It’s October and our thoughts turn to crisp fall days and the kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and golds leaves that adorn trees. Some of us may remember the storms that hit our area for the past two years in October with hopes that we get by unscathed this year.
Here’s something else to think about, something very important: October is National Prevention of Substance Abuse Month. For some, substance abuse may conjure up images of drugs being sold on street corners, of heroin or the recent stories of Molly. However, the most popular drugs aren’t found on a street corner, they’re right in front of your eyes in your medicine cabinet. Among adolescents, prescription drugs are the fastest growing form of drug abuse an d provide a springboard to the abuse of other drugs such as heroin as well as alcohol.
The message this month of October is, “Be Aware! Become Educated!.” Awareness and education are crucial. Be aware of what is in your medicine cabinet and get rid of drugs that you’re not using (you can turn them into your drugstore). Become educated. Wayne Township and the Alliance will be sponsoring several events for parents and young people including the 4th Annual Reality Tour on October 16 at Wayne Valley HS at 7:30pm. Information about these events will come from the schools and the Township. And talk: talk to your kids, often, even if you don’t suspect anything. The sites below offer tips on talking with your kids.
Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
www.drugfree.org for tips and advice on starting conversations with your kids
www.drugfree.org/timetoact for parents who suspect or know their kids are using
Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
www.drugfree.org/teenbrain for insight into teen brain development, and
www.drugfree.org/parent for a Parent Tool Kit offering videos and articles on how to talk to your kids at any age.
For more tips, please be sure to like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/waynealliance
Article Contributed by Wayne Alliance volunteer: Eileen Smith
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Alcohol and Drug awareness programs in Wayne are sponsored by the Wayne Alliance through funding from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA). The Wayne Alliance is part of the Municipal Alliance program, which operates in all 21 New Jersey counties. These organizations were created to provide grassroots volunteers an opportunity to make direct and effective change within their communities by producing localized solutions to individual municipality’s problems with substance abuse.
