Over 78 students were trained on over the counter medicine safety guidelines as well as vaping dangers as a part of our Train-The-Trainer event on Wednesday, April 4th. The students gathered together at the Manchester Community Health Center from Memorial HS, Trinity HS, West HS, Central HS, McLaughlin MS, Hillside MS, Southside MS, Goffstown HS & Bedford HS to learn from fabulous presenter Laurie Warnock from Northern New England Poison Center. The goal of this event was to learn to be trainers on over the counter drugs & e-cigs/vapes to present to elementary and middle school students. This method follows a peer-to-peer approach that empowers the youth trainers and engages 5th & 6th graders in a way that resonates with them and supports prevention.
What the youth had to say!
“I leaned how the widespread marketing of e-cigarettes and vaping targets youth.”
“A kitchen spoon is not a good measurement instrument for medicine!”
“Vaping is not just water vapor! It’s a fad …. but what you get out of it is an addiction to nicotine.”
“Vaping is a trend that can leave permanent damage to your lungs.”
“Parents need to know this information! They have no idea what vaping is, and how dangerous it is.”
“E-cigarette companies are using the same marketing techniques as big tobacco — their ad techniques are almost identical!”
“I didn’t know that there were permanent drop-boxes for unused medicine at all of our police departments.”
“If in doubt, call the Poison Center — they know everything! 1-800-222-1222.”
“I didn’t know that much about E-cigarettes and now I feel prepared to talk to younger kids about it. And I also now have some good tools to use when teaching 5th and 6th graders about different issues.”
Thank you to all of the advisors, trainers, and sponsors who made this event such a huge success. Special thanks to Program Coordinator, Pam Santa Fe, for pulling it all together!
