prevention...students on which students stated reasons they choose to be drug-free. some sited the...
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www.yourwebsitehere.com This newsletter is a collaboration among WellSpring Community Network, Pacific County Health &
Human Services, and Ilwaco High School. WellSpring is a grassroots organization made up of indi-
viduals and organizations dedicated to promoting physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental wellness
in South Pacific County.
| www.wellspringpacific.com
This calendar lists
upcoming school
and community
events.
Know of something
we’re missing?
Contact Carly at:
ccastaneda@co. pacific.wa.us
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PREVENTION NEWSLETTER
Upcoming events on
preparing for that next
step.
page 2
Youth e-cig use and acci-
dental liquid nicotine
poisoning are on the rise.
page 2
These common sense tips
help youth thrive.
page 3
The Marijuana Talk K it
gives responses to com-
mon questions. page 3
YAK Celebrates a Drug-Free Ilwaco High with Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week is a nation-wide campaign
that recognizes the hazardous effects drugs
have on individuals and communities.
The peninsula was wrapped in red the last
week of October for Red Ribbon Week. Stu-
dents of Youth Action Klub (YAK) started off
the celebrations at IHS by decorated the stadi-
um and wrote the message “Be Drug-Free” on
the fence in ribbons.
At the game that Friday night the football team,
coaches, band, and cheer squad wore red rib-
bons to signify their support as they secured a
win against Rainier High School.
YAK also took pledges from IHS and Hilltop
students on which students stated reasons they
choose to be drug-free. Some sited the harmful
effects drugs have on the mind and body. Other
-s mentioned their families and
friends, and a few talked about
the damage they’ve seen happen
to those around them. Future
goals like college were also
listed. Students described the
sports and activities they love to
do, too.
The week was finished with an
art contest at IHS, which stu-
dents voted on at lunch the last
day of the celebration.
IHS and YAK proudly showed
their colors during Red Ribbon
Week. Needless to say, YAK supports a
healthy school year-round, and will
continue to ask students why they
choose to live drug-free.
WELLSPRING MEETING @ 3:00PM
-s, including adding more gym activities
and improving the chef salad bar. They
also discussed student services and bus
routes.
YES students also looked to their school’s
history for inspiration. The Pathways pro-
gram from last year was brought up nu-
merous times. Students fondly recalled
creative or out-of-the-box activities they
participated in. These memories sparked
the idea for a “Hilltop Olympics,” a com-
petition series for the whole school.
Above all, the ideas had an underlying
current: to improve student's experiences
at school and prepare them for the next
step.
YES Asks Students How to Improve Hilltop, Ilwaco
The Youth Empowerment Squad (YES) start-
ed out the end of October by asking students
the big question: How can we make Hilltop a
better place?
This will be the driving question for YES as
they decide what events and projects to tackle
this school year. YES is a group of ambitious
students who dream big.
Some ideas involved school environment, like
adding more plants and putting a playground
out front for the younger grades. Other ideas
looked at creating healthier options for student
YES is back at Hilltop to support youth
leadership and a drug-free environ-
ment.
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YAK NIGHT @ 7:00-11:00PM
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS
COLLEGE NIGHT @6:00PM CLATSOP CC
SHAKESPEARE EXPERIENCE @ 9:00AM HILLTOP
CC @ PASCO: STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
NO SCHOOL BAND/FLAG @ VETERAN’S DAY PARADE AUBURN
COLLEGE FAIR @ RAYMOND
VETERAN’S DAY ASSEMBLY
VETERAN’S DAY
COLLEGE BRIDGE APP DUE (SENIORS)
SHAKESPEARE EXPERIENCE TBA
FB CROSSOVER TBA
AN EVENING W/THE PRINCIPAL @ 6:30PM
NO SCHOOL
THANKSGIVING
NATIONAL PREVENTION NETWORK CONF @ SEATTLE WINTER SPORTS BEGIN
FALL SPORTS BANQUETS @ 6:45
ILWACO MUSIC BOOSTERS XMAS TREE SALES BEGIN
Is your son or daughter in 7th or 8th grade at
Hilltop? Encourage them to share their ideas
on how to make our school and community
even better.
YES meets Fridays at lunch in the Library.
Students at Ilwaco High School sign pledges saying
why they choose to be drug-free.
YAK meets Wednesday at lunch in the College &
Career Center.
Have the Tools to Answer Some Tough Questions About Marijuana
POSITIVE FAMILY COMMUNICATION | Young person and parents communicate positively.
Use mealtimes to catch up on one another’s day. Be willing to talk during times that may be more
comfortable for your children, such as while riding or driving, or on a walk. Sometimes not having to
make constant direct eye contact can make the conversation flow better. Use a whiteboard at home
to exchange loving messages or to let everyone know where you are and when you’ll be home.
Visit the full list at: http://www.search-institute.org/research/developmental-assets
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, simulate tobacco smoking by vaporizing a
liquid nicotine solution. Parents need to be aware of the dramatic increase in
use by teens and accidental e-liquid poisonings involving children.
Accidental poisonings are on the
rise, especially in young children.
The National Poison Data System
reported 4,152 poisoning exposures
nationwide from electronic cigarette
devices, cartridges or refill liquids
in 2014. 2,376 of those poisonings
involved children younger than 5
years old.
More adolescents and teens are
using e-cigs.
What might be surprising for some
parents to hear is that use of e-cigs
among middle and high school stu-
dents has tripled: from 4.5% in
2013 to 13.4% in 2014 with high
school students, according to a Cen-
ters for Disease Control report. On a
related note, JAMA Pediatrics re-
leased a study which reported a high
association between adolescents
who use e-cigs who also use tradi-
tional tobacco products.
