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WELCOME TO OUR AUGUST E-NEWSLETTER
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Dear *|FNAME|*,
Welcome to our Term 3 newsletter! In this edition, you'll find trusted parenting resources to have more effective conversations with your teen about drugs and alcohol. This newsletter also includes up-to-date information to help you guide your teen to make informed decisions and stay safe.
With synthetic opioids such as nitazenes appearing more frequently in the media, we've developed a new factsheet unpacking the different types of opioids and their associated effects/risks.
We also recently teamed up with Cracks in the Ice – an online toolkit providing trusted, evidence-based information about crystal methamphetamine for the Australian community – to deliver a webinar on methamphetamine use in youth. In case you missed it, you can access the full recording + slides here.
You'll find our latest blog post on young people's transition from high school to tertiary education, and its potential effects on mental health and alcohol-related behaviours. Learn practical ways that you can support your teen to navigate this change.
If you'd like to access our other evidence-based resources and accurate, up-to-date information about alcohol and other drugs to help your child stay safe, check out our "Parents & Families" page on the Positive Choices website by clicking the link below:
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PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE POSITIVE CHOICES WEBSITE AND HELP US MAKE IMPROVEMENTS!
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Are you a parent or carer for a teenager? We need your feedback to help improve Positive Choices. Tell us what resources you find most useful, what could be improved, and what you want to see more of.
Teenage drug and alcohol use is changing in Australia, including the use of e-cigarettes which is rapidly rising among young people.
We are looking for parents of teenagers to complete an online survey about our online evidence-based Australian drug education portal, Positive Choices (positivechoices.org.au). Your input will help us provide more relevant and trustworthy resources for discussing drugs and alcohol with your child.
The survey will take between 20-30 minutes and for participating, you’ll receive a $20 Prezzee gift voucher!
To access the survey, please click the link below:
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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
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New Factsheet: What are opioids?
You may have heard about opioids in the media recently, but what exactly are they? Opioids are a broad range of drugs with different effects, uses, risks, and legality. Our new factsheet explains these differences and answers common questions.
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Access our latest webinar on-demand!
Missed our recent webinar with Cracks in the Ice? Watch the full recording as Dr Alexandre Guerin presents new evidence around the health, functional & cognitive outcomes associated with methamphetamine use in youth + new treatments for young people.
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Factsheet: Should I give my teenager alcohol?
Some parents supply alcohol to their teens in the hope that it will reduce risky drinking. However, research shows that the opposite is true. In this factsheet, we dispel the myths surrounding parental supply of alcohol + look at what the law says in each state/territory.
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ADF guide for parents: How to have an open conversation about alcohol and other drugs
Talking to your teen about alcohol and other drugs may be tricky, but it can reduce the chances they'll experience AOD related harms later in life. This guide by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation can help parents to speak openly with their children about drugs/alcohol.
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RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES
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As a parent, guardian or family member, you have a big impact on teenager’s lives and the decisions they make. You can help reduce the chance that teenagers in your family use alcohol (aka "grog"), tobacco or other drugs. Some suggested strategies include creating strong relationships, being a good role model and setting rules around alcohol and drug use. For more tips to protect your teen from drug related harms, click here.
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While transitioning from high school to tertiary education can be an exciting time for teens, it can also bring about new stressors that may impact their mental health and behaviours around alcohol. Our new blog post suggests ways that parents can help support a smooth transition for their children.
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Although alcohol consumption among young people has fallen, more than 80% will start drinking alcohol before the age of 17. So what should parents do to safeguard teens against the harms of underage drinking? This article by The Conversation explains.
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A recent study involving students, parents, and staff from high schools in Western Sydney, Australia revealed differing concerns about adolescent vaping. Students were concerned about nicotine dependancy and vaping to cope with stress, while parents were concerned about how to start a conversation about vaping with their teen. Read more.
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PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY OPPORTUNITY!
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Are you concerned your child may be introduced to vapes? The University of Newcastle are inviting parents and their child (aged 12-15) from across Australia to participate in a research project. The study will test if educational text messages can prevent youth from taking up vaping. Parents and adolescents will both receive a $20 e-gift voucher after completing each follow-up survey. Click here to get involved!
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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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