Gainesville Teens Tackling Underage Drinking

Two of our student members, Taylor Hall and Stefanie Darby, attended the National Youth Leadership Initiative conference this week in Phoenix, AZ.  While there, they learned how to assess local substance abuse problems and develop various plans in response. The Gainesville Times has a nice article covering the students and their time at the conference. You can check it out here.

[UPDATE]

We have added a brief video of Stefanie and Taylor discussing their time in Arizona.  You can view it below.

Smoking Skunk Raises Risk of Psychosis, Study Finds

[From ABC News] A new study out of London finds that those who smoke “skunk” (a more potent form of cannabis) are nearly seven times more likely to develop psychotic illnesses than those who smoke “hash.” To read more, click here.

Mandatory Drug Testing for Athletes: What’s Your Opinion?

Like many school systems, the “Hall County School System believes that the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs that have not been prescribed for medical benefit can be detrimental to the physical, emotional, and mental health of their student-athletes.” Because of this, it is required for student athletes to consent to random drug testing, with the knowledge that the results of such testing will be released to parents or guardians, administrative officials, and the head coach.  Do you think such testing should be required? (for the full report of procedures followed, click here)