Impact Communities Waxahachie

With the right tools, anyone can act to prevent overdose deaths. Here are some steps to take if you believe someone is overdosing: cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html

Check out this resource for ! Love on your pooches even more today! https://www.firstpost.com/web-stories/world/international-dog-day-10-easy-tips-to-keep-your-dogs-happy-24202.html

International Dog Day: 10 easy tips to keep your dogs happy One of the most important parts of being a pet owner is to make sure that your dog is happy and healthy. Here are some tips to keep your pooch happy

Substance use disorders impact the lives of millions of Americans. But prevention matters, treatment works, and recovery is possible. We can all work together to . For help and resources, visit: samhsa.gov/find-help

Despite the necessary focus on fentanyl poisonings, this underage drinking tragedy underscores the urgency for ongoing prevention messages around adults who host--and supply--alcohol to minors. https://nypost.com/2024/08/23/us-news/texas-hs-football-player-17-dies-after-falling-off-roof-at-rowdy-booze-filled-party/

Texas high school football player, 17, dies after falling off roof during rowdy, booze-filled party Shocking video posted online shows the high school senior slip off the roof and hit the concrete deck below head-first.

"Between classes at school, (high school senior Maggie ) Elliott says it’s become more common to see kids looking down at their phones instead of talking to each other.

'When you’re walking down the hallways, you don’t look up and say hi to someone you know,' she said. 'It’s always headphones in, head down, go to class.'"

As school begins, mental health experts say to watch social media use by teens Across Kansas, teens are living more and more of their lives online. Scrolling for hours probably isn’t great for anyone, but research shows it’s especially bad for teens and their developing brains.

What a gift at the beginning of this school year!

"The 'Only Murders in the Building' star has been vocal about her own bipolar diagnosis. In a Monday blog post, Gomez said she knows firsthand that 'caring adults' can make a big difference for teenagers.

“'As young people find their way through the world, it’s crucial that they get guidance in building healthy, positive and productive mental health habits,'” Gomez wrote. “'Few people are in a better position to help do this than teachers.'”

Google and Selena Gomez partner to fund teen mental health in the classroom The unprecedented mental health crisis for children in the United States often surfaces where they spend much of their days: school.

While great news, one "particular concern is a growing group of students who missed school because they did not feel safe." https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/11/teen-mental-health-improved-post-pandemic-cdc

Texas school districts, as they welcome students back, are raising awareness about v**e pens, many of which resemble school supplies. Va**ng among middle school students is on the rise.

Schools And Communities Unite Against Youth Va**ng Crisis Va**ng among teenagers has reached alarming levels across the globe, raising serious public health concerns. From Scotland to Texas, underage v**e sales have doubled,…

Life has its ups and downs. It’s easier to get through when you have people by your side to . TurnToSupportsTX.org

Do your kids' schools offer mindfulness breaks throughout the day?

More US schools promote mindfulness to help students' mental health School districts across the U.S. are adopting mental health practices as a part of their daily schedules and curriculums. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness e...

Did you know that children whose mothers had a major depressive disorder, before her kids were 12, were 68% more likely to develop problems with substances and that children whose mothers had a non-major depressive disorder (again, before age 12) were 80% more likely to develop problems with substances? https://drugfree.org/article/parental-mental-health/?utm_campaign=2023%20Donation%20Moments&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_fyp-suChc4CJFc6Q6xdycu6ZACJBeqfPAJ6FbanYOxeBOvxPZfgixZVwhXB45Gt6WwJXuyNrQYZhuMMGt5i3lfbiWJPVNUZgQ_ssycYdmk3GHusU&_hsmi=318446699&utm_content=318446699&utm_source=hs_email

Parental Mental Health Parental mental health significantly influences the overall well-being of their children, impacting their development.

Five predictions for the 2024-2025 school year. Do you have any of your own? https://ow.ly/osRS50SMGGE

A solid reminder for back to school: Don't be a bystander to bullying; become an . https://youtu.be/StPGbbBBrI0

Bystander Video - English (Closed Captions) One in five children in the United States experience bullying where a peer harasses, humiliates, or threatens repeatedly. Bullying can have negative psycholo...

Happy International Friendship Day! 🎉🌍 Today, let's celebrate the bond of friendship that transcends borders and cultures. To my friends near and far, thank you for bringing joy, laughter, and love into my life. May our friendships continue to grow stronger each day!

"Kids are both resilient and forgiving, and there’s always time to course-correct. The first step is recognizing the areas that need a reset."

Seven Ways to Know If You're a Toxic Parent (and What to Do About It) Most people aren’t intentionally toxic, but the way we were raised, the relationships we have, or our own temperament can allow bad habits to slip into the way we parent in a way that can negatively impact our longterm relationships with our kids. We’ve all done some of this to some degree at so...

"I believe policymakers and educators should focus less on test scores and grades and more on developing students’ confidence and ability to use math to make smart personal and professional decisions. This is mathematical power – and true equity."

Real equity in math education is about more than good grades and test scores Developing students’ mathematical power and confidence is key to creating true equity.

