October Spotlight: Red Ribbon Week – Celebrating Healthy Choices Each October, communities across the nation come together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. This year, from October 23–31, millions of students, … Read More
Emerging Substances and Their Prevalence: September 2025 Introduction Emerging substances—also called novel psychoactive substances (NPS) or designer drugs—represent an ever-changing challenge for public health, law enforcement, and communities. These synthetic drugs and newly discovered compounds often skirt legal regulations and … Read More
Adolescents are still developing the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control (the prefrontal cortex). When surrounded by peers, they may feel more pressure to take risks, even when they know better. Being in group settings can … Read More
How youth view themselves has a direct impact on how they respond to peer pressure. Those with low self-esteem may feel that they need to go along with the crowd to be accepted, even if it means compromising their values. … Read More
As we close out the month of July, it’s time to reflect and reset. Resilience isn’t about being perfect — it’s about persistence. What have you overcome this month? What growth have you seen in yourself? A resilient mindset acknowledges … Read More
Resilience isn’t just about the individual — it’s also about community. When we walk together, uplift one another, and create spaces of healing and support, we build something unbreakable. Families, churches, friend groups, and community organizations all play a role … Read More
Teen dating violence can be harder to spot since it’s often mistaken for “normal” teen behavior or drama. But it isn’t just young love and hormones — there’s a serious risk when patterns of control and aggression show up in a … Read More
Teen dating violence can be harder to spot since it’s often mistaken for “normal” teen behavior or drama. But it isn’t just young love and hormones — there’s a serious risk when patterns of control and aggression show up in a … Read More
Nationwide, youth aged 12 to 19 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. Studies show that approximately 10% of adolescents report being the victim of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner during the previous year. … Read More
Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. And nearly half … Read More
