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Got a Substance Abuse Prevention Program? 

Substance Abuse Prevention 


Photo  Students who abuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs risk not only jeopardizing their academic success but also serious negative consequences to their physical and emotional well-being.  Many organizations from the local community and beyond offer resources to help kids choose a life free from substance abuse.


See also:  Youth Health Data (compiled from a survey of risky behavior in local students)


In Our Schools

 
SWAT – Students Working Against Tobacco

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) is Florida’s statewide youth organization designed to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and deglamorize big tobacco while working toward a tobacco-free future. The focus of SWAT is not the health effects of smoking, as research has historically shown that students do not respond well to a lecture on health effects and smoking after the 5th grade. Instead, SWAT focuses on media literacy and marketing, teaching students that they are being targeted by the tobacco industry and giving them the opportunity to rebel against the industry. SWATs are designed for grades 6-12 and can be found in several public and private schools in Sarasota County.

The following schools have active SWATs: Cardinal Mooney High, Heron Creek Middle, North Port High, Out of Door Academy, Riverview High, Sarasota Christian, Sarasota Middle, Sarasota County Boys and Girls Clubs.

If you are interested in starting a SWAT Club at your school:
Contact Crystal Bruce at (941) 861-2876 or by email

Healthy Girls Initiative

The new Healthy Girls Initiative of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. offers healthy lifestyle awareness programs for girls ages 8-14 and their caregivers (usually parents) in South Sarasota County Venice, North Port, Englewood, Laurel, Nokomis, and Osprey). Programs and activities support healthy living from a holistic perspective, focusing on nutritional education, physical activity, emotional/mental wellness, and environmental health. The Healthy Girls Initiative aspires to serve all girls and caregivers of girls in the region through programs during the day in elementary schools, after-school programs with local community organizations, Better Together!, fitness classes, summer camps and retreats, spring break trips, community wellness events, We Can! programs for adults, Girl Scout troop and Pathway programs, and churches. Healthy Girls Initiative is made possible through a grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and support from Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. For more information:

Contact Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 921-5358 x319 or by email
Visit the Healthy Girls Initiatives website and Myspace site

NOPE - Narcotic Overdose Prevention Education

NOPE delivers personal, high-impact presentations that save lives by speaking to young people and their families, about the deadly consequences of drugs from the perspective of those directly affected by the drug related death of a child.

www.nopetaskforce.org

   

SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)

The purpose of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is to encourage middle school and high school students to make positive decisions for safe, healthy and substance-free lifestyles.

SADD promotes a No-Use message -- no alcohol, no tobacco, no illegal substances -- through positive peer pressure, support and activism. Peer pressure is known to have a significant influence on the decisions made by teens today. Establishing and maintaining a SADD chapter is one way of providing a group environment that encourages a healthy lifestyle through positive peer pressure and support.

For more information, contact:
Sandy Macomber (941) 927-9000 x34357 or by email
or visit Florida's SADD website

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Local Resources

Substance Abuse
  • Alcohol Hotline - (800) 252-6465
  • ALA-TEEN Local Helpline - (941) 556-1346 or visit the South Florida Al-Anon website
  • Coastal Behavioral Health Care
    Sarasota - (941) 952-1147
    Venice - (941) 492-4360
  • Drug Abuse Hotline - (800) 821-4357
  • First Step Addiction Recovery Programs
    Sarasota - (941) 552-2075
    Venice - (941) 497-7742
  • Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse - (941) 377-7736
  • Suncoast Narcotics Anonymous - (941) 257-5055 or www.suncoastna.org
  • Painfully Obvious - prescription medication abuse
Tobacco / Quitting Smoking
Other Resources
  • Community Youth Development - (941) 922-5126
  • TeenLine (listing of Activities) - (941) 926-TEEN or www.thelookup941.org
  • Sheriff's Office (Youth Services) - (941) 927-4190

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Links to Healthy Tools

Alcohol Abuse
Drug Abuse
Tobacco
  • Sound Check Campaign
    Youth everywhere listens to music and idolizes the artists that deliver it to them. Sound Check is going to appeal to the artists directly by showing them how their sponsorship is getting more youth to smoke. The link shows you how to get involved and get active.

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