April 2021
Substance Abuse Prevention News from the
Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force
Dear STAND-UP Friends,

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month! Parents, talk to your teens about drinking and other drugs. Even if it does not seem like it, they are listening. Set clear rules and make sure your teens know what your expectations are.

Spring is here! Teens want to hang out with their friends. Parents, we urge you to keep our teens healthy and safe by providing socially distanced, alcohol/drug-free places for them to hang out and also to monitor the space often throughout the evening. Find creative ways for teens to have fun with their friends while still being safe.

A reminder to parents about local and state social host ordinances... Mundelein Social Host Ordinance 9.80 prohibits anyone from providing, permitting, or failing to prevent consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs by a minor. Violators can face fines up to $750 and associated costs.

New In this issue:
  • Upcoming Meetings JOIN US WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14th at 8:30 am on Zoom!
  • "How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You" Article
  • Free trainings about marijuana
  • Mundelein STAND-UP Amazon Smile Account
  • Youth Summer Employment Opportunity
  • Free CLC Event

Keep Scrolling to see:
  • FREE Marijuana Webinars for Parents and Toolkit
  • Teen Resource Guide
  • Vaping Toolkit
  • Information on 211

Upcoming Monthly STAND-UP Task Force Meetings: APRIL 14, 2021, 8:30 am - 9:30 am on Zoom


Thank you for helping us to keep our kids drug-free.
The STAND-UP Team
Support Mundelein STAND-UP through Amazon Smile

Would you like to support a great cause while you shop? If you are buying something on Amazon, we would LOVE you to support the Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force at the same time! It's so easy to do with Amazon Smile... Select us as your charity, and as you shop, a donation will automatically be made to us at no cost to you.

Follow these four simple steps:

2. Log in to your Amazon account 
3. Search for and select Mundelein STAND-UP as your charity
4. Do your shopping and remember to always use Amazon Smile for all of your purchases!
Shopping through Amazon Smile is an easy way to support the Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force.
Parents, what you say is important, your teen is listening! Talk to your teens, set rules, and also listen to them. Click the link below to read the article, "How to Talk Your Teen About Substance Use" by Rae Jacobson which can be found on Child Mind Institute website. There are many great resources on this website about several different topics. Check out the article and website HERE.
Kathleen Nelson-Simley is a leading substance use prevention and youth development trainer, coach and consultant who has worked with over 100,000 people globally. She has 34 years of experience and has worked with schools, community-based youth programs and non-profits. Kathleen has also been a trainer for a national prevention research-based company and now owns her own business- KNS Learning Solutions. In her article, How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You, Kathleen discusses how to talk to your teens. Kathleen's website has great information and you can sign up to receive her blog by email.
To read her full article, click here.
Watch Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director, talk to parents about teens and drug use.

Watch the video here.
Mark your calendar!
Here's what's happening at upcoming
STAND-UP meetings and events

Student Meetings

Student meetings will look a little different this year, but we are still active! We meet Wednesdays at 3PM on zoom. Email Susi for more info about joining our student team: sorellana@nicasa.org
Study Shows Vaping Increases Risk of Covid-19 Infection
"According to the study, led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Adolescent Health, teens and young adults who vape are five times more likely to become infected with the coronavirus compared with those who did not use e-cigarettes. Those who both vaped and traditionally smoked were nearly seven times more likely to become infected.
'Young people may believe their age protects them from contracting the virus or that they will not experience symptoms of COVID-19, but the data show this isn’t true among those who vape,' said the study’s lead author, Shivani Mathur Gaiha.'" Read the full article here.
Parent Webinars on Marijuana from Johnny's Ambassadors:

Non-profit organization,Johnny’s Ambassadors, offers expert education for parents on youth substance abuse, mental health, and suicide prevention. These webinars are FREE for participants, due to the kind donations from their supporters. If you can’t attend “live,” register anyway, as the recording will be provided afterward to all participants.
When you register, you’ll receive login information and updates via email.
NOTE: All times listed are in the Mountain time zone on the web page.

Check out some of the upcoming presentations.

Click HERE for the line up of other FREE expert presentations.
Vaping Toolkit for Parents!
Brought to you by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids


What's in the guide?

What is Vaping?
  • How Does Vaping Work?
  • What Do Vape Devices Look Like?
  • What Is Being Vaped?
  • What Is Vaping’s Appeal?

Is Vaping Safe?
  • Marijuana and Vaping
  • How Is Vaping Regulated?

What Should Parents Know
  • What Are the Signs of Vaping?
  • What Can Parents Do to Safeguard Against Vaping?
  • What to Say When Your Teen Asks...
More Resources
Learn about the brain and addiction in less than 4 minutes!
Vaping & Tobacco
Where to Find Help

Mundelein Community Resource Guide
Research shows that the more teens are engaged in creative activities, programs, sports, the faith community, and/or serving their community the more likely they are to grow up to be healthy, caring, and responsible individuals. The resource guide contains some of the many opportunities that exist in our community to help our teens stay happy, healthy and drug-free. Please share within our school or organization. The guide is available in both English and Spanish. 

If you need help or if you think your child/someone you know may be using drugs, first, take a deep breath. There are resources in the community that can help you. Contact Nicasa Behavioral Health Services to learn more about next steps. Help is close by! 847-546-6450

Text-A-Tip 
Text-A-Tip is a 24/7 anonymous text-communication system for youth who need emotional support. Once you send a message through Text-A-Tip, within seconds, you will receive an automated response, and within minutes a mental health counselor will respond to your text. While the line is intended for crisis situations, you do not need to be in crisis to use the service. You can also use Text-A-Tip if you have concerns about a friend or loved one and need support in getting them help.
It's simple! Just text: LAKECO (and your message) to the number 844-823-5323.

A Way Out
This program was designed to fast-track users to substance abuse programs and services. The program is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Mundelein Police Department and other participating police departments throughout Lake County. The program ensures no criminal charges will be sought for those that may be in possession of narcotics or paraphernalia, as long as assistance is sought out by the prospective program participant.
Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force
 Task Force Chairman: MPD Officer Stephen Balogh
Task Force Director of Strategic Planning and Development: Don Hansen MPD 
(847) 968-3770
Task Force Coordinator: Annalise Morelli | amorelli@nicasa.org 
Task Force Bilingual Community Outreach Specialist: Susana Orellana | sorellana@nicasa.org
STAY CON (847) 201-7219NECTED