Teens & Drugs event - Resources & Recap

Miss our last community event, Getting Real about Teen Drug Use? No problem!

Here are some key resources and details about the extraordinary speakers from that evening, folks who are on the frontlines of the teen substance scene. We’re SO grateful to them for taking the time to share their stories and insight with us.

Simply put, the info below can save lives - please save this link and share widely with friends and family, far and wide. Because it really does take a village.

SPEAKER BIOS & RESOURCES

MVPD law enforcement officers:

RYAN SMITH (rsmith@cityofmillvalley.org ) has worked in Law Enforcement for 23 years, and has been a Sergeant with the MVPD for 14 years as a patrol officer, investigator, and Juvenile/School Resource Officer (SRO). Born and raised in Marin County, Ryan holds degrees in Administration of Justice and Criminal Justice as well as completing the Sherman Block SLI leadership academy—an 8-month program promoting/teaching quality leadership to fellow officers. Ryan joined us thanks to a California Department of Justice grant providing education to the community regarding tobacco and related drugs.

NICK NEISIUS (nneisius@cityofmillvalley.org) has been a Police Officer with the MVPD for 6 years. He’s currently serving as a Detective and School Resource Officer (SRO), spending time on the campuses of Mill Valley Middle School and Tam High, and developing relationships with the students. He serves as a resource to the administrations, teachers and parents on issues related to juvenile use of alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs. Nick was the staff liaison for the 2019/2020 Mill Valley Youth Advisory Committee.

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KORI STEVENSON ( reidkori@hotmail.com ) is a Marin mother and a recovering alcoholic and addict. She works as an educator for Being Adept, which teaches science-based drug prevention to teens at the local middle schools. Kori pairs her experience and understanding with humor and candid feedback about the reality of addiction and the ways we as a community can prevent it.

Besides the robust Being Adept website, here’s more recommended reading from Kori:

• Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders by Time Since First Substance Use Among Young People in the US

• Be the Influence  

• https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/myth-or-fact-marijuana-stronger-these-days

• https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/over-time-marijuana-use-dampens-brains-response-to-reward

• https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-marijuana-link

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MICHELLE LEOPOLD ( mich.leopold@comcast.net ) is a NorCal native, a 21-year Marinite, and a mom in all she does. When Michelle’s son Trevor started spiraling out of control from his drug use, she offered a lifeline to many families also suffering from the disease of addiction. After Trevor passed away in November 2019, Michelle became his voice, hoping to stop other young adults from following his path, and helping other families experiencing the catastrophic loss of a child. Since then, she has advocated against retail cannabis in Marin County, she founded the Nar-Anon Group Hope After Loss, and uses her social media platform to try to save other young adults from dying from addiction and/or fentapills.

Michelle’s contact info. Please feel free to call or email Michelle to discuss other resources. You are not alone. 

• email: mich.leopold@comcast.net

• Cell 415.302.4055

• Facebook: Michelle Saevke Leopold

• Coming soon: WeAreNotAlone.community website & Facebook group

Michelle’s Resources:

• DrugFree website and toll-free helpline 1-855-DRUGFREE - a great spot to start looking for answers and next steps

• Marin4PublicHealth.org - created by a grassroots collection of Marin County residents including local health care professionals, public health advocates, educators, parents (incl. me), and teens. We are united by our concern over the commercialization of cannabis, high potency products and the consequences on youth.

MARIJUANA

My Kid Smokes Pot (Marin Specific) This is the website Michelle created when Trevor started using pot regularly, sharing all her own research about Trevor’s marijuana use, and Marin resources. Looking back, it’s still pretty accurate 5 years later.

Johnny’s Ambassadors was created by Laura & John Stack to save our kids from the harms of marijuana. Their son Johnny died by suicide after becoming psychotic from high-potency dabs jumping off a building, thinking the mob was after him. Excellent educational resources for teens, parents, educators. Coincidentally, their son Johnny died 3 days after Trevor died.

FENTANYL (& other opiates)

RXSAFEMarin - information about opiates including getting Narcan (naloxone)

Song For Charlie was started by Charlie Ternan’s parents Ed & Mary, after Charlie died from taking one Fentapill at Santa Clara University, which he thought was percoset. Great videos & resources around fentapills, targeting 13-24 year olds

Facebook: The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition New group started this month to raise awareness of the rapidly increasing dangers of fentanyl

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/us/fentanyl-overdoses-san-francisco.html

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Overdoses-keep-piling-up-in-S-F-putting-city-in-16048227.php

ADDICTION – Support for Parents

Nar-Anon Help for loved ones of addicts. The Novato meeting literally saved Michelle’s life for the past 5 years. They meet Tuesdays at 7pm

Marin Al-Anon - The Mill Valley Parents’ Meeting is Saturday mornings at 10:00 am