Remembering Tyler Johnson

Today marks the 9th anniversary of losing a treasured member of the HC DrugFree family. Tyler Johnson was only 25 years old when he was killed during a shooting event at the Mall in Columbia on Saturday, January 25, 2014. As a frequent speaker at HC DrugFree programs, Tyler shared his experiences of teen drug…

How Much is Too Much?  Virtual Town Hall on Teen Stress in Howard County

How Much is Too Much? Virtual Town Hall on Teen Stress in Howard County

Some stress can be motivating, but too much can be debilitating.  So how do we help students learn how to effectively cope with academic pressure so they can be successful in all areas of their lives and prevent them from resorting to unhealthy coping strategies? Join us on Monday, January 9 from 5:30 p.m. to…

Parenting Class Shares Their Tricks of the Trade

Parenting Class Shares Their Tricks of the Trade

Another Guiding Good Choices parenting class series ended last week, and the parents who participated walked away with some great ideas and suggestions from other parents on how to handle different situations.  Great discussions were had on the pros and cons of paying children for chores and how to get buy-in and agreement from reluctant…

Summer Life Skills – That’s a Wrap!

Summer Life Skills – That’s a Wrap!

HC DrugFree completed another successful Life Skills program for middle school students last week. Twenty middle school students learned skills that will help them better navigate the social difficulties of adolescence, such as how to be assertive, make good choices, communicate clearly, and how to effectively cope with anxiety and anger. The class was taught…

Teens Discuss Marijuana Use

In a collaborative effort with the Kerala Cultural Society, recent HCPSS grad and member of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC), Adhithyaa Nair was interviewed by Sidhaarth Raghunath about issues related marijuana use in teens, including different perceptions about the safety of marijuana use, how it affects the nervous system both in the short and…

HC DrugFree Board Member Provides Unique Perspective to Pain Management Publication

HC DrugFree Board Member Provides Unique Perspective to Pain Management Publication

We are pleased to announce that HC DrugFree board member, Brian Morrison, DC, has contributed to a comprehensive medical textbook on pain management. As a chiropractor, he provides a unique perspective on integrative pain management that could provide valuable information to both future and current doctors regarding alternatives to opioids and other potentially habit-forming drugs.…

Senior Week Virtual Program Available

Senior Week Virtual Program Available

Congratulations Class of 2022! Before you head off to Senior Week, check out the “Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City” virtual program on the Senior Week page.

Another Successful Parenting Class Wraps Up

As another successful series of Guiding Good Choices parenting classes comes to a close, it is important to reflect on what was learned.  Beyond the topics addressed by the curriculum, this class raised some very practical and pertinent questions that many parents experience and just aren’t sure how to handle.  For example, the class discussed…

Ho Co Teens Didn’t Have All The Answers

Prior to volunteering for the Life Skills class, our older students were given the opportunity to test their own knowledge about drug and alcohol use and other topics from the Life Skills course.  While some of our older students are new to the program, others have volunteered previously and are familiar with the content.  In…

Haze Event for Teens and Parents

Haze Event for Teens and Parents

On November 15, 2021, a group of high school students, middle schools students, and parents joined HC DrugFree for a viewing and discussion of Haze, a documentary about a college student’s experience with alcohol overdose and hazing. Because the program was so well-received, HC DrugFree has decided to offer the opportunity to Howard County PTAs/PTSAs…