SAC Corner

Issue No. 1: https://www.smore.com/nejd3

Issue No. 2: https://www.smore.com/e3kc9

Issue No. 3: https://www.smore.com/r38nb

Issue No. 4: https://www.smore.com/am95v

Issue No. 5: https://www.smore.com/4xy68

Issue No. 6: https://www.smore.com/0xp39

Issue No. 7 https://www.smore.com/xhqf10-sac-corner

Issue No. 8 https://www.smore.com/5kw2u

Issue No. 9 https://www.smore.com/5z3n9

Why does this matter when we are in the US?

This issue isn't historically isolated to only the UK. Not to mention now that this is becoming a newsworthy reoccurring problem in the UK, we will want to be extra aware that there could always be copycats or a break out here.

So what is it?

People are being unknowingly injected with needles. Most often at nightclubs/bars. Large dark & and crowded places are hot spots for this type of criminal activity.

What are our concerns?

The most obvious is what is in the needles. Victims describe feeling fine one moment and then experiencing muscle spasms, dizziness, and memory loss.

The next concern is HIV and other potential diseases/infections that could be passed through the needle.

What to do:

Make sure your loved ones are aware this happens. Always be in pairs or groups when going out. Even if you're out on the dance floor, try to keep arms length distance from strangers. If you see anyone hovering, get away from them. If you feel anything abnormal, go to the hospital to get checked out. If you feel the needle prick/stab, also call the police. Use this crime series as a reminder to stay extra vigilant on watching your drinks and food too.

Process addiction is the compulsive engagement in an activity or behavior despite negative consequences. Usually this interrupts the SOI (social, occupational, intellectual/emotional) areas of one's life.

Process addictions are addictions. Just like a substance addiction, a process addiction will follow similar thought processes, reward cycles, root causes, and recoveries.

Think: gaming, social media, shopping, porn, gambling, food, exercise

*Did you know gambling addictions are 2-4x higher in teens than adults?*

You're looking for:

• Time spent compared to other activities
• SOI interferences, dramatic changes
• Is it used as a coping or avoidance strategy
• Are they irritable/depressed when unable to engage in activity/behavior

Evali (e-cigarette, or vaping product use associated lung injury) is a serious medical condition that as of Feb'20 the CDC has recorded 2800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths because of.

15% of these Evali patients were less than 18 years old.

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fever and chills
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid and shallow breathing

Treatments may include:

• Corticosteroids. A type of medication that reduces inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body.
• Supportive care. Patients may receive supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula. In more severe cases, they may be put on a mechanical ventilator or an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine.
• Antibiotics. These drugs may be given to the patient while diagnostic test results are being finalized as it’s difficult to distinguish EVALI from bacterial infections.
• Antivirals. Because EVALI causes similar symptoms to some viral infections, antivirals may be used, especially during influenza season.

(thanks Yale Medicine https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/evali)

Click "coming soon" above for a more in depth article on the new lifeline. Much like how 9-1-1 is our well known emergency dial, the government is spending millions of dollars to get a 9-8-8 national suicide prevention lifeline up and running by this summer.

According to the CDC:

• In 2019, suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death in young people, 10th leading cause in nation overall.
• 47,500 deaths by suicide in 2019, which about one death every 11 minutes - this does not include thoughts and attempts
• 12 million adults seriously thought about suicide
• 3.4 million made a plan for suicide
• 1.4 million attempted suicide

If certain content is sensitive or a "trigger" for you, try using this website: http://www.doesthedogdie.com before watching a new movie, tv show, or reading a new book. It lists a wide variety of content warnings. It is public/user driven - like Wikipedia.

If you'd like your student to join a free online vaping education class to learn the truth about vaping and receive a completion certificate, have them sign up here:

Have students go to everfi.com/register, enter code 771498ee and click Next.

This is a Truth course supported by EverFi and monitored by our district SAC (me).

Newport Academy is offering a guide on how to do a mental health temperature check with your teen(s) using 10 questions. Newport Academy also offers ways to incorporate evidence based "temperature" lowering activities into your teen's life and routine. Check it out!

https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/mental_health_temperature_check/?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11_09_21_na_resources_temp_check&utm_content=1st_img

Newport Academy/Institute is a treatment center/teen rehab. They are not in any way partnered nor affiliated with the Haddonfield School District.

They do provide a lot of free information and resources that I share when appropriate.

Email: hpenna@haddonfield.k12.nj.us
Website: https://haddonfieldschools.org/
Location: A104 HMHS
Phone: 856-429-3960 . 1155