Elizabeth D'Amico is a senior behavioral scientist at RAND and a licensed clinical psychologist. She is nationally known for her work on motivational interventions that help adolescents and young adults make healthier decisions, especially around alcohol and drug use. She leads a large and ongoing research project at RAND to
Engaging young people in advocacy, education & prevention
Creating social change around alcohol, drugs, and more
Creating social change around alcohol, drugs, and more
Resources for Youth
Originally, the mission of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) was to help young people say “No” to drinking and driving. Today, the mission has expanded. Students have told us that positive peer pressure, role modeling, and environmental strategies can prevent other destructive decisions and set a healthier, safer course for
The author of this post is going to be a junior in high school in Ventura County in the fall.
Are you stressed or depressed? Stress and depression are very similar but they have different affects on the body.
Stress is good for you when it motivates you, but not when it
This article was written with information taken from the International Overdose Awareness Day website and Ventura County Responds.
In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st, here's some information and resources about the signs and statistics of overdose.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the
This article is based on resources provided by Ventura County Behavioral Health.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young people aged 16 to 19. Teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
The following article is from Mental Health America's website.
July was designated as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the United States (US).
While the term ‘minority’ is traditionally associated with racial, ethnic, or cultural
In the mood to give this holiday season? We learned about some wonderful prevention charities in line with Straight Up's mission and hope you'll check them out!
Amy Winehouse Foundation
"Formed after the overdose death of the British soul singer in July 2011, The Amy Winehouse Foundation works to prevent the effects
"Bullying can have a lasting effect on a person's mental health: A new study finds that children who were bullied frequently when they were 8 years old were more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder that needed treatment as an adult, compared with kids who were not bullied.
The scientists also
*This post was written by Ventura County young adult, Alycia Eade.
Today, a major problem continues to fester in our society. Many people do not accept mental illness as an illness at all, simply because they cannot see a mental illness like they would a physical ailment. The disregard for the
*This post was written by Ventura High School Senior, Madison Jaffe.
Although at first glance substance abuse and eating disorders may seem unrelated, the root of their existence can be attributed to two basic themes: impulsivity and a need for control (nationaleatingdisorders.org, futuresofpalmbeach.com). Because both diseases stem from similar traits, research