• Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist: Jessica Giffin, LMSW
• If you need support for a student or have concerns you’d like to discuss, please feel free to reach out to Jessica Giffin through email. 

• Office of Safety and Student Wellness | 571-423-4270
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Programs

Happy Holidays, Bruin Families!

As winter approaches and we prepare for the holidays and winter break from school, it is important to be mindful of the increased risks of substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.  During a normal fall or winter, children and adults may feel lost, sad, or isolated. Most times, a parent or another caring adult or friend can help a child or teen manage their stress. Your child's stress this holiday season may depend on your family's hardships. Covid-19 brings a new kind of stress this holiday season and further increases the risks of substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.

Tips for Managing Stress

• Be open to change. Talk with your kids about your traditions — which ones they love and which you might evolve to make them more fun or memorable for everyone.
• Be realistic. Factoring in kids’ limitations when you make plans will reduce stress on everyone. Children who tend to be impulsive need structure to minimize disruptive behavior. Not overestimating your kids’ patience and ability to focus will help you enjoy yourself more, too.
• Prep kids for changes in routine. Routines may look different while dealing with Covid-19. Preparing them for changes in their routines — what to expect and what you expect of them – will help your children adjust. 
• Give yourself a break. Don’t stretch yourself too thin trying to create the “perfect” holiday season. Decide what is important, prioritize, and say “no” to what you can’t handle.
• Be sure to laugh. Kids pick up their parents’ stress and tension, so they’re more likely to be irritable if you are. Have a sense of humor, enjoy your kids for who they are, and keep in mind that what you’ll all remember when it’s over is likely to be the unexpected moment when everybody was relaxed, not the brilliantly choreographed party, dinner, or outing.

Finding Joy in the Season

Spend a few moments each day enjoying the company of your children this holiday season. It can bring your family closer and boost your mood. Try using extra downtime to do these things together as a family:

• Use your talents to help others, volunteer and give back to the community.
• Talk about your family's culture, heritage, values, and spiritual beliefs. Cook together​, for example, making favorite family recipes.
• Find ways to play and laugh together. Consider making special cloth face coverings to wear during the holiday season
• Aim to be present in the moment. Teach kids to use mindfulness and relaxation to cut down on stress.
• Practice gratitude as a family.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about your teenager's brain and how it relates to substance use? Register today for a three-part series about the teenage brain, adolescence, and the effects of drug and alcohol on the teenage brain.

• Session 1: The Teenage Brain: Building Connections, January 12 @ 7pm
• Session 2: Drugs and the Teenage Brain, January 21 @ 7pm
• Session 3: Drug Trends in Teens: Identifying Common Household Substances and Drug Culture, January 26 @ 7pm

Register here.

Provided by The Office of Student Safety and Wellness

This is Quitting

This resource offers text messages for teens and young adults that provide support throughout the quit process. This is Quitting is easy to use, free and anonymous.

Here's how This is Quitting can help:

• Set a quit date and receive up to 12 weeks of tailored daily text messages.
• Get 24/7 on-demand support for cravings, stress, relapse, or requests for more messages.

Sign up now by texting VapeFreeFFX to 88709

Staff/Parents – If you'd like to try out VapeFreeFFX, please text “TIQTest” to 88709 to keep your participation separate from students.