Celebrating 10 Years of Being a DFC Coalition The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant funds community-based coalitions who bring multiple sectors of the community together to prevent youth substance use. This grant gives coalitions $125,000 per year for up to 10 years, allowing them to implement initiatives, build community partnerships, and create sustainability plans. Turning Point…

The Current State of Youth Mental Health The increased focus on mental health in recent years has helped us realize the importance of mental wellbeing. This development has improved education on mental health challenges, led to the creation of resources to support those who need help, and helped reduce the stigmas about mental health. Youth…

Focus on the Positives: Using Social Norms in Prevention All of us are strongly influenced by group norms, and that is especially true for adolescents. Young people are strongly influenced by the behaviors and attitudes they perceive their peers to have. This works well when it comes to youth learning how to interact with and…

The History of Substance Use & Substance Use Prevention October is Substance Use Prevention Month, and this year’s focus is on telling the prevention story. Understanding the history of substances and addiction can help us improve how we treat addiction and can help preventionists have more success in preventing substance use. Substance use for medicinal…

Fall Update Turning Point Coalition spent most of the summer planning for the beginning of the school year. Here are some highlights from the past few months: Orrville Public Library Summer Reading Program Kickoff – The coalition had a table at this fun event. Kids enjoyed spinning a prize wheel and answering trivia questions to win sunglasses with “It’s…

Supporting Those in Recovery It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop. – Confucius The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines substance use disorder (SUD) as “a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently…

Communities Talk: Let’s Talk About the Effects of Marijuana Learn more about addiction, the disease concept, and the mental health effects of marijuana from Dr. Nicole Labor, OneEighty Medical Director, and Dr. Dennis Helmuth, OneEighty Psychiatrist. 2.0 CEUs available for Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage & Family Therapy; Nursing CEs requested. Please bring your…

Join Wayne County Coalitions and OneEighty in remembering those who have lost their lives to addiction. Overdose is the leading cause of death for people ages 18 to 45 in the United States, with 107,543 overdose deaths in 2023. International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is observed annually on August 31 to create a better understanding…

Why Harm Reduction Matters An estimated 107,543 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023 according to data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). This is a decrease from the 111,029 overdose deaths in 2022, but any life lost is a tragedy. Public health officials, government leaders, and communities are struggling with…

Social Media’s Role in Youth Substance Use It is no secret that youth love using social media. According to Clearfork Academy, 95% of youth are active on social media, with the top platforms being Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitter (X). These platforms provide youth with entertainment and a chance to stay connected with friends.…

ORRVILLE, Ohio— August 6, 2024 — Turning Point Coalition, in partnership with Wayne County Coalitions, is offering TIPS training (Training for Intervention Procedures) at no charge. The training is free for businesses and individuals who sell alcohol, including retail alcohol vendors, owners, managers, trainers, sales associates, and cashiers. Ohio law holds both the individual employee…

Summer Update Turning Point Coalition helped students and families have a great end to the school year with a couple of presentations and a fun event at the library. Alcohol Literacy Challenge – 20 seventh grade students were taught about the differences between physical and mental effects of alcohol, and how alcohol marketing conditions people to look past…

Using Vape Detectors for Prevention 2.13 million youth reported using e-cigarette products in the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Educating students on the risks of vaping is helping to reduce the number of youth who vape, but school officials are struggling with how to stop vaping on campus. One thing they are trying is vape…

#NationalPreventionWeek24 is a health education platform that promotes new ideas and initiatives to help keep communities healthy & safe. Join us as we celebrate the #substanceuse prevention and #mentalhealth efforts happening nationwide! Learn more: samhsa.gov/prevention-week National Prevention Week is almost here! This annual event is a great opportunity to learn more about prevention science, and…

  Turning Point Coalition would like to remind you that it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors, and hopes their message resonates with the minority of parents who furnish alcohol for underage drinkers. The majority of parents do not provide alcohol to minors, and the majority of teens do not drink underage. This campaign…

Helping Students Prepare for the End of the School Year The end of the school year can be a source of stress for many students. End of year exams, moving up a grade, getting ready to go to a new building, and worrying about friendships are common stressors. Preparing your child for the end of…

Spring Update Turning Point Coalition supported multiple trainings for community members, employees, and students. These trainings increased knowledge of substances and their effects, how to recognize signs of impairment and use, and gave participants prevention skills to use in their daily lives. Trainings Alcohol Literacy Challenge – 37 seventh grade students were taught about the differences…

How Alcohol and Marijuana are Marketed to Youth Youth are exposed to alcohol and marijuana advertisements on a regular basis. One RAND study looked at the impact of alcohol advertising on youth ages 11-14 and found that they see an average of three alcohol ads per day. This study also found that this exposure leads to youth…

Why Marijuana is Harmful Ohio became the 24th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana when voters passed Issue 2 in November 2023. Some people will be trying marijuana for the first time as a result of this new law, and they may not be aware of the risks that marijuana poses to their…

The Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act is scheduled to take effect in Ohio on January 15th. This law has been championed by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted since early 2023, and has been fully backed by Governor DeWine and other lawmakers. Here are the key takeaways from this new law: Companies must: Create a…

Winter Update RAPA Teen Institute and Turning Point Coalition interacted with 3,500 people across three events Trainings Alcohol Literacy Challenge – 37 seventh grade students were taught about the differences between physical and mental effects of alcohol, and how alcohol marketing conditions people to look past the physical effects of alcohol. D.A.R.E. – Turning Point Coalition sponsored Orrville…

  Coping with Holiday Stress The holiday season is a great opportunity to take a break and spend time with family and friends, but it can be a very stressful time of year for many people. This stress is a result of many things including lack of time, financial pressure, family gatherings, social isolation, and…

Youth Internet Safety The internet continues to be utilized more and more in our lives, and our reliance upon it has a major impact on youth. Internet usage is not a bad thing, and there are many positive aspects to it for youth including homework assistance, social connection with friends, and providing entertainment. However, there are…

What is Prevention? October is Substance Misuse and Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. This signifies the importance of communities coming together to work on prevention, but what is prevention? The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) defines prevention as “promoting the health and safety of individuals and communities by focusing on preventing…

Fall Events Schedule Come say hello to members of Turning Point Coalition and RAPA Teen Institute at these upcoming events: Orrville Fall Fest at Orr Park – Saturday, October 22nd from 5 PM to 8 PM. Join RAPA members in celebrating the Halloween season at their Trunk or Treat station. Haunted Halls – Monday, October…

      Impaired Driving and How to Prevent It Impaired driving is responsible for 32 deaths every day in the United States, which is one death every 45 minutes. There are one million arrests made in the United States each year for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, but these arrests are…

  What is a Coalition? Coalitions are organizations made up of two or more people or groups who are working together towards a common goal. Community coalitions focus their prevention efforts on a wide variety of problems, but we are going to focus on the work that Wayne County Coalitions (WCC) are doing to prevent youth substance…

    Preventing Substance Use by Supporting LGBTQ+ Students “We have to transcend our differences to transform our future.” – Antonio Guterres Research shows that youth are less likely to use substances when they experience fewer risk factors. These risk factors include things like prejudice, bullying, family conflict and rejection, and stress brought on by dealing…

      How Emojis Are Used for Drug Activity The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) released a public safety bulletin in March to alert parents about emojis being used for drug activity. Emojis are fun to use in our text messages and social media posts, but they carry more meaning in 2023 than when they first came…

February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) was held throughout the month of February as a way to bring together teens and those who support them in a national effort to raise awareness to teen dating violence. Organizations and schools across the country combine efforts every year to create a…