By Grace Wilson, Program Coordinator, Oct. 16, 2018 – The conversation around marijuana is a hot topic in our society these days. Most folks seem to choose one side or the other and not many fall in the middle. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marijuana is the most used illegal […]
By Salita Brown, Oct. 19, 2018 – Addiction…overdose…death…all of these serious consequences have become synonymous with opioid use. Opioids are very powerful drugs that have received a lot of news coverage lately. However, through all of the coverage, the reason opioids have become so addictive has gotten lost. So, what exactly is an opioid? Why […]
By Diane Braun, Oct. 3, 2018 – The month of October brings Red Ribbon Week, an event supported by the National Family Partnership as an anti-drug campaign. Since 1986, this campaign has brought awareness to the general public about the dangers of drug abuse, including alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana. Did you know the greatest […]
By Lori Powell, LCSW – September 25, 2018 – Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to meet people who have experienced multiple traumatic challenges in their lives. Some have been able to successfully work through their complicated issues, but others seem to have more difficulty managing their thoughts and emotions related to any […]
By Whitney Eaton, LCSW, Sept. 18, 2018 – I am sure many of you have heard of the video game craze that is disrupting our children’s ability to socialize, spend time with family, complete homework, and focus at school. I call it the “Fortnite Battle.” I have a child who spends every available moment playing […]
By Leah Lottes, LSW – Sept. 12, 2018 – When you think of anxiety, what comes to mind? Many people view anxiety as a feeling of worry and nervousness, but this isn’t always the case, especially when referring to elementary-aged students. There are many different types of anxiety, which is one reason why it may […]
Media Release – August 29, 2018 – Youth First, Inc. is helping the state of Indiana tackle the opioid epidemic and other drug problems by expanding its evidence-based model of prevention to more schools. Jim McClelland, the Governor’s Director of Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement, announced the partnership Wednesday during a series of news conferences. […]
By Marge Gianopoulos, Sept. 5, 2018 – According to the Pew Research Center, 95 percent of teens currently report they have a smartphone or access to one; 45 percent say they are online “almost constantly.” Since the advent of MySpace (Does anyone even remember that one?) and then Facebook, social media has become the primary […]
By Joan Carie, LCSW, LCAC, Aug. 30, 2018 – For many families it seems that life never slows down. The busyness of the daily schedule sometimes prevents us from giving attention to our children’s most important phases. For many of today’s parents, supporting the transition from childhood to adolescence can add challenges to an already […]
By Kelli Chambers, LSW – August 21, 2018 – Navigating the dating world can be intimidating and scary for both parents and teens. Many questions come to mind on how parents can best support their child and foster open communication. How do we keep our teens safe? Understanding some of the “dos” and “don’ts” for […]