November 2024
Last month, we came together for Red Ribbon Week (October 23rd- 31st) to honor Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a DEA agent who gave his life fighting drug trafficking. His legacy continues to inspire communities to stand united against substance abuse. Red Ribbon Week is a powerful reminder of the importance of educating youth about the dangers of drugs and working together to keep them safe.
As the seasons change, it’s also a good time to discuss how colder, darker months can affect mental health. Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), occurs when less sunlight leads to feelings of tiredness, sadness, or low energy. For teens, these emotions can sometimes lead to unhealthy coping strategies, such as using drugs or alcohol. Offering support—like encouraging exercise, open conversations, or mental health resources—can help teens navigate seasonal depression in positive and healthy ways.
Another way to protect our youth is through initiatives like the “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” campaign. Created by the Prevention Action Alliance, this campaign educates parents about the risks of underage drinking and discourages providing alcohol to teens, especially during high-risk times like holidays and school events. Did you know that nearly half (47%) of teens who first drank alcohol did so in someone’s home (CNA, 2022)? By setting clear boundaries, parents can send a strong message that underage drinking is unsafe and unacceptable (Kaynak et al., 2014).
Through community education during Red Ribbon Week, understanding the impact of mental health on substance use, and supporting prevention campaigns like “Parents Who Host Lose the Most,” we are working together to help our youth grow into healthy, safe, and thriving youth.
Sources:
Kaynak, Ö., Winters, K. C., Cacciola, J., Kirby, K. C., & Arria, A. M. (2014). Providing alcohol for underage youth: what messages should we be sending parents? Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 75(4), 590–605. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2014.75.590
