What if the Way We Talk About it… is Part of the Problem?
When someone is struggling with substance use, the conversation often starts with a label: addict, junkie, a lost cause. Sometimes it starts with a question: “Why don’t they just stop?” Those words may come from fear, anger, or exhaustion. Families living with substance use disorder have often been hurt. Promises may have been broken. Trust...
Back to School: Helping Teens Stay Focused on What Matters Most
As another school year begins, let it begin with the most valuable thing you can give your teen: a belief in their future. Start the school year by having conversations about dreams instead of just grades. Ask your teen what they hope to accomplish this year. What are they excited about? What challenges do they...
The Opposite of Addiction is Connection
Parents spend lots of time talking to their kids about what to avoid—drugs, alcohol, vaping, making poor decisions, etc. While these conversations are necessary, another conversation may be even more important: helping teens discover what matters most. One of the most meaningful concepts in prevention is this: the opposite of addiction is (not simply sobriety)— it is connection. Teens who feel connected to people, goals, hobbies, pets, sports,...
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to slow down, check in, and remind ourselves that mental health is not separate from overall health. It affects how we think, how we feel, how we handle stress, how we build relationships, and how we make decisions. It also plays a powerful role in substance use prevention. For the Way...
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month—a time dedicated to increasing understanding around alcohol use, its impact on individuals and families, and the role we all play in prevention. While alcohol is often seen as a “normal” part of growing up, the reality is that early use can have lasting consequences. For young people, alcohol affects brain...
What Is a Substance Use Prevention Coalition?
When people hear the word prevention, they often think of assemblies, flyers, or programs aimed at stopping substance use before it starts. While those efforts are important, true prevention goes much deeper. At its core, prevention is about building strong, connected communities where young people are supported, informed, and equipped to make healthy decisions. That’s...
Addiction in the West Valley: A Local Family’s Perspective
A local West Valley family shared their deeply personal story of walking through their loved one’s struggle with addiction. Her name was Lorena, a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, friend—a person who was loved by many. The reality of addiction is that it settles in with little warning, allowing many signs to be brushed off as...
Alert: Carfentanil Resurgence in Arizona
Most people have now heard of fentanyl — and far too many have experienced its devastating impact firsthand. Here in Arizona and across the nation, fentanyl has torn through communities with staggering force. It’s 100 times more powerful than morphine and has become the deadliest drug America has ever faced. From 2021 through late 2024,...
Why the Minimum Age for Substances is 21: The Science Behind the Law
Have you ever wondered why you must be 21 to buy alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana? It’s not just a random rule—there’s solid science behind it. Let’s dive into why this age limit is so important for protecting young brains. Your brain keeps developing well into your mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex, which helps with decision-making and...
Social media is a part of everyday life; in fact, you might be reading this on a social media platform right now. As adults, we possess the ability to choose what we want to engage with in our lives, an ability honed through personal experiences, relationships, and our evolving vision of what we want our...