Travis County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

Helping teens maintain their mental health is more important than ever. Focus on helping them improve handling stress and relating to others by encouraging social interactions and emotional awareness, says Austin Oaks Hospital.

Ideas for maintaining mental health this summer:
Try a new activity or learn a new sport … Continue to full story .......

What appears more certain is that levels of THC in cannabis products have risen in recent years, according to an analysis, published in 2020 in the Addiction journal, of 80,000 cannabis samples collected in the United States and Europe. Minors’ illegal use of cannabis products has become a concern in … Continue to full story .......

There were 417 overdose deaths last year, with 245 of them fentanyl-related. Despite significant work across Travis County over the last year, the number of overdose deaths increased 35 percent and the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths climbed 108 percent. That number has increased tenfold since 2019 and has … Continue to full story .......

At some middle and high schools in the United States, 1 in 4 teens report they’ve abused prescription stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder during the year prior, a new study found.  “This is the first national study to look at the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants by students in … Continue to full story .......

Substance abuse expert Jessica Lahey rolls her eyes when parents justify underage drinking by arguing that in most European countries, the legal age is 18 and drinking starts younger.  “That attitude, unfortunately, increases your child’s risk of developing a substance use disorder over their lifetime,” says Lahey, author of Addiction … Continue to full story .......

On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, a nasal spray version of the opioid reversal medication naloxone, for over-the-counter distribution. The FDA did not release an official timeline, but said in a news release that Narcan will soon be sold in drugstores, convenience stores, grocery stores, … Continue to full story .......

GEORGETOWN — The family of Layton Ivins is speaking out after losing the teen to an alleged case of fentanyl poisoning last month.  Cody Ivins, Layton’s father, said the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating his son’s death.   Now: Two people have been arrested.  WCSO said, on Jan. 22, the … Continue to full story .......

In an effort to combat a rising number of opioid overdose deaths in the state, the TX House passed a bill that would decriminalize fentanyl test strips, which warn people if a drug they are about to take contains traces of the deadly synthetic opioid.  The bill would take fentanyl … Continue to full story .......