Author Archives: TCYSAPC

About TCYSAPC

Travis County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

Warning signs of youth violence: Recognizing warning signs of violence and what you can do to help

Posted on June 6, 2022 by TCYSAPC
Warning signs of youth violence

APA.ORG — Violence. It’s the act of purposefully hurting someone. And it’s a major issue facing today’s young adults.  According to the 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.2% of high school students carried a weapon at least once during the 30 days before

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A Cry for Help from Teen Boys in Austin is Answered; Combatting the teen mental health crisis

Posted on May 25, 2022 by TCYSAPC

As teenage boys in Austin, Texas, returned to school last fall after more than a year learning remotely at home, counselors were alarmed to see how many were talking about suicide.  “We’ve definitely seen an increase in suicidal ideation,” said Roxie Frederick, a counselor at Austin Independent School District’s Alternative … Continue to full story .......

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Travis County declares Public Health Crisis amid rise in drug deaths

Posted on May 25, 2022 by TCYSAPC

May 24, 2022 — TRAVIS COUNTY — It’s not your imagination. More people are dying these days from drug overdoses and drug toxicity. In some cases, it’s someone down on their luck looking for a cheap high, in other cases it’s someone uninsured who turned to what ended up being

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Travis County judge considers declaring public health crisis due to increase of drug overdose deaths

Posted on May 12, 2022 by TCYSAPC

May 10, 2021 — A Travis County judge is considering declaring a public health crisis in response to a rapid increase of drug overdose deaths. A Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office report shows that the leading cause of accidental deaths in 2021 was drug overdoses. Fentanyl was involved in a … Continue to full story .......

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In 2021, US drug overdose deaths hit highest level on record, CDC data shows

Posted on April 26, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Drug overdoses in the United States were deadlier than ever in 2021, according to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 108,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2021, and about two-thirds of those deaths involved fentanyl or another synthetic opioid.

Overdose deaths have

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Study: Drug use less common, more deadly among teens during pandemic 

Posted on April 17, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Even as drug use has declined among teenagers during the pandemic, overdose deaths increased, likely due to the highly potent opioid fentanyl, according to a new JAMA study.  Overdose deaths among teenagers 14-18 held steady for years before doubling in 2020 as the pandemic set in, and they continued … Continue to full story .......

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Are your children using emojis to talk about drugs?

Posted on April 17, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Parents need to scrutinize what their kids are doing and watch for certain coded languages and transactions, said William Kimbell, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Houston.  Based on DEA information and other sources, the Houston Chronicle created a guide to help parents identify … Continue to full story .......

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House of Representatives approves bill legalizing marijuana; now US Senate to consider bill

Posted on April 9, 2022 by TCYSAPC

April 9, 2022 – The Hill — The House passed legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide and eliminate the longstanding criminal penalties for anyone who distributes or possesses it.   The measure now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is working with fellow Democrats to introduce

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Another Fentanyl Overdose Surge Overwhelms Travis County as Harm Reduction advocates urge access to fentanyl testing strips

Posted on March 30, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Travis County Chief Medical Examiner Keith Pinck­ard shared data showing that overdoses have been steadily rising the last three years, with a 38% increase in accidental deaths from 2019 to 2020, and another 20% increase in 2021. From 2020 to 2021, fentanyl deaths tripled, even as deaths from other drugs, … Continue to full story .......

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Medical marijuana doesn’t help anxiety and depression and doubles addiction risk, new study finds

Posted on March 26, 2022 by TCYSAPC
Using medical marijuana to treat pain, anxiety and depression failed to improve these symptoms while doubling the risk of developing cannabis use disorder, a new study by Massachusetts General Hospital, published in the journal JAMA Network Open.  Cannabis has been reported to improve pain, sleep, as well as
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University of Texas now providing Narcan to students, staff and faculty for free

Posted on March 23, 2022 by TCYSAPC

The University of Texas said it is now providing a potentially life-saving medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose for free to everyone on campus. In addition to being available for emergency access in all on-campus residence halls, Narcan, or naloxone, is now available for free to … Continue to full story .......

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Is Alcoholism a Disease?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Alcoholism is the lay term for alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is a brain disorder affecting nearly 15 million people aged 12 and older in 2019, according to a national survey. Some people may also know it as alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, or alcohol dependence. AUD ranges from mild to

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