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