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WELCOME TO OUR FEBRUARY E-NEWSLETTER
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Dear *|FNAME|*,
Welcome back to another school year!
In this edition, you'll find information on our FREE upcoming webinar which unpacks the latest trends in e-cigarette use among Australian adolescents and practical strategies for addressing this issue.
Positive Choices have also published a new factsheet to help you have more effective conversations around vaping/e-cigarettes with your child. This includes tips for talking about e-cigarettes/vaping myths and facts, talking to them if you are concerned about their use, and how to support them in quitting.
Plus, you'll find plenty of trusted resources to help you engage your teen around alcohol and other drugs and protect them against related harms.
Can't find what you're looking for? Visit the Positive Choices "Parents and Families" page below for additional resources, parenting tips, and up-to-date drug and alcohol information:
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REGISTER FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR!
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Want to gain practical strategies for preventing vaping harms among young people? Join us for our free, upcoming webinar on Wednesday 21st February at 12pm AEDT!
This webinar will be presented by Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Amy-Leigh Rowe and Research Assistant Ms Annabelle Hawkins from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, who currently work on the OurFutures Vaping study: the first rigorous evaluation of a school-based e-cigarette prevention program in Australia. Attendees will learn about:
- Recent trends in e-cigarette use in Australia
- Research into school-based prevention, including what does and doesn't work.
- Practical strategies that can be applied within your child's school.
- Information about the OurFutures Vaping Prevention program
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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
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NEW factsheet: Talking to your child about e-cigarettes/vaping
By now, your child has probably heard about e-cigarettes/vapes: be it through social media or their friends. They may have questions and may even have tried them. Our new factsheet offers some useful tips for how you can talk to your child about e-cigarettes/vaping.
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Your Safe Space Podcast episode: Let's Talk About Vaping
Have your teen check out our feature episode on the Your Safe Space Podcast with Adele Maree! In this episode, Adele tackles all things vaping, including why she chooses not to vape! She also shares some trusted resources for young people to make more informed choices.
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Video: Alcohol and Your Brain
Looking for a fun and engaging way to educate your child on how alcohol affects the human brain? This video by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride to learn about alcohol’s harmful effects on 5 different brain structures.
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Game: PlaySmart
Improve your teen's knowledge and understanding of the effects of opioid misuse. PlaySmart is an online game featuring six interactive storylines which aims to build their coping, refusal and communication skills when faced with opioid use. Access it here.
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RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES
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As a parent, you already know that spending time with your teenager is important to create a good relationship.
It can also help protect them from problems with alcohol (also called grog) and other drugs. However, you don’t have to do something big to spend time with your kids, simple things can already help. Check out these deadly activities that families can do together to help raise your kids strong.
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A study led by The Matilda Centre's Dr Jillian Halladay found that school sports participation, greater physical activity, and feelings of belonging were associated with lower substance use and mental health symptoms among Canadian teens aged 14-18. Read the full article here.
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A recent study led by researchers at The Matilda Centre found that e-cigarette use among Australian adolescents was associated with perceived use of e-cigarettes by friends/peers. The study also found it was linked to involvement in bullying, either as a perpetrator or a victim. Read more here.
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PARTICIPATE IN OUR RESEARCH STUDY!
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Do you have any thoughts about how we can make digital health interventions, like health apps, more engaging for young people? Researchers from the Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney are seeking parents of teens to join an Expert Advisory Group to help with a research study about youth engagement with mobile health apps. If you live in Australia and would like to participate in this study, click here to learn more.
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ORDER YOUR FREE BOOKLETS!
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Looking for tips on how to talk to a young person about alcohol and other drugs? Want to learn more about ways that parents can protect against drug use and related harms? Order your FREE copy of the parents and families booklet today.
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The aim of this e-newsletter is to provide our subscribers with information about drug prevention resources, and to share relevant news and events.
Please help us spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to other parents and families within your networks, and encourage them to subscribe here.
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