Wareham Connects

07/29/2025

🚨 Have you heard of Kratom? It's an unregulated substance showing up more and more in gas stations, smoke shops, and online—often marketed as a “natural” energy booster or stress reliever.

However Kratom is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act and the FDA has not approved Kratom for any medical use. The DEA has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern.

⚠️ Swipe to learn:
📌 What Kratom really is
📌 Why it can be harmful
📌 The health risks you need to know
📌 How it's being falsely advertised

07/28/2025

https://conta.cc/4mfLAcE

Email from Brockton Area Prevention Collaborative July Collaborative News!   Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative's July Newsletter July with Prevention BIPOC Mental Health Event On July 16th at Bro

07/14/2025

We’ve Redesigned Our Website!
Check out our new look — now with more info about community initiatives, events, and helpful resources for families and teens. Explore the updates and stay connected with our mission!

For Caregivers

07/08/2025

Jennifer Cantwell is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Within that role, Jen leads the Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Initiative and co-chairs the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force subcommittee on community coalitions. Jen is also the Project Coordinator for the COSSUP grant that funds the popular Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program.

The DEC Initiative raises awareness of the impact of familial substance use on children and trains schools and first responders in Plymouth County on trauma informed practices. Currently, the DEC Initiative is funded by a federal COSSUP grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the Department of Justice.

As Co-Chair of the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force subcommittee on community coalitions, Jen attends coalition meetings throughout the county and convenes meetings to facilitate the sharing of data, resources, and strategies among coalition leaders. Having helped establish the Marshfield FACTS community coalition in 2015, Jen brings both community-level and county-wide experience to the table.

We want to take a moment to recognize Jen for being an incredible asset to the Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative, as well as the Brockton Area Prevention Collaborative. JEn has played a key role in connecting us with meaningful partners that have helped us get some important intiatives off the ground, especially in communities and populations that can be harder to reach. Her commitment, resourcefulness, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable part of every coalition we facilitate. We truly couldn't do this work without her!

06/30/2025

Wrapping up Pride Month, we participated in the Plymouth Pride event on Sunday! It was so great meeting people from all over, we made some awesome connections and were able to pass out information, resources, Narcan, and free swag! 🏳️‍🌈🌟

06/05/2025

This week we hosted our Regional Meeting which brought together members of all 4 coalitions that make up the Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative: Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative, Wareham Connects, Carver Cares, and Middleboro Matters. We want to thank everyone who was able to make the meeting, both in person and online!

In this meeting we discussed
🌟Plymouth County Outreach data on fatal and nonfatal overdoses in each of the 4 towns
🌟Grant successes
🌟Successes and Challenges of each town and coalition
🌟Resources for communities
🌟Current substance use trends and things to look out for

05/28/2025

🌿 Support Minds in the Making — Keep Ma*****na Out of Reach

Youth are in one of the most important stages of brain development, when learning, memory, and focus are shaping their future. However, frequent ma*****na use during this time can interfere with all of that.
Chronic use in teens has been linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and even the onset of mental illness in those already predisposed.

But here’s the good news:
✨ We can help protect young people by limiting their access, having open conversations, and creating supportive environments that promote well-being and healthy choices.

Let’s work together — as parents, mentors, and community members — to give youth the clarity, confidence, and care they need to thrive.

05/20/2025

🧠 Lock Your Liquor — Protect Developing Minds!

Did you know a person’s brain continues developing well into their mid-20s? That means alcohol can have a lasting impact on learning, memory, and decision-making, especially for teens.

🚫 Early alcohol use isn’t just risky, it can interfere with brain development and significantly increase the risk of addiction later in life.

You can make a difference! By locking up your alcohol and talking openly about the risks, you help reduce youth access and protect the next generation from harm.

🔐 Be aware. Be proactive. Be the reason a teen makes a safer choice.

05/14/2025

You might not realize it, but leaving alcohol accessible at home or allowing underage drinking—even if you’re not the one pouring—is against the law in Massachusetts. Under the MA Social Host Law, providing alcohol to anyone under 21 can result in up to $2,000 in fines and/or 1 year in jail.
It’s not just about the legal consequences. It’s about protecting our youth and creating safer communities. Teen drinking increases the risk of accidents, poor decisions, and long-term health issues. It’s on all of us to be aware, take action, and keep alcohol out of reach.

🛑 Don’t take the risk.
🔒 Lock your liquor.
✅ Be the adult who sets the standard.

05/12/2025

🔒 Lock Your Liquor. Protect Our Future.
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S.and it’s not as harmless as it might seem. Right now, 1 in 12 adults struggle with an alcohol use disorder.

Here’s the part we can change:
💡 Teens who start drinking early are 4x more likely to develop an addiction later in life.

That’s why it’s so important to limit youth access to alcohol and the best way to do that is to start right at home. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or adult in the community, your choices matter.

Lock it up. Talk about it. Be the example. Let’s raise awareness.

03/24/2025

The Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative is dedicated to engaging, connecting, and empowering our community through prevention and education initiatives. Join us for our upcoming coalition meetings in Carver, Wareham, and Middleboro, where we will address substance use and mental health challenges. Together, we can make a difference.

https://conta.cc/3Y0K702

Email from Brockton Area Prevention Collaborative March Collaborative News!     Engage Connect Empower The Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative is your local resource for prevention, education, and

02/19/2025

Stay up to date with the Plymouth Area Collaborative

Email from Brockton Area Prevention Collaborative February Collaborative News!     Engage Connect Empower The Plymouth Area Prevention Collaborative is your local resource for prevention, education, a