Red Ribbon Week: Preventing Substance Use By Understanding Current Trends

Join us for a practical and engaging 60 minute Red Ribbon Week presentation created for all caring adults. This includes parents, caregivers, school staff, mentors, and community members. The session provides clear information about current youth substance trends and simple tools for talking with young people about making safe and healthy choices.

We will explore the most common substances youth are using today, including vaping products, marijuana items, alcohol, mushrooms, and certain retail dietary supplements such as kratom and tianeptine. The presentation also explains why young people use substances, including peer influence, curiosity, stress, mental health concerns, and self‑medicating to cope with difficult feelings. To support adults, we will also look at how substance use can progress into addiction, why youth may continue using even after negative experiences, and practical ways to help interrupt that cycle.

After the presentation, attendees are welcome to remain for optional hands‑on learning and open conversation. You will be able to explore a drug education kit that contains realistic substance replicas and try impairment goggles that demonstrate the effects of alcohol, marijuana, and hallucinogens. This additional time is also an opportunity to ask individual questions about youth behavior, school concerns, early warning signs, or how to support a young person who is already experimenting.

Whether you are a parent, educator, mentor, or community member, this event will give you the knowledge and confidence to help youth build strong and healthy futures. Join us during Red Ribbon Week as we work together to create a safer community for young people.