Youth Substance Use Prevention

It Only Takes One

On January 30, 2024 the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth joined First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares to launch the website ItOnlyTakesOneVA.com which raises awareness about the deadly effects of fentanyl.

VFHY assisted in creating the website and conducted an environmental scan to compile what resources are already available to educate Virginians of the dangers of fentanyl and these resources are from a number of different public and private entities engaging the public on this topic.

UNFAZED

Unfazed is VFHY’s health communications campaign about preventing youth marijuana and cannabis products use and is currently implemented in Virginia. This campaign uses straightforward, relevant facts and an empathetic tone to empower teens to avoid using marijuana and cannabis products.

Prior to the launch of Unfazed, VFHY completed the largest statewide research initiative ever in the Commonwealth of Virginia regarding cannabis use among teens 13-18 years old.

VFHY’s research revealed that 39% of Virginia youth have tried cannabis, including most of them using in the past year. Also, 71% of teens ages 15-17 perceive cannabis use once or twice a week as moderate to no risk to their health.

The brains of young people don’t fully develop until age 25 and regular use of these products during the early years of brain development can lead to changes in the brain.¹ Research shows that youth who use cannabis regularly may be at higher risk for long-term addiction² and poor academic achievement.³

Brain Development Facts

Brain Development Fact 01

Albert Batalla , Sagnik Bhattacharyya, Murat Yucel, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Jose Alexandre Crippa, Santiago Nogue, Marta Torrens, et al. 2013. “Structural and Functional Imaging Studies in Chronic Cannabis Users: A Systematic Review of Adolescent and Adult Findings.” PLoS ONE. 8(2): e55821. (Reviewed in National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. P. 271-275).

Brain Development Fact 02

Rioux, C., Castellanos-Ryan, N., Parent, S., Vitaro, F., Tremblay, R. E., & Séguin, J. R. (2018). Age of cannabis use onset and adult drug abuse symptoms: A prospective study of common risk factors and indirect effects. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(7), 457-464.

Brain Development Fact 03

John Macleod, Rachel Oakles, Alex Copello, Ilana Crome, Matthias Egger, Mathew Hickman, Thomas Oppenkowski, et al. 2004. “Psychological and social sequelae of cannabis and other illicit drug use by young people: A systematic review of longitudinal, general population studies.” Lancet. 363(9421):1579-1588. (Reviewed in National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. P. 271-275).

Be alerted when new youth substance use prevention funding is available

Implementing Evidence-Based Programs to Prevent Youth Substance Use

Most of the evidence-based tobacco, nicotine, and vaping prevention or cessation programs that VFHY supports either specifically discuss the dangers or offer youth some relevant information about these other substances.

Of the 50 organizations currently delivering tobacco/nicotine prevention or cessation instruction to youth, 29 are implementing at least one program that specifically discusses the dangers of other substances, and an additional 19 are implementing at least one program that offers some relevant information about other substances.

Delta-8 THC Is Rising in Popularity with Teens – Here’s What You Need to Know

A new substance is making headlines for its growing popularity among youth.

Temu Revealed: The E-Commerce Giant’s Controversial Sales of Smoking and Drug Paraphernalia

Trending e-commerce site Temu seems to be everywhere, from the Super Bowl to social media, offering tempting deals on clothes, toys, gadgets, and … tobacco products?

Youth Empowerment

Learn how we are creating life-long healthy habits for the youngest Virginians

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Out of all the grants my organization receives, VFHY provides the most support and communication. I do not hesitate to call my grant administrator should I have a problem.

Anonymous VFHY Grantee