Blog
Written by a CSUCI student.
Drug abuse is a serious issue that affects individuals and families all around the world. It's a problem that can quickly spiral out of control and result in tragic consequences. It seems harmless and looks like a good time at first, but the risks are extremely high. Unfortunately, I lost a friend from high school in Ventura County who overdosed on heroin and...
Did you Know? Answer These Questions About Edibles.
What are marijuana edibles?
Edibles, made with marijuana leaves or higher potency cannabis extracts, are a popular, less-detectable alternative to smoking marijuana. They may look like common baked goods, candies, and beverages, and are often designed in a way that appeals to youth. Package labeling may indicate THC-laden contents, but...
Essay and artwork by a BRITE youth spokesperson.
I have never been pressured to vape before.
I am lucky enough to say that I was raised in a household where my mom was always making sure I was safe and happy. However, I know this isn’t the case for many others.
Vaping has always been a prevalent problem at my school and community. So often I would...
This post was written by a CSUCI student.
Today it is almost impossible to avoid social media no matter where you are. We are completely inundated with technology and social media platforms, and we have to wonder what the effects of that are for kids and teenagers, as well as adults. Teenagers are the primary concern when discussing what social media usage does to the brain. Most, if not all,...
This article was written by a CSUCI student.
There aren’t too many issues that collect the attention of so many as marijuana. This has been a heavily debated topic regarding its legalization for several decades, and appears to have almost no end in sight. Those that advocate for legalization claim that it has various health benefits such as pain relief and relief from traumatic disorders...
We recently had the pleasure of working with students from CSUCI’s Service Learning program. Some of those students conducted surveys about attitudes around marijuana, vaping, and alcohol in both Ventura and Los Angeles. Here are the questions and responses.
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How do you feel about marijuana?
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How do you feel about vaping?
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How do you feel about alcohol?
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(For...
The LGBTQ+ community suffers from high rates of substance use. Up to 30% of the LGBTQ+ community struggles with substance use compared to 9% of the general population. Why is this? Some factors include their experiences of bullying, hate, discrimination, stigmatization, rejection by those around them including their family and/or peers, isolation, and other extreme stressors. LGBTQ+...
This information was originally published on Marijuana Factcheck, a project of Ventura County Behavioral Health. From their website:
Everyone wants to make the best and most informed decisions they can, for themselves and their families. But decisions can only be as good as the facts they are based upon.
We’ve been hearing from a lot of people who would like to see a clear,...
By Stephanie Escobedo Tirado, local CSUCI student.
It’s easy to say, “You’re young; live a little!” Or, “That stuff only happens in the movies.” What are the effects of these words on young people?
Here’s the impact that many don’t want to admit: it’s hurting teenagers.
Now, I don’t mean all teenagers have that one person...
A Letter to Parents
Although NIDA’s annual Monitoring the Future survey shows that daily marijuana use in teens is mostly steady, the survey also shows that as cigarette smoking rates drop, daily marijuana smoking has become generally more common than daily cigarette smoking among teens. By the time they graduate high school, about 45 percent of teens have tried marijuana at least once in...
Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision. In fact, cannabis increases your chance of a car accident. The percentage of Canadian drivers killed in vehicle crashes who test positive for drugs (40%) now actually exceeds the numbers who test positive for alcohol (33%). Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in...
By Kirsten Weir, from the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology, Vol. 46 No. 10
More states are legalizing marijuana, but concerns remain about its long-term effects on the adolescent brain.
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States — but the term “illicit” may not apply much longer. Twenty-three states have legalized...
The BRITE program does not promote any unlawful use of drugs or alcohol.