President's Message - February 2023
How Do You Show Love to Your Brain and Heart? By Staying Drug-Free!
February is such an exciting time for all of us!
We get to spoil our loved ones in the Month of Love and we also announce the 2023 Red Ribbon Theme! This year’s theme “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free” ties perfectly with February, encompassing our mind and heart and what it means to live Drug-Free.
Not only is it important to love and care for our loved ones, but to be able to do so, we must love our brains and heart. The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. Our brains determine our actions, how we feel, and think, and who we are! Isn’t that fascinating? It’s imperative that we take care of our brains, so we can continue to work together and educate our community.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (2022), drugs hinder the way neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters.
Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body. Drugs disrupt our natural neurotransmitters by interfering with parts of our brains and messing up simple human emotions and activities. Our body is made up of connectors and transmitters that send messages from the brain to wiggle our toes or fingers, or most importantly our heartbeat.
So this month, let’s consider how grateful we are to have a healthy brain and heart that work together to make us happy, loved, and excited.
Show us how you are kind to your mind by participating in this year’s theme “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free” and let’s continue our support for a healthy and safe Drug-Free America.
Happy Valentine’s Day and I hope show love to yourself and your loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
-Peggy Sapp, President & CEO
