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Calling all students Ages 16-18 Speaking Up About Mental Health Essay Contest
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National Prevention Week
Thank you to everyone that helps support healthy choices for the youth in their circle of influence!www.StartTalkingNow.org
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New Facebook Page for San Juan County Health & Community Services
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April Board of Trustees Meeting
Thank you for attending our April Board of Trustees Meeting and continuing the dialogue around resilience! If you missed this opportunity, join us June 14th, 2019 when members of our youth teams will present their experience at the upcoming Spring Youth Forum! RSVP 360-370-7516
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Mark Your Calendar!
Next Board of Trustees Meeting is Friday, April 26, 2019. 11:30 am light lunch offered, please RSVP so we make sure we have enough food, 360-370-7516. Meeting runs 12pm-2pm, all welcome and invited! Collaboration is key! Let’s work together to reduce substance abuse among youth and help create a community culture of healthy and responsible behaviors by youth and adults. We meet at the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, thanks to one of our prevention partners for sharing their space!
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US investigates seizure risk with electronic cigarettes
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials are investigating whether electronic cigarettes may trigger seizures in some people who use the nicotine-vaping devices.
The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it has reviewed 35 reports of seizures among e-cigarettes users, mainly in young people. Regulators stressed it’s not yet clear whether vaping is responsible. But they said they’re concerned and encouraged the public to report information about the issue.
www.apnews.com By MATTHEW PERRONE April 3, 2019
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Next Board of Trustees Meeting
Join us for our next Board of Trustees meeting, Friday, April 26, 2019. Please RSVP 360-370-7516 as we offer a light lunch at 11:30am. Meeting runs 12noon-2pm. We thank one of our prevention partners, Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, for sharing their space to hold our meeting. Everyone welcome and encouraged to attend. Join the conversation and get involved in making our community a healthier place to live and raise children.
Our mission is to reduce substance abuse in youth and to create a community culture supporting healthy choices and responsible behaviors in youth and adults.
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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
April 27, 2019
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Did you know? We have 5 permanent dropoff locations for unwanted & unused medications in San Juan County.
Friday Harbor Drug 210 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, NO Controlled Substances collected. 360-378-4421
Ray’s Pharmacy 68 W Beach Rd. Eastsound, NO Controlled Substances collected. 360-376-2230
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office-San Juan Island 96 Second St. Friday Harbor, Accepts Controlled Substances 24/7. 360-378-4151
Lopez Island Sheriff’s Substation, 2228 Fisherman Bay Road
Lopez Island 360-378-4151
Orcas Island Sheriff’s Substation, 1323 Mount Baker Road
Eastsound, 360-378-4151
The goal is to decrease the number of accidental poisonings occurring in the household due to unwanted medications. This can be due to medication mistakes due to excess unused medications, teenage abuse of opiates, and childhood poisoning due to accessible medications. Currently, accidental poisoning is the number one reason for accidental death in the state of Washington.
The Washington Poison Center phone number is 1-800-222-1222.
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Groundbreaking New UK Study Confirms Link Between Daily, High Potency Marijuana Use and Psychosis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2019
CONTACT:
Colton Grace
Colton@learnaboutsam.org
(864)-492-6719
Groundbreaking New UK Study Confirms Link Between Daily, High Potency Marijuana Use and Psychosis
A new study is the first to show the impact of marijuana use on population rates of psychosis; Daily marijuana users three times more likely to have a diagnosis of first episode psychosis; rises to five times more likely with high potency marijuana
(Alexandria, VA) - Today, a landmark study published in the prestigious Lancet Psychiatry Journal finds that daily use of high potency marijuana is linked to greater rates of psychosis in Europe. According to the study, an estimated five in ten new cases of psychosis in Amsterdam and three in ten new cases in London are linked with high potency marijuana use.
“This study is groundbreaking,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former Obama Administration drug policy advisor. “It is the first to show how marijuana impacts population rates of psychosis – and it’s results are chilling. For years we have known that low potency marijuana was damaging to mental health. Now the scientific literature is catching up with the rapidly increasing THC potency we are seeing on the market today.”
Numerous studies have shown a causal link between marijuana use and onset of severe mental health issues, such as psychosis and schizophrenia, but this is the first study to showcase the link at a population level. The study finds that daily, average potency marijuana users were three times more likely to be diagnosed with first episode psychosis compared to non-users. With daily use of high potency marijuana, this number increased to five times more likely.
