Thanks to our Board for their hard work and dedication!

FATE's Board of Directors

The girls soccer team decided to do what Chris did and two senior girls challenged the team to live substance free and see how far they could go…..and they are going……

Congratulations Lady Bronchos!

New data from the study show that marijuana use is becoming a more acceptable behavior among teens and heavy marijuana use is now at disturbingly high levels.

Nearly half of teens (47 percent) have ever used marijuana – a 21 percent increase since 2008. Additionally, two out of every five teens (39 percent) have tried marijuana in the past year, up from 31 percent in 2008. Past-month use has increased 42 percent from 19 percent in 2008 to 27 percent in 2011. Heavy monthly use (20 or more times) is up 80 percent from 5 percent to 9 percent in 2011. Teen boys are primarily responsible for the increase in usage – their past- month use is up 38 percent and heavy monthly use is up 57 percent since 2008.

Marijuana use is directly associated with usage of other dangerous substances. Teens who report having smoked marijuana in the past year are more likely to have used ecstasy, cocaine/crack, and prescription pain relievers to get high – also within the past year – than teens who have not smoked marijuana. With marijuana use increasing, there is concern that use of other drugs will increase in the near future. While many may not feel that occasional marijuana use has dangerous consequences, smoking heavily during adolescence has serious repercussions on children. Research shows that children who begin using substances during adolescence are much more likely to become addicted later in life than someone who begins using after his or her teenage years

http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PATS-FULL-Report-FINAL-May-2-PDF-.pdf

Jim Priest speaking with some students before the presentation at PCO

On Friday of last week FATE spoke to Norman Public School coaches and PE teachers and today (Monday) we presented to four groups of Putnam City High School students.  I (Jim Priest) had students text me their questions and comments during the presentations and received some really good ones.  Here’s a sampling:

Does your brain ever recover from alcohol or drug abuse?

What advice would you give about people who are already addicted to drugs?

Why is pot illegal and alcohol not illegal?

You did a great job today!  I really enjoyed it and you shared a lot of new and helpful information with us.  Thanks for coming=)

We appreciate the invite!  There’s some talk about starting a FATE student chapter at PCO—let’s get that going!

A 73 year old grandmother was busted for being a marijuana distribution kingpin with a network in four states.  Marijuana is NOT just a young person’s problem!

This Wednesday there is a podcast seminar that will help parents who are dealing with a teen involved in alcohol or other drugs. The speaker will be Johanna Bos, LMSC, CASACA and Parent Support Specialist at The Partnership at Drugfree.org

The podcast is schedule from Noon–1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (That’s 11am Oklahoma time)

U.S./CAN Toll-free Number: U.S./CAN Toll-free Number: 1.866.431.5314

Participant Passcode: 602873

The power point presentation will soon be available on the OPHA website.  Thanks to UCO professor Dr. Sunshine Cowan of OPHA for providing this opportunity.