Central MetroWest Substance Awareness & Prevention Collaborative

09/29/2025

We’re excited to kick off CMSAPC’s new "Talk Early. Talk Often." youth cannabis prevention campaign with an engaging, one-hour webinar next week. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, coach, health professional, or a community member who cares about young people, this session is for you.

A Discussion on Youth Cannabis Use (Webinar)
When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Where: Zoom (link provided after registration)
🔗 https://www.tinyurl.com/CMSAPCWebinar

What you’ll learn:
✅ The latest on how cannabis affects the developing teen brain and overall health
✅ Signs to watch for and ways to respond with care
✅ Practical, age-appropriate conversation starters for families and schools
✅ What’s changing in local use patterns and policies—and why it matters
✅ Supports and resources available in our region

Our featured speaker, Dr. Safdar Medina, is a pediatrician affiliated with UMass Memorial and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School. He sees patients at Tri River Health Center in Uxbridge, with a focus on treating mental health and substance use in adolescents. Dr. Medina is also a member of Encompass, the Northborough/Southborough Substance Use Prevention Coalition, and has spoken widely over the years on youth substance use and prevention.

We will also hear from Shea Finnegan, who will share his personal story of struggle and recovery. Growing up in Douglas, Massachusetts, Shea had what many would call a normal childhood filled with sports, friends, and family. But at 14, he began using substances, which led to challenges with mental health, addiction, and setbacks in school. After entering Herren Wellness in 2022, Shea began his recovery journey and has since dedicated his life to helping others. He has worked as a Recovery Counselor at Charles River Recovery, a Peer Support Specialist with teens in state care, and now serves as a Wellness Associate at Herren Wellness — the same place where he found his own path to recovery.

We hope you can join us for this important opportunity to learn, ask questions, and join us in starting the conversation early and often with the youth in our lives!

09/18/2025

✨ This Sunday! ✨
Join us for “I’ll Never Do That” a powerful live performance that shares one family’s hidden struggles with addiction. As a parent falls deeper into substance use, the rest of the family must cope with the pain, challenges, and impact that remind us addiction is a “family disease.”

Presented by 2nd Act, a collective of artists in recovery, this moving story uses theater to break stigma and open up conversation about recovery and hope.

📍 Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe St
🗓️ Sunday, Sept. 21 | 4:00 PM
🎟️ Free admission | Registration encouraged

This event is recommended for adults & teens.

08/20/2025

Here are some clips from our recent Recovery Roundtable with WMCT-TV!

We sat down to talk about the importance of early conversations between parents and kids when it comes to cannabis and substance use. Prevention truly starts at home.

Want to see the full conversation? ➡️ Check out the full interview now on WMCT-TV’s YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook channels.

Thank you to WMCT-TV for producing and sharing this important content.

08/19/2025

We’re proud to share this recent WMCT-TV interview featuring our coordinator, Mike, highlighting the work of the Central MetroWest Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative (CMSAPC).

In the conversation, Mike explains how our seven-community coalition is working together to support parents and caregivers with the tools they need to talk with youth about cannabis.

From conversation tips to evidence-based facts, our campaign is designed to make those tough conversations a little easier—and a lot more effective.

Watch the full interview here ⬇️ and please consider sharing with your friends so we can reach even more viewers. Thanks for tuning in!

In this episode of Marlborough Minute, host Ryan Malyar welcomes three passionate community leaders who are making a real impact in the fight against substan...

07/31/2025

Whether it’s a hiking trail, a coffee shop, or a favorite bench in the park—every town has its hidden gems.

👣 Where do you and your family like to go to relax, recharge, or just be together?

💬 Drop your go-to local spot in the comments! You might inspire another family to try something new this week. Bonus points if you share a photo!

07/29/2025

MetroWest families -- we’re all looking for fun, positive, healthy things to do without breaking the bank...

📚 Storytime at the library?
🚴 A favorite bike route?
🎨 Craft kits from a local nonprofit?
🎵 Live music or performances at a local park?

Let us know: 💬 What’s your family’s favorite free or affordable activity, event, or place to visit around town? Tell us below and let’s build a local list of ideas!

07/01/2025

You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to be willing to talk.

Presence > perfection.

06/29/2025

Talking with your child about cannabis doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to happen.

Many parents wait for a “right time” or think their child isn’t ready.

But research shows: the earlier, the better.

✅ Here’s how to make those conversations easier:

Start small – Bring it up during a drive, walk, or TV show.

Stay calm – Keep your tone open and curious.

Be clear – Share your expectations around substance use.

Listen – Ask what they’ve heard at school or online.

Repeat – One talk isn’t enough. Check in often.

06/27/2025

How often do you talk with your child about peer pressure or healthy decision-making?

🗣️ It doesn’t need to be a big sit-down talk—small, honest conversations matter.

Try asking:

- “What would you do if someone offered you something you’re not sure about?”

- “How do your friends talk about cannabis or alcohol?”

Start where they are. Listen first.

06/25/2025

Talk early. Talk often.

Start the conversation before they’re exposed.

Your voice matters more than you think.

05/28/2025

With changing laws and growing cultural acceptance, it’s easy for young people to assume cannabis is harmless — or even healthy. But cannabis use can pose real risks, especially for teens.

Here’s what teens and parents should know:

🧠 Cannabis affects the developing brain.
Using cannabis heavily at a young age can:

Impair memory, learning, and attention

Increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and psychosis

Lower motivation and school performance

🚗 It can also put teens at risk for accidents and addiction.
Teens who use cannabis may:

Be more likely to get into car crashes

Struggle with chronic bronchitis or lung issues

Develop cannabis use disorder (addiction) over time

Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s safe. Parents and caregivers can help by offering honest, age-appropriate information and setting clear boundaries. Reinforce that delaying use is the best choice for health, safety, and success.

05/23/2025

Summer brings warm weather, free time, and fun with friends — but it also comes with increased risk for teen substance misuse. Without the structure of school, teens may have more opportunities (and temptations) to experiment.

🌞 Here are a few ways families can help teens stay safe and substance-free during summer:

📅 Keep a routine.
Encourage a balance of relaxation and responsibility — like chores, summer jobs, or volunteering.

🧭 Set expectations.
Just because school’s out doesn’t mean rules are. Be clear about curfews, supervision, and substance use.

📲 Stay in touch.
Know where your teen is, who they’re with, and what their plans are.

🚗 Talk about safety.
Reinforce the dangers of impaired driving, riding with someone under the influence, or mixing substances.

🌟 Create opportunities.
Help teens find fun, safe activities like community events, sports leagues, art programs, or day trips.

Summer should be a time of fun and freedom — and with the right support, it can be safe and healthy too.