Greetings!
Happy October! Our schools are now in the full swing of things and many are gearing up for schoolwide activities to celebrate Red Ribbon Week this month and Great American Smokeout in November. Read further for more information and activity ideas.
Also this month, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is sponsoring the first National "Above the Influence" (ATI) Day on October 18 to celebrate youth who avoid pressure to use drugs and alcohol. Read more at: DrugFree.org
I am always available if you have any questions or are seeking additional student health resources. Sincerely, Emily Justice
Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE)
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Red Ribbon Week
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) and Violence Prevention Campaign
Celebrated October 23 - 31, Red Ribbon Week began after the death of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. Many acknowledge Red Ribbon Week by wearing or displaying red ribbons and implementing a wide range of school and/or community activities.
Online resources:
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Great American Smokeout
Encouraging Current Tobacco Users to Quit
Tobacco use remains the #1 cause of disease and premature death in the United States. The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on November 15 encourages tobacco users to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance to quit using tobacco on that day.
This day is a great opportunity for students to implement activities on their school campuses to prevent tobacco use and support those who wish to quit.
There are a lot of free resources for current tobacco users seeking support to quit:
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Recap: Dr. DeNoble Presentations
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Dr. Victor DeNoble presenting
at the Contra Costa County Office of Education
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"I just wanted to let you know I have had so many students and staff come up and tell me that the [Dr. DeNoble] assembly today was AMAZING! Our head security person who has worked at our site for 17 years said he has never seen our kids as engaged and paying attention as they were today."
Jennifer Eseltine, teacher,
Antioch High School
During the last week of September and the first week of October,
Dr. Victor DeNoble was in Contra Costa County where he spoke to thousands of middle and high school students at over 25 schools. He shared information about the addictive power of nicotine while telling the story of working within the tobacco industry. Dr. DeNoble also spoke at three evening events, to share information with parents, school staff, community members and families.
To read more about his presentations, check out the Contra Costa Times Article -- Tobacco Company Whistleblower Blitzes Contra Costa County Schools
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Thank You
We hope you enjoyed this month's Health & Wellness Matters e-newsletter! If you have suggestions for future articles or resources to share, contact Emily Justice.
CCCOE Educational Services
Emily Justice, Manager, Tobacco Use Prevention Education
Pamela Comfort, Ph.D.,
Associate Superintendent, Educational Services
Pam Tyson, Ph.D, Director, Educational Services |
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Meetings and Trainings |
For more information on any of the meetings and trainings listed below, contact Emily Justice.
HIV/Comprehensive Sex Education Network
Quarterly Meeting
10/12, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
California Healthy Kids Survey Training for district representatives and community partners 10/24, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Consortium Collaborative and District Coordinator Meetings 11/2, 9:00 am - Noon |
| Fast Facts & News Articles | |
Newest Synthetic Drug to Cause Concern is Called "Smiles." Read more at: DrugFree.org
Adolescents who are regular users of cannabis are at risk of permanent damage to their intelligence, attention span and memory, according to the results of research covering nearly four decades. Read the full article at: The Guardian
In a recent study, men who smoked marijuana were twice as likely to develop testicular cancer, the most common form of the disease in men under age 35, compared with those who didn't smoke marijuana. Read more at: ABC News
Once-secret documents reveal some surprising ingredients in cigarettes -ammonia, sugars, cocoa and more... Read the full article at: The Wall Street Journal
According to the California Healthy Kids Surveys administered between 2008 and 2010, 13% of Contra Costa County 11th graders report using cigarettes in the past 30 days. This is compared to 9% of 9th graders and 5% of 7th graders. Complete CHKS reports are available here. |
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