The “whippets” of 90s party culture are making a comeback and today’s young people’s exposure is being driven by social media. Slang terms for nitrous oxide such as “noxious nos,” “nangs,” “whippits,” “fishing out,” “buzz bombs” refer to either the mode of usage or...

In today’s world, teens and pre-teens need to be “smart” consumers of media messages and this calls for the support of their teachers, parents, and other trusted adults to help them make sense of what they are hearing and seeing. Media influence on young people may be...

As the weeks of summer are winding down, many families are beginning to plan for the upcoming school year.  This is an ideal time to look at your student’s sleep schedule and see if it might need some tweaking.  While sleep is imperative in mental, physical, social,...

Louie’s Law, also known as the Illinois Youth Education and Drug Overdose Prevention Act, was passed in July of 2023 as a guide rather than a mandate. The law is named for Louie Miceli, who died from a drug overdose in 2012. His mother’s hope was that these reforms...

Since 2019, the month of May has been recognized as Sex Ed for All Month, an effort put forward by numerous sexual education organizations that are dedicated towards advocating for sexual health, rights, and increased education. Young people having access to quality...

For adolescents going through puberty, it’s never going to be an easy time. But for those experiencing their period for the first time, it can be even more difficult due to things like lack of education and knowledge on the menstrual cycle, the social stigma that...

The tobacco industry has a new way to target and influence young people to use their products, in the form of oral nicotine pouches with one of the most popular brands being used called Zyn. Because these pouches do not contain any actual tobacco leaf, the FDA does...

Though the opioid epidemic has been well publicized, the landscape of this epidemic is ever evolving and changing; and ultimately the prevalence of these harmful drugs persists. So how do we support our young people in developing an awareness and understanding of the...

Whether at home, in healthcare, the classroom, or the workplace the importance of self-advocacy is undeniable. However, even for an adult, self-advocating isn’t always easy. The ability to “speak-up for [ourselves] and the things that are important to [us]” is a...

A reflection on 2023 and outlook for 2024 from our Executive Director: Barb Thayer With 2024 quickly approaching, it has given me pause to think about how I want to start the new year, both personally and professionally. With every year comes challenges and...