SCAN Futuros Sin Barreras YPI Starr Program

09/02/2025

National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), which started in 1989, is observed every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible.

SAMHSA aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery. In the years since Recovery Month launched, SAMHSA has timed announcements of initiatives and grant funding during Recovery Month, while collaborating with private and public entities to celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries.

08/29/2025

Rio Grande City has passed a new ordinance banning the sale of v**e products within 1,000 feet of schools, as city leaders work to curb the rise of v**e shops and youth va**ng.

08/25/2025

International Overdose Awareness Day August 31 is recognized around the globe as International Overdose Awareness Day. The 2025 theme is “One Big Family," highlighting the importance of coming together as a community to prevent overdoses.

We often instinctively protect our own – our children, our parents, our siblings. We believe in second chances for our loved ones but struggle to extend that same compassion to others. But what if we saw each other as one big family, bound not just by blood, but by shared experiences, responsibility and commitment to each other?

08/20/2025

Overdose Awareness Week 2025 | International Overdose Awareness Day 2025
During Overdose Awareness Week, we come together to remember the lives lost to overdose, support those still struggling, and take meaningful action toward change.

Additionally, August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global, annual campaign to end overdose. SAMHSA mourns with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to overdose, and we renew our commitment to preventing these tragic deaths.

SAMHSA’s commitment during Overdose Awareness Week and every week reflects the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy priorities to reduce overdose deaths, stop drug use before it starts, and increase access to treatment. Together, we’re working to protect Americans, build stronger communities, and Making America Healthy Again.

08/11/2025

Back to school and drug prevention
As students head back to school, it's a crucial time to address the topic of drug prevention. Here's how schools, families, and communities can work together:
1. Open communication and education
Parents: Initiate conversations with your children about the dangers of substance use, including alcohol, to***co, and other drugs, at an early age. Listen to their questions and concerns, offering honest and accurate information without judgment. Research shows that when parents actively discuss substance use with their children, they are less likely to develop problems with drugs and alcohol.
Schools: Implement evidence-based drug education programs into the curriculum that provide accurate information about the effects of substance use on physical and mental health. Invite guest speakers and organize workshops to further engage students and provide them with valuable insights.
Students: Be empowered to think critically about choices, develop refusal skills to handle peer pressure, and understand the consequences of substance use. Resources like the DEA's "Just Think Twice" website offer credible information for teens.
2. Building a supportive environment
Schools: Create a safe and inclusive environment where students feel comfortable seeking help and voicing concerns about substance use. Foster school connectedness and positive peer relationships, which can act as protective factors against substance abuse. Provide access to counseling, therapy, and peer support programs for students who may be struggling.
Parents: Be actively involved in your child's life, attending school events and fostering strong relationships with teachers and school staff. Encourage participation in positive activities and hobbies that promote healthy development and peer relationships.
Community: Support community-based programs that provide safe spaces and activities for young people. Collaborate with schools to offer resources and support to address substance abuse within the community.
3. Recognizing and addressing challenges
Parents: Be aware of potential signs of substance use, such as changes in mood, behavior, academic performance, or friendships, and seek professional help if needed.
Schools: Train staff to recognize students at risk and implement early intervention strategies. Provide support for students in recovery and those whose family members are affected by addiction.
Important reminders
Mental health matters: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasize the link between mental health and substance use, highlighting that many teens may turn to substances to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression.
Fentanyl awareness: Be informed about the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, as this illegally made substance has been linked to a rise in overdose deaths among young people.
By creating a culture of open communication, education, and support, schools, families, and communities can work together to help students make healthy choices and thrive

08/06/2025

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), criminal organizations and drug traffickers are using emojis to buy and sell counterfeit pills and other illegal drugs on social media and e-commerce platforms like Snapchat and Facebook.

07/30/2025

What is tianeptine?

In some countries, tianeptine is licensed and marketed as an atypical antidepressant. It is believed to act via glutamate modulation and is a full mu- and weak delta-opioid receptor agonist.1 In countries where it is an approved drug, the typical labeled dose to treat depression is 12.5 mg orally three times daily. Higher doses can produce euphoria, and some countries have restricted how tianeptine is prescribed and dispensed or revised the drug label to warn of possible addiction.2

In the U.S., tianeptine is not currently scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. In addition, tianeptine is not approved by the FDA for any medical use, is not generally recognized as safe for use in food, and does not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient. Nevertheless, tianeptine is being marketed as a “research chemical,” a “nootropic” cognitive enhancer, or a dietary supplement.

Tianeptine is frequently available at convenience stores, gas stations, v**e shops, and online retailers. Product names include, for example, Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red. Tianeptine has also been referred to as “gas station heroin.” Case reports in the medical literature describe U.S. consumers ingesting daily doses on the order of 1.3 to 250 times (50 mg to 10,000 mg) the daily tianeptine dose typically recommended in labeled foreign drug products.

07/24/2025

07/16/2025

What you need to know about cannabis use and teens
The teen years are a time of growth, exploration, and risk-taking. Some risk-taking may foster identity development and independence (e.g., running for student council, asking someone out on a date). However, some risk behaviors—such as using cannabis—can have adverse effects on a teen's health and well-being.

How many teens use cannabis?
In 2022, 30.7% of US high school 12th graders reported using cannabis in the past year, and 6.3% reported using cannabis daily in the past 30 days. Past-year va**ng of cannabis declined from 2020 to 2021 and remained steady in 2022 following large increases in 2018 and 2019. However, many middle and high school students still reported past-year cannabis va**ng in 2022—6% of eighth graders, 15% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders.

07/09/2025

-Addictive use of social media, video games, and mobile phones is here and an adolescent crisis
-A new study shows that compulsive smartphone use—not total screen time—is the key to psychiatric risk.
-Addictive phone use among children and adolescents is linked to anxiety and suicidal thinking and behavior.
While most research focuses on total screen time, this study showed that addictive screen use was the critical link to suicidality and mental health disorders. The study followed 4,300 U.S. youths aged 9–10 for four years. The researchers used machine learning to identify trajectories of addictive screen use—characterized by compulsive behavior, distress when unable to use screens, and use to escape problems—for social media, phones, and video games.

07/02/2025

From 2019 to 2023, there were 2,653 traffic crash fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday period.

In 2023, 617 people died in traffic crashes during the Fourth of July holiday period.
38% (233) of those fatalities occurred in drunk driving crashes.
Of those who died in drunk driving crashes, 27% were in a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration at or above .15 g/dL - almost twice the legal limit in almost every state.

Stay safe this Fourth of July weekend!

06/25/2025

Texas seems to be in the limelight regarding ma*****na/thc laws.
We are here to keep you updated with credible sources and the latest information.
No, ma*****na is not legal in Texas. However, CBD oil, an extract of the ma*****na plant, is legal for medical purposes in the state. Currently, CBD products are not subject to thorough monitoring or testing by the Federal Drug Administration, so there is minimal quality control as to what
ingredients they contain.
Recreational or medical ma*****na use is not legal in Texas. However, low-THC cannabis oil is permitted for medical use
W**d possession of any amount is illegal in Texas. Individuals who possess up to two ounces of w**d may face Class B misdemeanor charges
The cultivation of ma*****na is illegal in Texas
Penalties for illegal possession or cultivation of w**d depend on the weight of the plant found on the offender.
Source: https://texascannabis.org/laws