Beyond The Bell

Guess What Week It Is???? National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week - Where we provide FACTS in order to SHATTER the myths about drugs and alcohol. MONDAY MYTH - There are no long-term risks associated with drinking alcohol in the teen years.... MONDAY FACT: Alcohol use increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life!! Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK - CHOOSE NOT TO DRINK BEFORE THE LEGAL AGE TO DO SO!!!!

PARENTS - DID YOU KNOW???? - You may be unwittingly supplying alcohol to your underage youth! Many parents never think to check the supply of their own liquor cabinet at home. Youth may take advantage of this fact and subsequently take and use alcohol right out of their parent's liquor cabinet with parents never being the wiser. The brain develops from birth to around age 25. According to drugfreeworld.org, underage drinking during the teenage years can lead to lifelong damage to brain functions in the areas of memory, motor skills, and coordination. Alcohol use in teens also leads to making bad decisions and poor choices. Talk often with your youth about the dangers of underage alcohol use and monitor the content of your liquor cabinet!!

To better understand how alcohol and marijuana impacts our communities we conducted community needs and readiness assessments. Based on collected data we chose these evidence-based strategies to effectively address the need. https://beyondthebellkids.org/

DO YOU SMOKE OR VAPE? DO YOU LIVE IN A HOME WITH SOMEONE WHO SMOKES OR VAPES? DO YOU, OR THE PERSON YOU LIVE WITH, NEED HELP QUITTING? Please take the following survey. https://beyondthebellkids.org/ask-advise-refer/

We are so proud to announce that Beyond The Bell is celebrating its 19th Anniversary!!! On this day, 19 years ago, Executive Director Sandra Dean, opened the doors of Beyond The Bell to be of service to the youth and parents of DeKalb County. Her vision grew to extend needed services to Rockdale, Chatham, and Upson counties over those 19 years. Today, Beyond The Bell is steadfast in its mission to prevent underage substance use and to provide its communities with the requisite knowledge to be informed about trends and statistics and to empower our youth to make good decisions. Together - with parents, youth, and the community, Beyond The Bell is making a difference in the lives of our youth!! Please join us in wishing Beyond The Bell and Ms. Dean the happiest of anniversaries!!

If you are between the ages of 9-20, have a child between these ages, or would like to help get involved in Beyond The Bell, please message one of our local communities on our contact us page or by calling them directly. https://beyondthebellkids.org/