Painkillers Kill


  • WNEG.org Campaign
     
     
     

    Prescription Painkiller Addiction on the Rise

    Addiction to prescription painkillers, especially among young adults, is growing at an alarming rate in Western New York. In order to address this epidemic, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York has formed a community outreach initiative to increase public awareness of prescription painkiller addiction, provide educational resources to schools, students, parents and community groups, and most importantly, to connect those in need with appropriate treatment resources.
    Prevention Tip of the Week: Lead by Example
     
      

    Prevention Tip of the Week: Welcome communication

    Whether you’re a parent, educator, counselor or friend, fostering a healthy environment for communication is an important step in helping to prevent drug abuse. 

Internet Safety

  • Disney Privacy Center

    Ask Questions

    The best way to know what your child is doing online is to ask. Whether you ask other parents, an Internet-savvy friend, or your child about how they use the Internet asking the right questions will help you understand what your child is doing online so you can make sure they are making safe online choices.

    Questions to ask your child:

    • What sites do you visit?
    • What do you do on those sites?
    • Why do you go to that site?
    • How much time do you spend on the site?
    • Did you have to register?
    • What information did they ask for?
    • What information did you give?
    ____________________________________________________

Basic Internet Safety

  • The Internet has drastically changed the way that children interact with the world. They have access to in-depth knowledge, tools to express their creativity, and people from all over the world. Yet along with offering a fascinating, new way to connect with the world, the Internet also offers new risks      
    • Cyberbullying
    • Exposure to inappropriate material
    • Online predators
    • Revealing too much personal information
    Learning to recognize the warning signs of these risks will allow trusted adults to intervene and lessen potential negative impacts. By acting as a resource, parents and guardians can help make the Internet a safer place for their families. As a parent or guardian, you should stay well-informed about current issues to understand what your children are experiencing on and off the Internet. If they are social networking, instant messaging, using webcams, or blogging, help them use these tools safely by learning how to use them yourself. Children whose parents and guardians regularly talk to them about personal safety are more likely to exhibit responsible behavior on their own.[1] NetSmartz invites you to learn about the issues surrounding your children’s online lives. Then use the discussion starters to help you begin a dialogue about safety with your children. 
     
    [1] Cox Communications Inc. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and John Walsh. Teen Internet Safety Survey, Wave II. Atlanta: Cox Communications Inc., 2007. 

Online Resrouces

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Resources

Key Findings

  • rx

    More Americans die from drug overdoses than in car crashes, and this increasing trend is driven by Rx painkillers.

    *CDC

     

    		 90

    90 percent of addictions start in the teen years.

    *2012 CASA Columbia

     

    		 20

    Kids who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are significantly less likely to use drugs, yet 20 percent report not getting that benefit.

    *PATS 2013

    drugs

    More people die from abusing prescription pain relievers than cocaine and heroin combined.

    *CDC

     

    		 1 in 4


    One in four teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime.

    *PATS 2013