Understanding the health effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can dramatically help prevent the use and abuse of these substances. Scientific and evidence-based research can be used to inform and inspire our behavior and policies.
Cannabis Conversations
Are you wondering how you can talk to your kids about marijuana and cannabis use? Watch our Cannabis Conversations video by clicking on the Marijuana tab below.
Greater Falls Connections (GFC) shapes our prevention efforts through stories, strengths, data, and community involvement.
Strength-Based Approach
GFC uses a strength-based approach when building our prevention and community building efforts. Starting with community and individual strengths rather than “what’s wrong” can lead to long-term, positive outcomes and affect community-level change.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
Done every two years, this statewide survey measures behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of injury, disease and death of youth. For statewide survey results, click here. For Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU) results by year, click on the links below.
2009
2011
2011 (Middle School Only)
2011 High School
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021 State-wide HS/MS
Principles of Prevention
Research-based approach to substance abuse prevention.
National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH)
Provides national and state-level data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs (including non-medical use of prescription drugs) and mental health in the U.S.
Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets
Study looking at the financial impacts of substance abuse on taxpayers.
How Big Alcohol Abuses “Drink Responsibly” to Market its Products
Report looking at the how the alcohol industry uses the “drink responsibly” slogan to sell its products.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. About 95,000 Vermonters smoke cigarettes. 800 Vermonters die each year from tobacco-related diseases. In 2011, 55% of VT smokers attempted to quit. More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. Each day in the United States, approximately 3,800 young people under 18 years of age smoke their first cigarette, and an estimated 1,000 youth in that age group become daily cigarette smokers.
We can change this. Below you will find research to understand the harmful effects of tobacco. Interested or ready to quit and go smoke-free? Click Here to “Be Smoke-Free!”
Health Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
This Centers For Disease Control (CDC) overview provides information on the harmful effects of smoking tobacco.
Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco
A detailed resource on the health effects and dangers of smokeless tobacco products.
Health Effects of Alcohol
Center For Disease Control (CDC) fact sheet providing general definitions and statistics surrounding the health effects of alcohol.
Effects of Alcohol on the Developing Teen Brain
Because our brains are developing well into our 20s, substances such as alcohol can negatively influence its growth.
Impact of Alcohol Advertising on Youth
Describes the influence of alcohol advertising and teen consumption of alcohol.
As we continue to see marijuana policies change both nationally and within Vermont, it is important that we be informed about the effects of using the substance, who is benefiting from these new policies and how marijuana is impacting our communities.
How can I talk to my kids about marijuana and cannabis use?
How does marijuana affect your brain?
What does the research tell us?
Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, shares the latest research on the effects of marijuana on the developing brain.
Project SAM Research and discussion around changing marijuana policy, including the corporate influence on the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.
The Marijuana Report News and research on marijuana, including the effects of using marijuana products.
Rx (prescription) drugs can help manage chronic pain or stop a serious illness. But, if overprescribed or abused, Rx drugs can cause great harm to an individual, family or community. In some cases, the abuse and misuse of Rx drugs can lead to the addiction of other opioids, such as heroin. 77% of heroin users say they started using the drug after using an approved painkiller. This page contains information and research on the effects of Rx drugs and other opioids.
Opioid Addiction & Treatment
Information and research from the Vermont Department of Health.
Community Guide to Preventing Rx Drug Misuse
Provides some tips and resources for preventing the misuse of Rx drugs. Want a hard copy? Contact us and we’ll be sure to get you one or a whole stack!
WindhamRx
An amazing resource created by the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition with research, tools and tips.
Parents 360 Rx Toolkit
This amazing toolkit geared towards parents and caregivers consists of a video, discussion guide, documents and is available to individuals and organizations at no charge. While medicine abuse is the focus, the discussion may be guided to include other substance abuse topics as needed.
Drop Boxes for Medications
A video about the importance of drop boxes for your medication created by FACT TV.
We’ll be plugging more resources in as soon as we can. If you have information you would like to see on our site, Click Here and send us your ideas.
MDMA (“Molly” or “Ecstasy”)
A stimulant that can cause severe health effects. Here are a couple of articles and resources:
NIH Overview on the the health effects
New York Times article looking at the normalizing of the drug