Travis County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

One of the outcomes of the current opioid epidemic is an increased rate of intravenous (IV) drug use — meaning directly injecting opioids or other substances into a vein. It’s a practice that layers risk on top of risk. Yet unfortunately, simply knowing the risks isn’t an effective deterrent, nor … Continue to full story .......

Media plays an integral role in the health behaviors of young people around topics such as body image and substance use.  Join this two-part webinar series, led by the School-Based Health Alliance’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC).

Webinar offers a chance to hear youth perspectives on media influences, receive skills-building tools … Continue to full story .......

Travis County residents have not escaped the opioid epidemic that is ravaging the United States, and Austin Public Health broke down the numbers this month in an article published in the Travis County Medical Society Journal. The article shares that the total amount of drug-related deaths has been rising since … Continue to full story .......

Join us for the kick-off event on April 16^th from 10am-12:30pm at L. Theo Bellmont Hall (BEL), 2109 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, Tx 78712. It will begin with a Coffee Talk featuring Dr. Lori Holleran-Steiker on the topic of “Youth Substance Misuse and Addiction: Innovative Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Solutions.”… Continue to full story .......

March 5, 2018 – NY Times — At a recent school event, a mother asked me how she could help her son who had begun drinking and taking drugs. “There must be something I can say that will make him listen,” she implored, hoping I could help her find the … Continue to full story .......

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., is urging more Americans to carry a lifesaving medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Although you may not work in an area of public health directly related to opioid use disorder, the current opioid crisis is widespread … Continue to full story .......

Whether due to a sport injury, getting wisdom teeth pulled, or just a freak accident, there are many reasons why doctors may prescribe opioid painkillers to teens.

But with the nationwide opioid addiction epidemic constantly on the news, you probably have some hesitation about letting your teen take the prescription.… Continue to full story .......

The first is the prescription-drug epidemic — highly visible to the public, and more likely to occur among older adults in rural, white communities who misuse prescription painkillers. The second, more recently emerging epidemic, is among younger adults who are victims of illegally produced opioids such as fentanyl. Urban communities … Continue to full story .......

Educators, counselors, schools nurses and more had the opportunity to participate in a presentation by Dr. Lori Holleran and Dr. Jessica Cance on March 22. The topics covered adolescent brain development, the science behind addiction, the rates and risks of misuse, and the changes in the kinds of misused medication. … Continue to full story .......

The Youth Substance Misuse and Addiction Pop-Up Institute has launched a diverse network of UT scholars, students, staff and local agencies/organizations who focus on youth substance misuse, research, intervention, and recovery initiatives. As such, the group is positioned to make substantial contributions to research and practice in multiple settings, to … Continue to full story .......

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and … Continue to full story .......