'Wake Up Call' program comes to Bryan Middle School Nov. 19

"Wake Up Call," a substance abuse education program, will be presented by Your Choice to Live Inc., and sponsored by Elmhurst's Commission on Youth from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Bryan Middle School, 111 W. Butterfield Road.

This event is for adults only. A resource fair will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Organizers say districts across the Midwest report that vaping and marijuana devices are the two most common contraband items students are getting caught with in school.

E-cigarette use, also known as vaping, is reaching epidemic proportions among teenagers.

According to the American Lung Association, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students have reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

According to the Surgeon General's health advisory, about one-third of middle and high school students who used e-cigarettes used them as a delivery device for marijuana.

There are many health concerns with e-cigarettes. Although some don't contain nicotine, e-cigarette juices use liquid nicotine extracted from tobacco and can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes.

There also are concerns about increased exposure to toxins, including heavy metals, chemical compounds and other fine particles that may get absorbed into the lungs.

The "Wake Up Call" presentation will begin by addressing current drug trends and then walk attendees through a life-size teen bedroom with more than 20 "red flags" that can signal drug or alcohol use.

The bedroom identifies spots where drugs can be hidden, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use.

"With the development of technology, kids have more access to information than ever before," said Sandi Lybert, founder of Your Choice to Live Inc. "If a person wants to get high, all they have to do is search the internet. If they want to hide drugs in their room, there are devices sold online to do so. As parents, it's hard to keep up with all the latest trends."

Lastly, attendees will learn practical prevention strategies to prevent substance abuse and where to go for help if they are concerned.

Attendees also will receive a "Wake Up Call" handbook, a 30-plus page comprehensive resource guide with current drugs trends, signs of abuse, hiding places and relevant paraphernalia, parenting tips and resources all in one place.

For details, contact Jackie at youthcommission630@gmail.com or a Your Choice team member at yourchoice.live@yahoo.com.