"We found that children in families with low economic resources were getting less sleep at night and going to sleep later compared with children in families with higher economic resources. In turn, shorter sleep and going to sleep later were associated with reduced amygdala size and weaker connections between the amygdala and other emotion-processing brain regions."

Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains – and poorer kids are more at risk Less sleep and later bedtimes are linked to a section of the brain involved in emotion regulation suffering reduced growth, along with weaker connections to other brain areas.

Watch your young athletes as they return to sports practice.

Sports in extreme heat: How high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of practice, and the warning signs of heat illness An athletic trainer explains why bodies need time time to acclimatize, and the risks to watch out for.

"I wanted to believe everything was fine, of course I did, but somehow I missed the subtle signs that were taking place right under my nose. Signs, which had I seen them, may have allowed me to intervene earlier, possibly preventing his shift from experimentation with ma*****na, va**ng and alcohol downward into a full spiral, which ultimately required us to seek professional intervention."

Seven sneaky signs your teen might be using drugs Did my son really need a backpack every time he left the house? By Sherri Sacconaghi

"Harm reduction emphasizes risk reduction and health promotion among people who use drugs. This community-driven approach, designed to foster incremental change toward treatment and recovery, is a cornerstone of the Department of Health and Human Services' Overdose Prevention Strategy."

Fentanyl test strips save lives, so why are they illegal in some states? Ophelia explored which states ban fentanyl and xylazine test strips, using Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association and CDC data.

"Between 2019 and 2021, the number of teen deaths from fentanyl tripled — and the driver of that plague, per the cops and feds I talked to, was fake pills sold online. Phony opioids that looked like Oxycontins but were cut with fentanyl, not oxycodone; bogus Xanax but with fentanyl, not alprazo"lam, on board. Name any pharmaceutical with a foothold on campus — Adderall, Va**um, Suboxone, what-have-you — and it was instantly available via social media and delivered to your door like Papa John’s.

"The folks compounding those pills weren’t pharm-school grads. They were cartel adjuncts or lost-soul dropouts with a storage unit and a pill press. And whether their fentanyl came from Mexico or directly from China, they were everywhere and nowhere at once: invisible on the street but ubiquitous online; and many were hawking poison disguised as pharma drugs over Snapchat."

Inside Snapchat's Teen Opioid Crisis Drug dealers have used Snapchat to sell fake pills to teens, but these opioids are often laced with fentanyl, helping to fuel an overdose epidemic

In light of more weekend gun violence, especially toward a former United States president, we all need this reminder. Be good to yourselves and each other.

"Certified peer recovery support specialists not only provide referrals for services as patients leave the ER, they also offer follow-up support for up to 90 days. That includes teaching patients how to prevent an overdose, helping them overcome barriers to treatment and recovery, and encouraging them to stick with it."

Trained Peers as Good as Social Workers at Preventing Opioid Overdoses THURSDAY, July 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Support provided by someone who has personally lived with addiction is an effective way to follow-up with ER patient

Concurrent use of to***co and ma*****na use among teens is higher that single use of either smoked product. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240708/Teenagers-using-both-to***co-and-cannabis-face-higher-mental-health-risks.aspx

Teenagers using both to***co and cannabis face higher mental health risks Researchers found that concurrent use of to***co and cannabis among U.S. teenagers is linked to higher levels of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviors.

When you’re going through a hard time, remember substance use is not the answer. Instead, your community and the resources around you for help. For more information, visit TurnToSupportsTX.org.
Cuando estés pasando por un momento difícil, recuerda que el consumo de sustancias no es la respuesta. En lugar de eso, en tu comunidad y en los recursos cercanos para recibir ayuda. Para más información, visita ApoyateEnTX.org.

"Since beginning my work here in Texas in 2011, I have witnessed significant levels of trauma within the vast and ever-growing Latino community," says Dr. Jessica Gomez, executive directive of Momentous Institute. https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/07/02/texas-is-a-desert-of-mental-health-services-for-latinos/

Texas is a desert of mental health services for Latinos Texas ranks last when it comes to getting access to mental health care and there is a lack of bilingual professionals who understand the cultural nuances of...

With just over four months before the 2024 elections, here is your guide to candidates who prioritize issues affecting teens, families, and communities. https://www.cadca.org/resource/cadca-congressional-election-guide-2024/

CADCA Congressional Election Guide 2024 | CADCA The CADCA Election Guide gives you the tools you need to raise and address prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery issues at campaign events around the country.

This San Antonio area school district says its new random drug policy gives students a reason to avoid peer pressure.

Floresville ISD votes to implement random drug tests for students FLORESVILLE, Texas - On Wednesday, Floresville Independent School District (ISD) voted to implement random drug testing for students.The district says the progr

Sometimes a mental reset can be as easy as changing your surroundings. Here are a few ideas of places you can go if you need a change of pace:
📍Soak in the sunshine and get some fresh air at your favorite community park.
📍Discover a whole new world through the wonder of reading at your local library.
📍Need additional support for your mental health? Visit TurnToSupportsTX.org.