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…

  Navigating Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is depression that affects someone only at a specific time of year.  That time of year mostly occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less light during the day.  SAD can be difficult to manage because many people who experience this depression are…

Parent Alert | November 2022 The Benefits of Being Grateful John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”  Gratitude is an important part of life, and a simple thank you goes further than you realize.  Multiple…

Parent Alert | November 2022 The Benefits of Being Grateful John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”  Gratitude is an important part of life, and a simple thank you goes further than you realize.  Multiple…

          Back to School: Keeping Students Safe from Counterfeit Pills It is that time of year again! Students are flooding back into classrooms and our commutes are being interrupted waiting for the bus to pull their stop sign back in.  As our students get back into the day to day routine of…

          Back to School: Keeping Students Safe from Counterfeit Pills It is that time of year again! Students are flooding back into classrooms and our commutes are being interrupted waiting for the bus to pull their stop sign back in.  As our students get back into the day to day routine of…

Parent Alert | August 2022   Youth Connectedness Is an Important Protective Factor for Health and Well-being Connectedness is an important protective factor for youth that can reduce the likelihood of a variety of health risk behaviors. Connectedness refers to a sense of being cared for, supported, and belonging, and can be centered on feeling connected…

    Parent Alert | June 2022     The school year is over, and summer is just around the corner. Kids are excited about their well-deserved break, and while you might be just as excited, you’re probably thinking about how to keep them occupied over the next few months. Teens are often struggling to assert…

              SAMHSA May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to provide education and resources surrounding the topic of mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.” Mental illness and substance…