Prevention Resources

Providing the necessary tools for creating a healthier, happier Wethersfield.

Select a topic below to learn more.

Cannabis

Did You Know?

Wethersfield kids as young as 7th grade* have reported using cannabis in their short lifetime. A quarter of youth here believe that cannabis is not hard to access.

Pot, weed, marijuana, bud…whatever you may know it as, cannabis is more popular than ever. In our state, the use of cannabis is higher than the national average. And in our town, it’s the second most commonly used substance by Wethersfield youth ages 11-18. 

Even if you know adults who use cannabis to relax, or whose doctors have prescribed it for a specific reason, it’s important to understand that cannabis affects younger brains differently than adults’ brains.

Consequences associated with youth cannabis use include:

  • Impaired learning and coordination
  • Sleep problems
  • School problems: high rates of absences and lower grades
  • Potential addiction
  • Anxiety, paranoia, and sometimes psychosis

So what can we do about it?

  • Get involved in extracurricular activities!
  • Remember, you have support from a trusted adult!
  • It’s okay to say “no.”
  • Surround yourself with people who bring you up!
  • If you are experiencing stress, you can – take a walk, listen to music, snuggle with your pet, look at funny memes/videos.

Alcohol

Did You Know?

Wethersfield youth believe that alcohol is easy to access and that there’s little risk associated with underage drinking.

One drink can’t hurt, right? When you’re underage, the answer is yes, it can. 

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in Connecticut, with a higher reported use than the national average. Here in Wethersfield, kids as young as 7th grade have reported using alcohol in their lifetime. 

Underage drinking is associated with many risks such as:

  • School problems: high rates of absences and lower grades
  • Social problems: fighting or lack of participation
  • Legal problems
  • Physical problems: hangover, illness, or injury
  • Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity
  • Misuse of other substances
  • Increased risk of suicide and homicide

So what can we do about it?

  • Get involved in extracurricular activities!
  • Remember, you have support from a trusted adult!
  • It’s okay to say “no.”
  • Surround yourself with people who bring you up!
  • If you are experiencing stress, you can – take a walk, listen to music, snuggle with your pet, look at funny memes/videos.

Vaping

Did You Know?

The majority of Wethersfield 12th graders believe that most of their peers have vaped in the past month.

Just because it’s not a cigarette doesn’t mean it’s safe. The FDA doesn’t regulate vaping products, so we don’t even know the full extent of what’s in those little devices. We do know that whether you’re inhaling nicotine, cannabis, or flavored liquid, you’re also inhaling traces of nasty chemicals–including formaldehyde–that can affect learning and brain development and cause cancer. 

If that wasn’t enough to say “no thanks” to vaping, here’s another breakdown to consider: 98% of all vaping products sold in the US contain nicotine. Nicotine is one of the top 5 most addictive substances.  Nicotine is also the leading preventable cause of death in the country.  

Consequences associated with vaping include:

  • Youth who have started vaping continue to do so in the future, proving the addictiveness of vaping
  • Vaping often leads youth to becoming smokers
  • Metal particles such as Nickel, Tin, Lead, and Aluminum have been found in vapes
  • Vape aerosol can contain dangerous chemicals like chromium, formaldehyde, and also high levels of nicotine
  • Those who vape face a much higher risk of COVID-19

So what can we do about it?

  • Get involved in extracurricular activities!
  • Remember, you have support from a trusted adult!
  • It’s okay to say “no.”
  • Surround yourself with people who bring you up!
  • If you are experiencing stress, you can – take a walk, listen to music, snuggle with your pet, look at funny memes/videos.

Mental Health

Did You Know?

Kids with healthy coping skills and strategies are less likely to misuse substances to alleviate their anxiety or depression. 

Teenage life is stressful. Pressure at school, home, and with friends can feel overwhelming, and many kids don’t know how to manage. In fact, nearly a quarter of Wethersfield 7th-12th graders reported feeling anxious at least most of the time, and 30.4% of kids in those same grades reported feeling so sad or hopeless that it stopped them from doing their usual activities.

There’s a direct correlation between these kinds of feelings and substance use. Kids who have used any substance in their lifetime are also more likely to have experienced the following: 

  • High stress or worry regarding family finances (i.e. having enough money to have needs met, food housing, clothing, heat, hot water)
  • Depressive symptoms for 2 or more weeks in a row in their lifetime
  • Considered attempting suicide in the past year
  • Slept 3-6 hours per night on most school nights
  • Have been bullied

So what can we do about it?

  • Get involved in extracurricular activities!
  • Remember, you have support from a trusted adult!
  • Surround yourself with people who bring you up!
  • If you are experiencing stress, you can – take a walk, listen to music, snuggle with your pet, look at funny memes/videos.

Raise Your Hand and Get Involved

Volunteers are always welcome! There are so many opportunities for residents to get involved in our community. Contact us or give us a call at 860.721.2880. Let’s make a difference together!