGBTQIA2S-Parents-Families-Communities-Focus-Guide.pdf

Click the link above for information about how to support LGBTQIA2S+ Youth

This is The Drug Report’s Friday Fact report - Daily or Near-Daily (DND) Ma*****na Use Surpasses Daily or Near-Daily (DND) Alcohol Use in the U.S.

A recent study “Changes in self-reported cannabis use in the United States from 1979 to 2022,” published in Addiction by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University focuses on changes in the consumption patterns of ma*****na. He compared these trends for ma*****na to consumption patterns for alcohol. Caulkins found that daily or near-daily use of ma*****na surpassed daily or near-daily alcohol use.

It's important to note that both DND ma*****na use and DND alcohol use saw sharp increases. This alarming trend reiterates that users do not use ma*****na instead of alcohol, often they use the two substances together. In the 20 years between 1992 and 2022, the number of DND ma*****na users increased from 900,000 to 17,700,000, representing an 1867% increase.

Caulkins defined daily or near daily (DND) use as “reporting use on 21 or more days in the past month.” In 1992, there were 10 times as many DND alcohol users as there were DND ma*****na users, with 8.9 million DND alcohol users and 0.9 million DND ma*****na users. Twenty years later, in 2022, the number of DND ma*****na users surpassed DND drinkers for the first time ever, with 17.7 million DND ma*****na users compared to 14.7 million DND alcohol users.

Caulkins concluded, “cannabis use now appears to be on a fundamentally different scale than it was before legalization.”

Did you know that smoking can cost you thousands of dollars a year? 💰 Not to mention the price of chewing to***co or va**ng products! To***co might seem like a small expense in the moment, but it adds up fast.

Think about it: What could you do with all that money if you weren't spending it on to***co? You could treat yourself to a nice vacation, upgrade your wardrobe, or start saving for something big!

By avoiding to***co, you're not only investing in your health but also in your financial future. 💪

Make the smart choice for your wallet and your well-being. Say no to to***co and watch your savings grow!
***coFree

Try this breathing exercise next time you're feeling anxious or stressed.

Looking for a natural high? Explore new hobbies and interests! Whether it's sports, arts, or volunteering, there's so much to enjoy without ma*****na. Discover what makes you feel alive!

*****naprevention

This is The Drug Report’s Friday Fact report - Rate of U.S. Children Who Lost a Parent to a Drug Overdose per 100,000 Children, 2011-2021, by Race

A recent study in JAMA Psychiatry titled, “Estimated Number of Children Who Lost a Parent to Drug Overdose in the US From 2011 to 2021” estimated that 321,566 children lost a parent to a drug overdose.

The study estimated annual rates of children, by race, who lost a parent to a drug overdose from 2011 to 2021. The rate more than doubled among every racial group between 2011 and 2021. Here are the rate increases each race saw over that time period:
• More Than One Race: 277.5%
• Black: 222.4%
• American Indian or Alaska Native: 213.5%
• White: 163.0%
• Asian or Other Pacific Islander: 159.2%
• Hispanic: 137.4%
• All Races: 133.7%

In 2021, the group with the highest rate was non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native individuals (187.1 per 100,000), followed by non-Hispanic white individuals (76.5 per 100,000), non-Hispanic Black individuals (73.2 per 100,000), and Hispanic individuals (40.6 per 100,000).

These data illustrate the wide-ranging impacts of the drug crisis: every overdose impacts not only the individual but also their loved ones. This issue is especially tragic when a child loses a parent to overdose. To prevent additional loss and suffering, policymakers must invest in prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Get your free tickets at STA

If you or a loved one is struggling with excessive alcohol use, help is always available. For call support, please reach out to tel:1-800-662-4357 or speak to provider at (907) 747-3636

Youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health issue in the United States. If you or a loved one needs support to quit smoking, please don't hesitate to reach out by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by speaking to one of our specialists at (907) 747-3636

Community events happening this month! For more information and details visit KCAW's community calendar

If you didn't get it from a pharmacy, it's best to assume that it contains a lethal dose

Friendly reminder as we head into the weekend

Some quick risks associated with smoking Ma*****na

Stay safe on the road! For more information about drug-impaired driving, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.

Ni****ne withdrawal is a really difficult experience. Here are some strategies to make it a bit easier.

Stay safe and stay mindful!

DEA National Drug Take Back Day. 10:00am to 2:00pm today. Sitka Public Library. Now is the time to get rid of your unused, expired and unwanted medications. We also have medication disposal bags and opioid overdose reversal kits... all for free.

Click on link below to view a short PSA on fentanyl and join us Thursday, April 25- 6:00pm at Harrigan Centennial Hall for our Fentanyl Town Hall.

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/illicit-fentanyl-psa

Free Open Gym and Games

The City of Sitka Parks and Recreation invites the community to a free open gym Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Blatchley Middle School. The event will include bouncy houses, open gym activities, and balloon animals for kids. This event is to express gratitude to the community for the continued support of Sitka Parks and Recreation. Information about our summer programs will also be available.

This event will run concurrently with the Sitka Recreation Foundation’s Gear Sale and Swap, including a silent auction open to all.

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation website at recreation.cityofsitka.com or contact Parks and Recreation by emailing [email protected] or by calling 907.747.4031.

This Thursday, Sandy Snodgrass with the AK Fentanyl Response Project along with our very own Prevention Director, Loyd Platson, will be presenting to our community about the dangers of fentanyl, the importance of legislation, and will provide training on the use of Opioid Overdose Reversal Kits. Hope to see you there.