Here is a look at a few activities SAFE will be working on in the month of March and April!

Did you know that 83% of youth in the SAFE region choose not to use weed.  SAFE youth have created two new public service announcements to help their peers realize most youth don't use weed. The students show all the things they enjoy while being drug-free. Watch the PSAs at the links below:                                                                         83%-SAFE youth                                                                                                                                                                  83% SAFE youth #2

SAFE youth recently gathered to create new PSAs encouraging their peers about safe ways to handle stress, and reaffirming to teens that "we are all in this together." Youth from Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties gathered to record the PSAs and share how they personally manage stressful times. Watch our awesome youth shine in the public service announcements linked below. The PSAs will be broadcast on TV, radio and before movies at the local movie theaters. This was a large effort, put together by youth, adult members and area sponsors!  PSA links:
ANTRIM COUNTY YOUTH PSA
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY YOUTH PSA
EMMET COUNTY YOUTH PSA

Throughout October 2021, SAFE provided 280 Vape Quit Kits and 13 vape disposal boxes to schools across Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties. The project is a partnership between SAFE, school staff and Nurses/Nurse Practitioners/Behavioral Health Providers at the school.  School nurses/behavioral health providers are able to provide a quit kit to youth who may discuss with them that they interested in quitting vaping. The kits include the following tools to help them quit: My Life, My Quit Business Card (check out the for more information about this program: https://mylifemyquit.com/); Piggy Bank, representing of all the money they will save not vaping; chewing gum; fidget toy; Starburts; Tic Tacs; and rubber bands. Youth who would like to quit can dispose of vapes in the vape disposal box. SAFE staff will then properly dispose of the vapes through hazardous waste collection once they are collected from the clinics. Additionally, school staff that confiscates vapes can properly dispose of vapes in the box.

Kits to help students quit vaping or properly dispose of vaping materials are being placed in 17 school-based health programs throughout the Health Department of Northwest Michigan's four-county jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties.  The health department purchased and is providing each location with the following: 

Vape/Electronic Nicotine Device (ENDs) Disposal Boxes: The boxes are locked secure mailboxes. Youth who would like to quit can dispose of vapes in the box. Additionally, school staff who confiscate vapes can properly dispose of them in the box. As needed, a health department Substance Use Prevention (SUP) team member will collect and properly dispose of the vapes from the disposal box at each clinic.  

Vape Quit Kits: Youth who visit a school Child Adolescent Health Center and share with health department staff they would like to quit vaping will receive a kit containing various tools to assist them with the quitting process, such as chewing gum, a sensory fidget toy, and most importantly the "My Life, My Quit" business card. 

Read the complete media release

SAFE previously created a traveling trailer that demonstrates to parents and caregivers ways teens may be concealing substance use, in plain sight.  Southern Providence County (SPC) Regional Prevention Coalition in Rhode Island created this virtual interactive version of the bedroom that is available online, and has graceiously allowed us to share it. The virtual mock bedroom allows users to navigate around the bedroom and learn common ways and places drugs and alcohol are hidden. Parents are the #1 prevention tool in helping keep their youth drug and alcohol free. Tour the virtual bedroom here to educate yourself. 

SAFE in Northern Michigan provides free locks for families to use to keep alcohol, medication and other substance safely locked up. SAFE also provides free alcohol and drug testing kits. The locks and kits are available at Health Department of Northwest Michigan offices in Emmet, Charlevoix and Antrim counties, as well as the Mancelona Family Resource Center. Click here for addresses of these locations.