E-liquid is a neurotoxin and can
be absorbed through the skin.
E-liquids come in a variety of con-
centrations. Ingestion of even small
amounts in some versions have the
| Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Novem-
ber 1. Switch your clocks back one hour earlier.
| IHS will be honoring our veterans at an assembly on
Tuesday, November 10. There will be no school on Wednesday, Novem-
ber 11.
| YAK attack! This activity-filled night at IHS provides stu-
dents with a fun and safe late night alternative twice a year. Want to join
the fun? Contact Carly Castaneda at 360-642-9300 x 2642 to volunteer.
As fall wraps up there are a number of
college prep events coming up. Contact
counselor Sarah Taylor for more info.
COLLEGE NIGHT: 11/5
This free event will answer questions
about admissions, the financial aid pro-
cess, and scholarships. Clatsop Commu-
nity College, Columbia Hall Rm 219.
COLLEGE FAIR: 11/9
Learn more about prospective colleges.
Bus will be leaving IHS at 8:30am.
Raymond High School.
COLLEGE BRIDGE: 11/12
Seniors can apply for this program
through Clatsop Community College
during Grad Prep. Library @ IHS.
UPCOMING SAT TESTS
11/7 Astoria High School
12/5 IHS (Registration Due 11/5)
UPCOMING ACT TEST
12/12 IHS (Registration Due 11/6)
Want more? Visit the College and
Career Center at IHS for additional
resources.
potential to be fatal to a young child.
Initial symptoms of nicotine poison-
ing may include vomiting, sweating,
and dizziness which can progress to
affecting the heart rate and blood
pressure, lethargy, seizures, and
respiratory muscle weakness.
It comes in bright colors and can-
dy-like flavors.
A quick internet search shows liquid
nicotine is available in 40-145 differ-
ent flavors. Many of the e-liquid
containers lack child resistant mech-
anisms.
It is difficult to tell when someone
is using e-cigs.
The user won’t smell like tobacco as
with traditional cigarette smoking.
The only potential warning signs are
dry cough, mouth and through irrita-
tion, which can be easily missed.
Adapted from S. Goertemoeller (2014, April
10). 8 Facts Parents Need to Know About
E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids. Retrieved from
http://cincinnatichildrensblog.org/safety-and
-prevention//8-facts-parents-need-to-know-
about-e-cigarettes-and-e-liquids-2/
COMMON SENSE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUTH THRIVE
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids created the
Marijuana Talk Kit to help families have an
open dialogue about marijuana. Here is
part of the guide and questions you’re
likely to hear and how you might respond.
Ultimately, there is no “script” for talking
with your teen about marijuana. But let’s
look at some arguments your teen might
make when you bring up marijuana, and what
you can say in response.
Your teen says: “Would you rather I drink
alcohol? Weed is so much safer.”
You can say: “What is going on in your
life that makes your feel like you want to do
either?”
Here’s why: Your response may be met
with “nothing” or an one-word answer, but
even the word “nothing” can lead to another
supportive statement from you, like “I’m glad
to hear there isn’t anything going on in your
life that makes you want to drink or smoke,
and I also know it’s unrealistic to think that it
isn’t going to be offered to you.”
You can say: “Honestly, I don’t want you
to be doing anything that can harm you—
whether that’s smoking pot, cigarettes, drink-
ing, or behaving recklessly. I’m interested in
knowing why you think weed is safer than
alcohol.”
Here’s why: Reminding your teen that you
care deeply about his health and well-being,
and expressing genuine curiosity about his
thought process, is going to help him open
up.
Your teen says: “Marijuana is a plant. It’s
natural. How harmful could it be?”
You can say: “Not all plants are necessar i-
ly healthy or good for you — think about
cocaine or heroin or even poison ivy.”
Here’s why: This helps your teen rethink
her point.
You can say: “I under stand that, and I am
not suggesting that you’re going to spin out
of control, or that your life as you know it is
going to be over. I would just like to redirect
you to the idea that when a person is high,
her judgment is not what it ordinarily is and
that can be harmful.”
Here’s why: This statement points out that
you are reasonable and are not using scare
tactics. It also redirects your teen back to
your goal of helping her understand the
harmful side effects of marijuana.
You can say: “People I know who use alco-
hol or pot on a regular basis are using it to
numb themselves or avoid feelings.”
Here’s why: This br ings some personal
perspective into the conversation, and lets
your teen know that you see the effects of
substance use in your own life.
You can say: “I would much rather you
find healthy ways to cope with difficult feel-
ings than turn to drugs. Can we brainstorm
activities?”
Here’s why: Here, you’re showing con-
cern, asking permission, and promoting col-
laboration in thinking through healthy alter-
natives — like yoga, reading, or sports.
Your teen says: “But it’s legal in some
states; why would they make something
legal that could hurt me?”
You can say: “It’s legal at a cer tain age,
like alcohol. I think that people in these states
hope that by 21, they’ve given you enough
time to make your own decision around it.
But let’s explore your question in more de-
tail, because it’s a good one. Why would
states make something legal that could be
harmful?”
Here’s why: Letting your teen know that
this is a valid question is important to him
being receptive to your answer. Expressing
curiosity with an open-ended question keeps
the conversation going.
You can say: “Let’s look at alcohol; it’s
legal, but causes damage, including DUIs, car
accidents, and other behavior that leads to jail
time. Alcohol can also cause major health
problems, including liver problems and car
accidents.”
Here’s why: Alcohol is a great example of
a regulated substance having severely harm-
ful side effects.
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (2015). Marijuana
Talk Kit. Retrieved from http://
www.drugfree.org/MJTalkKit/
E-Cigs: What You Need to Know