President's Message - January 2024

As we welcome the new year, I want to begin by honoring the memory of a beloved member of our community, Virginia Smith Mead, known affectionately as Ginger or Gigi. Ginger, a vibrant soul and a passionate advocate for community service passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023. Her lifelong commitment to bettering the lives of those around her, including her significant support for Informed Families, has left an indelible mark on our organization and those we serve. Our deepest condolences go to the Mead family, as we celebrate Ginger’s remarkable life and legacy.

Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, leaders, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - July 2023

In today's interconnected world, it is evident that everything goes somewhere and is connected to everything else. 

Topics: President's Message, marijuana, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - May 2023

We’ve all heard of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-Step program, but often think it’s for other people, specifically alcoholics.

But I think if more of us took the values it contains to heart, we’d all be better off, both individually and as a society.

Topics: President's Message, marijuana, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - March 2023

When trying to teach our kids to avoid drugs and alcohol, doesn’t it
sometimes feel like we’re fighting a losing battle?

Topics: President's Message, marijuana, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - February 2023

How Do You Show Love to Your Brain and Heart? By Staying Drug-Free!

Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - January 2023

Let me start by wishing all of you a happy and healthy new year! And to thank you all for the work you’ve done over the last year to help keep our children safe from drugs of all kinds. We’ve accomplished some good things together, and I want to urge you to keep up the fight.

Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

President's Message - October 2022

Red Ribbon is about creating herd or community immunity to the alcohol and drug problems America is facing.

Topics: President's Message, teenagers, alcohol, Informed Families, teens, drugs

Congratulations to the FIVE WINNERS of the Informed Families Virtual Scavenger Hunt focused on the dangers of underage and binge drinking. They will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card for answering all of the game questions correctly. All winners were randomly selected.

1. Noelle Taylor – Collier County

2. Arbens Darius – Hillsborough County

3. Gio Vanegas – Miami-Dade County

4. Lelani Delgado – Orange County

5. Heather Newby – Seminole County

Informed Families would also like to congratulate Janine Mojica from Lake Nona High School in Orange County on winning a $50 Amazon gift card for having the most student participation in the Virtual Scavenger Hunt.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the game. We hope it was informative and fun. Stay tuned for future contests and games!

The correct answer to each question was posted on the Informed Families website at 9 PM the day after the question was sent out. Here are all the questions and answers in case you missed any or weren't able to join in the fun. 

Topics: underage drinking, alcohol, binge drinking, alcohol use, contest

Why Do We Turn Everything Into a Reason to Drink?

Social gatherings, bars and dining in restaurants are off limits for Cinco de Mayo this year, but many of us still plan to celebrate in some fashion - probably with a Mexican beer or margarita in hand. Have you ever stopped to think about why we turn everything into an opportunity to drink alcohol? Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

How did Cinco de Mayo (which commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862) turn into a bigger celebration day in the United States than Mexico? It’s all about selling you something of course. Cinco de Mayo really took off when beer companies started sponsoring Cinco de Mayo celebrations to promote and sell beer. Is this really that different from the advertising tactics employed by Big Tobacco?

Topics: President's Message, holidays, alcohol, social norms, alcohol use

According to the 2019 Monitoring the Future Survey:

• Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug by adolescents.
• One in four 12th graders say they vaped nicotine in the past month, along with 1 in 5 10th graders, and nearly 1 in 10 eighth graders.
• Many teens say they vape for the flavor, to experiment, for social reasons, or to feel good.
• From 2018-2019, the number of 12th graders saying they vape because they are "hooked" more than doubled to 8.1%, up from 3.6%.

Parents and educators can join others across the country to help students make informed decisions by sharing fact-based information about drugs and alcohol.

Topics: drug, alcohol, teens, nida, drug prevention, drugs, drug use, alcohol use, vaping