Youth today face many challenges. Partners for Prevention works with young people to learn about the issues they are experiencing and to implement evidence-based initiatives to help prevent more issues from emerging.
Partners for Prevention helps advise Westbrook High School’s Youth Leadership Coalition (YLC). YLC students work to raise awareness about substance use, mental health, and available resources in the community in order to help their peers.
YLC youth help lead community-wide prevention initiatives such as Sticker Shock and Compliance Checks. Partners for Prevention has also worked with the Gateway to Opportunity Program to provide paid learning opportunities for young people during the summer. These youth groups learn some public health concepts and have an active role in developing a product to help educate and raise awareness about substance use concerns within the community.
If you are a young person (ages 12 to 18) and looking for resources to help yourself or your friends/loved ones, you’ve come to the right place! If you’d like to learn more about how to get involved, email partnersforprevention@westbrookschools.org. We’d love to hear from you and work together to prevent and reduce youth substance use in Westbrook!
Resources
Vaping/Smoking
Youth Leadership Coalition’s Vaping PSA
Learn about the risks of vaping in this 30-second video developed by our Youth Leadership Coalition.
Youth Vaping Prevention & Resources to Quit | Truth Initiativeexternal icon
This self-led, interactive curriculum provided by the Truth Initiative encourages youth to live vape-free lives.
Behavioral Cessation Supports for Youth and Young Adults (aap.org)external icon
This page on the American Academy of Pediatrics site contains a list of behavioral supports that can help youth quit smoking, vaping and/or using other tobacco products.
The Real Cost of Vaping | Scholastic
These cross-curricular resources from Scholastic and the FDA include lessons and activities to help students learn more about the real cost of vaping.
Teen.smokefree.gov
Information to help teens who want to quit using e-cigarettes.
Truth Initiative’s This is Quitting Program
This free mobile program is designed to help young people quit e-cigarettes. Resources are available for teens and young adults as well as parents.
N-O-T: Not On Tobacco
This cessation program from the American Lung Association is designed to help youth ages 14 to 19 quit e-cigarettes. The program consists of 10 sessions to be delivered in a small group format. A mobile-friendly online version for youth is available at https://notforme.orgexternal icon
Alcohol
Alcohol & Athletic Performance Fact Sheet from NCAA
Prescription Medications
Marijuana
Johnny’s Ambasador’s Project: The Effects of Cannabis on Youth: https://johnnysambassadors.org/thc-youth/
Johnny’s Ambassador’s THC Potency Factsheet: https://johnnysambassadors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HS-THC-Potency.pdf
Vaping MJ: https://drugfree.org/article/vaping-and-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know/
Spice/K2/Synthetic MJ: https://drugfree.org/drugs/k2-spice-synthetic-marijuana/
SAMHSA Tips for Teens: Marijuana: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/pep19-05.pdf
Mental Health
Substance Use
Other resources
Westbrook Recovery Liaison
Danielle Rideout
Call or Text: 207-303-4009
Email: drideout@westbrook.me.us
NNEPC.org Northern New England Poison Control: 1-800-222-2122
211 Maine: Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211
