Resources

THE BRITE BLOG

We share the voices, opinions and stories of many Ventura County youth and young adults here. Not all posts reflect the opinion of BRITE or our sponsors. Managed by Ashley Heatherly.

Reality Parties for Parents: A Parent’s Perspective

A parent discusses her experience letting her kids drink underage, and the valuable lessons she learned while attending our Reality Party for Parents.

Anonymous

Apr 14, 20242 min read

A graphic that reads, "Ventura County Rx Take Back Day" in orange writing next to a picture of a hand reaching into a medicine cabinet and grabbing an orange bottle of pills.

How to Reduce Drug Overdoses in Ventura County

Learn how to reduce Rx drug misuse, abuse, and overdoses in Ventura County by participating in Rx Drug Take Back Day on October 28th, 2023.

Ashley H

Oct 22, 20232 min read

How to Prevent Rx Drug Abuse & Overdoses in Ventura County

A discussion of April 2023 Rx Take Back Day including local Ventura County resources to help with drug abuse and overdose prevention.

Ashley H

Apr 13, 20232 min read

A small stack of brownies cut into squares with a couple of cannabis buds in front against a black background.

Spotlight on Cannabis Edibles

A short quiz and information about cannabis edibles, including their effects on the developing brain.

Ashley H

Feb 27, 20232 min read

A wood surface has a map of the United States across it in white with an orange pill bottle laying on it's side across the map. White pills are spilling out across the table and some are crushed into a powder. The text reads, "The Opioid Crisis."

The Opioid Crisis

A college student's research about opioid use, misuse, and abuse in the US and Ventura County including information on overdoses and local resources.

Anonymous

Jan 4, 20236 min read

A young person is looking at the camera in despair, holding up a picture of her friend on her phone. The text reads, "Isabel had got some drugs from a friend, who had them from another friend and he, who knows?"

Fentanyl is Forever

A discussion of the dangers of fentanyl and available resources in Ventura County.

Ashley H

Dec 22, 20222 min read

We see the inside of a moving car from the driver's seat. There are blurry street lights in green, red, and yellow in front of the car. We get a sense of moving really fast and being out of control.

Why is Impaired Driving a Social Norm?

A discussion of why impaired driving is accepted as a social norm and the harms this causes.

Kyra Boring

Dec 15, 20222 min read

Image reads, "Which one is fake? One of these pills has a deadly amount of fentanyl. Find out which. Fake pills. Real danger." in between two blue pills that look almost identical.

Fentanyl and Fake Pills

Sharing of local Ventura County resources about fentanyl, fake pills, and how to prevent overdose.

Ashley H

Nov 21, 20223 min read

A parent and child are sitting looking at their Christmas tree with their backs to the camera. They are both wearing Santa hats and the tree is lit up with white lights. We get a sense of safety.

Healthy Ways to Handle Holiday Stress

A discussion of healthy ways to handle holiday stress without turning to alcohol or other harmful coping mechanisms.

Ashley H

Nov 10, 20223 min read

Image reads, "Ventura County Rx Take Back Day. Help prevent Rx drug misuse & abuse by getting rid of your unused or expired meds on October 29th. Visit Ventura County Responds to learn more.

How to Reduce Drug Overdoses in Your Community

A discussion of Rx Take Back Day as a way to prevent Rx drug abuse and overdose in Ventura County.

Ashley H

Oct 17, 20222 min read

A father and daughter are unloading groceries from their car, smiling and laughing. The text around the picture reads, "Have the conversation. The first six weeks of a student's first year in college are a vulnerable time for risky underage college drinking."

Discussing Alcohol With Your College Student

An overview of ways to discuss underage and binge drinking with college students and reasons why it's important to have the conversation early and often.

Anonymous

Sep 1, 20226 min read

A young person is sitting on their bed with their legs propped up, leaning over their knees and hiding their face as if they're upset.

The Red Flags of Teen Depression

Learn the warning signs of teen depression, how to talk to your kids about their mental health, and what to do when they might need professional help.

Ashley H

Aug 9, 20225 min read

A person in gray is surrounded by dark clouds of vapor from an e-cigarette.

Spotlight on Vaping and Cannabis

A discussion of the facts and statistics around vaping and cannabis use, focusing on the negative effects on the teen brain.

Ashley H

Jul 27, 20222 min read

A bright red bottle of prescription meds stands out against a beige background. The text reads, "Prescription drug use, misuse, and abuse: It's a thin line."

Prescription Drug Use, Abuse, and “Borrowing” Drugs

A discussion of the difference between Rx drug use, misuse, and abuse, including why it's harmful to "borrow" drugs.

Ashley H

Jul 12, 20225 min read

An infographic about statistics of alcohol-involved deaths in California.

Impaired Driving in California: Fast Facts and How to Prevent Teen Car Crashes

A discussion of impaired driving in California with ways to prevention teen car crashes.

Anonymous

Jul 5, 20225 min read

A young person is sitting in a well-lit room, looking out the window, holding a large e-cigarette in her hand while exhaling a large cloud of vapor.

All About Vaping and E-Cigarettes

A discussion of vaping and e-cigarettes including the harms on the developing teen brain.

Anonymous

Jul 5, 20225 min read

Three jack-o-lanterns are sitting on a table, carved with spooky faces and lit from within with bright yellow light.

Tips for a Fun (and Safe) Halloween

From pedestrian deaths to drunk driving, tricks and treats and spooky parties, Halloween can be a fun but dangerous time for teens. Here are some tips for both parents and teens for how to have a safe and fun Halloween!

Ashley H

Jul 5, 20224 min read

A photo of a young girl reaching into a medicine cabinet and grabbing a bottle of prescription pills. The text reads, "1 in 5 teens have abused prescription drugs. Over 50% got them free from friends or family."

Ventura County Responds to the Opioid Crisis

A discussion of the resources available in Ventura County including safe drug disposal to respond to the opioid crisis and teen prescription drug abuse.

Ashley H

Jul 5, 20222 min read