“Our findings are consistent with previous studies showing that the
use of cannabis with a high concentration of THC has more harmful effects on mental health than the use of weaker forms. They also indicate for the first time how cannabis use affects the incidence
of psychotic disorder at a population level,” said Dr. Marta Di Forti, lead author from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London, UK. “As the legal status of cannabis changes in many countries and states, and as we consider the medicinal properties of some types of cannabis, it is of vital public health importance that we also consider the potential adverse effects that are associated with daily cannabis use, especially high potency varieties.”
use of cannabis with a high concentration of THC has more harmful effects on mental health than the use of weaker forms. They also indicate for the first time how cannabis use affects the incidence
of psychotic disorder at a population level,” said Dr. Marta Di Forti, lead author from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London, UK. “As the legal status of cannabis changes in many countries and states, and as we consider the medicinal properties of some types of cannabis, it is of vital public health importance that we also consider the potential adverse effects that are associated with daily cannabis use, especially high potency varieties.”
Moreover, the study found that instances of first-time psychosis in London would be cut by a third if high potency marijuana products were no longer available.
Sabet continued, “Lawmakers considering marijuana legalization are not learning about studies such as this from the well-heeled marijuana industry lobbyists. We will get this study, and others like it, in front of lawmakers at all levels of government to educate them on the real impact of allowing the commercialization of high potency marijuana to spread.”
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About SAM:
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is a nonpartisan, non-profit alliance of physicians, policymakers, prevention workers, treatment and recovery professionals, scientists, and other concerned citizens opposed to marijuana legalization who want health and scientific evidence to guide marijuana policies. SAM has affiliates in more than 30 states.
Evidence shows that marijuana – which has skyrocketed in average potency over the past decades - is addictive and harmful to the human brain especially when used by adolescents. In states that have already legalized the drug, there has been an increase in drugged driving crashes, youth marijuana use, and costs that far outweigh pot revenues. These states have seen a black market that continues to thrive, sustained disparities in marijuana arrest rates, and tobacco company investment in marijuana.
Marijuana is not a harmless drug. View the stories of its victims here.
For more information about marijuana use and its effects, visit www.learnaboutsam.org
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Prevention Policy Day in Olympia with Rock Solid Youth
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- Debbi Fincher, Luke Fincher, Sen. Lovelett & Ramona Flierl
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- Johnny Berg, Rep. Lekanoff, Luke Fincher, Ramona Flierl & Debbi Fincher on the House Floor
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- Johnny Berg, Luke Fincher and Ramona Flierl on the Hill
Rock Solid Youth Prevention Team, represented the North Sound Region Tobacco and Vaping Control Prevention Program representing five counties including Snohomish, Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan, as well as their local prevention coalition, …TVCPP funding is funded through the Department of Health, with regional administration by Snohomish Health District, at the annual Prevention Policy Day in Olympia this February. This advocacy effort is organized by the Washington Association for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP), which fosters and supports youth involvement at the policy level.
As part of the day on the Hill, Rep. Harris and Sen. Kuderer spoke to the youth about why they are champions for House Bill 1074 (Rep. Harris) and its companion, Senate Bill 5057, (Sen. Kuderer), Tobacco 21 Law for Washington State. Johnny Berg, Rock Solid chaperone, shared his support of Tobacco 21, “this approach will drastically drop future users according to the statics they shared which nearly 95% of smokers started before the age of 21.”
We also met and heard from Annie Tegan, from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, according to recent studies, approximately 2,800 Washington state kids will become addicted to tobacco products each year. Imagine that is like having 39 school buses full of kids on their way to a lifetime of tobacco-related illnesses and addiction.
Luke Fincher, Rock Solid Youth, said, “I learned that passing legislation to raise the age of sale of tobacco and vapor products in WA. State from 18 to 21 will help protect my friends and peers from becoming addicted to nicotine. The timing of this is perfect, our Rock Solid team is doing an Escape the Vape prevention project at our school right now, and we can share this information. I appreciate everyone who is working on these important issues to help keep youth healthy.”
Ramona Flierl, Rock Solid Youth, said, “Seeing all the youth and prevention teams all in one place with a similar goal was inspiring! At the Youth Rally, I admired the bravery of those young people willing to share their personal stories and experiences related to vaping and tobacco addiction. Luke and I spoke at the rally, too, and found support for what we are doing with our prevention project. One team from Clark County shared they were inspired from Rock Solid at the Spring Youth Forum, two years ago, it made us all feel really good and it’s cool to think about, we made a difference for them!”
Debbi Fincher, Rock Solid Team Advisor shares, “To round out the day, Rock Solid was able to meet with our new Senator for the 40th District, Liz Lovelett. Our time was well spent talking about the importance of prevention and how youth want to be an agent for change. Rock Solid also met our 40th District Rep. Debra Lekanoff on the house floor for a quick photo op and introduction. We also had the good fortune to bump into and introduce ourselves, plus ask a few prevention related-questions to Washington State’s Attorney General, Bob Ferguson and his Chief of Staff, Mike Webb, as we were taking a photo of the Winged Victory Memorial.” Luke Fincher said, “What a day! I’m so glad we had this opportunity to attend at our state’s capitol and meet the people that help shape our communities at this level. I’m grateful to those that helped make it happen. I hope to attend again next year!”
*If passed, the tobacco age raise would take effect, Jan. 1, 2020.
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