Resources For Families

Substance Use Education Programs for Youth The Courage to Speak® Foundation is a 501(c)(3) providing substance use education programs for youth, and its mission is dedicated to " Saving lives by educating and empowering youth to be drug free and encouraging parents to talk to their children about the danger of drugs." Ginger Katz presenting her substance abuse education program for youth. Ginger Katz along with her husband Larry presents to children, parents, educators, clergy, professionals and others at many forums including state and national conferences. With a team of experts the organization developed substance use [...]

Who We Are Connecticut Post photo by Christian Abraham The Courage to Speak® Foundation – Who We Are - Overview The Courage to Speak ® Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing Home, School, and Community Programs™ for drug prevention through presentations, community forums and research-based school curriculum and parenting programs. The Courage to Speak Foundation delivers social-emotional skill building lessons to increase youth’s ability to live healthy lives and empowers parents with skills to communicate effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs. The Courage to Speak ® Drug Prevention Programs were evaluated by [...]

Warning Signs That Your Child May Be Using Drugs: A Parents' Guide to Getting Involved Since mood swings and unpredictable behavior are frequent occurrences for preteens and teenagers, you may find it difficult to spot signs that your child may be using drugs. But if your child starts to exhibit one or more of these signs (which apply equally to sons and daughters) drug abuse may be at the heart of the problem: Withdrawn, depressed, tired, and careless about personal grooming. Hostile and uncooperative; and frequently breaks curfews. Relationships with family members have deteriorated. Hanging around with a [...]

Drug Facts and Dangers of Misuse Please be aware that each of these drug facts include the symptoms and dangers of misuse. FACT: All of these drugs can lead to addiction. FACT: All of these drugs can lead to a premature and unnecessary death. Tobacco & Nicotine Street Names: (Cigarettes) smokes, cigs, butts (Smokeless Tobacco) chew, dip, spit tobacco, snus, snuff (Hookahs, Bidis) Risks: Harms immune system and nearly every organ in your body Long-Term Effects: Cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, infant related death due to mothers smoking during pregnancy Alcohol Street Names: Drink, booze, brew, hooch, moonshine Risks: Can [...]

National/International Drug Prevention and Abuse OrganizationsNIDA: National Institute on Drug Abuse - www.nida.nih.govSAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - https://www.samhsa.gov/The Courage to Speak® Foundation, Inc. - http://www.couragetospeak.org/Policy Information - www.ibhinc.orgDrug Free America Foundation - www.dfaf.orgResources for Students and Teachers - backtoschool.drugabuse.govCenter for Disease Control - www.CDC.govNational Institute on Drug Abuse - www.drugabuse.govNational Inhalant Prevention Coalition - www.inhalants.orgMonitoring the Future - www.monitoringthefuture.orgAl-Anon/Alateen - www.al-anon.alateen.orgAlcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.orgWellness, Recovery & Self-DiscoveryNaranon, Support Group - http://www.naranonctma.org/Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services - https://www.ct.gov/dmhas/site/default.aspRegional Behavioral Health Action Organizations - To Contact for HelpWhere to Help with AddictionDHMAS - https://www.ct.gov/dmhas/site/default.aspDMHAS Opioid [...]

Know What Your Kids Are Talking About With This Guide to Today's Drug Terms Is your teen robotripping on CCC? How would you know if you don't even know what that means? "It's very important that parents brush up on ... slang, because just like with text messaging, kids use all these abbreviations and parents don't know what they mean. But the more they understand what these things mean, the more they will be able to monitor kids' behavior," says Gregory Pollock, a psychotherapist specializing in addiction at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. That's why WebMD went [...]

Here Are Some of the Most Frequently Used Excuses of Drug Abuse I was keeping/holding it for a friend. A drink got spilled on me I just took a sip - I didn't know it had alcohol in it. That smell is my new incense. All my friends are doing it. It's only alcohol - at least I don't smoke dope. It's only marijuana - at least I don't do hard drugs. I just tried it once and I'll never do it again. It's normal to experiment when you're a teenager. My eyes are bothering me - I [...]

We Save Lives - the Leading Voice for Highway Safety, educating and influencing the public about the 3D’s; Drunk, Drugged, and Distracted driving. We promote responsible driving. As a representative voice on highway safety issues, We Save Lives works at the national, state and local levels utilizing policy development, targeted advocacy, outreach and educational efforts to change driving behavior.   http://www.wesavelives.org National Institute of Drug Abuse - NIDA's mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. http://www.nida.nih.gov Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for [...]