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Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Newsletter
January 2021
SAPS Introduction
Did you know Mountain View has its own Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist to address substance abuse concerns among students?
My name is Carrie Glasgow and I am the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS) for Mountain View.
If you need support for a student or have concerns you’d like to discuss, please feel free to reach out to me via email at caglasgow@fcps.edu or by phone at 540 300-6951 .
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the
Office of Student Safety & Wellness (571) 423-4270.
VAPE-FREE FAIRFAX
The Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board and Fairfax County Public Schools have partnered to implement the Truth Initiative’s This is Quitting program. This is Quitting is a teen and young adult-focused vaping cessation text messaging program based on the best scientific evidence from the combusted tobacco cessation literature, input from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center, and formative research with young adult current and former vapers. To view the press release about this program, click here. For more information about the program, click here.
Opioid-laced Marijuana responsible for 4 overdoses including 1 death
In recent months, in Prince William County, 4 people overdosed after smoking marijuana that had been laced with what officials suspect were opioids. One person died, while the 3 others were revived with Narcan. Public health agencies throughout NOVA have been informing citizens of these overdoses.
Most buyers implicitly trust their supplier and believe they would never provide them with a tainted product, but it is vitally important to discuss the dangers of not only using marijuana itself, but the very real possibility of receiving a tainted supply and that the dealer may not even know his/her supply is tainted. NARCAN trainings are widely available throughout NOVA, in particular through the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB. As opioid overdoses continue to be of great concern throughout the country, participation in this brief, virtual training could be the difference between life and death. The trainings provide participants with no cost Narcan kits upon completion. Click here for more info on recent overdoses. Click here to sign up for a virtual NARCAN training through Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.
ENERGY DRINKS AND TEENS
Given the demands of school combined with poor sleep habits that are so typical of adolescents, it is not surprising that many turn to energy drinks in order to provide the boost they need to participate in daily activities. Many of us are guilty of turning to caffeine for a pick-me-up, but more and more often teens are reporting drinking multiple (3 or 4+) energy drinks in a day, and their drink of choice in many cases is a relatively new brand, called BANG. BANG energy drinks contain over 300 mg. of caffeine per can (doctors advise no more than 400 mg. per day) and when multiplied by 4, one can only imagine the dangers inherent in that level of consumption. Jitters, inability to concentrate, increased heart rate, inability to sleep, and though caffeine overdose is rare, it is not unheard of. Additionally, BANG has high amounts of citric acid which can cause tooth decay and along with the caffeine both of which can lead to ulcers.
Energy drinks are easily accessible to teens and relatively inexpensive which adds to the allure. Be sure to talk to your teens about the side effects of excessive caffeine use and the amount of caffeine in the drinks that they are consuming. Click here for more information about energy drinks and caffeine levels.
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