Substance Abuse

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.

Benadryl

A poem written by a college student about her experience witnessing an ex-boyfriend overdose, and how there is always a light at the end of the tunnel even when things feel hopeless.

Anonymous

Oct 242 min read

Water’s Face

Writing and painting by Sierra Watson. I wonder how calm water feels; All gathered as I looked upon its face. I’m sure it wonders if...

Sierra Watson

Sep 82 min read

We see a line of dark chocolate chocolate chip cookies across the top of the image with a green cannabis leaf against a pink background. The text reads, "Everyone’s tolerance for weed is diﬀerent. Every form of consuming weed will aﬀect you diﬀerently. It’s a trial and error process, and no one talks about the errors."

“It’s No Big Deal:” My Personal Experience with Cannabis

A college student discusses her experience with cannabis, how it affected her mental health, and why using cannabis might actually be a big deal for some people.

Anonymous

May 295 min read

A group of young kids is sitting together, each holding and looking at a smartphone. The quote below the photo reads, "Parents, educators, and community leaders should engage young people in discussions about the realities of substance use, helping them to identify and question the messages they consume."

Popular Culture and Substance Use

A college student discusses the ways in which pop culture such as TV, movies, and social media portray substance use and the negative influence it can have on youth and young people.

Janette

Apr 292 min read

A young woman sits on a couch holding a beer bottle in her right hand. Her left hand is covering her face as if she is ashamed or upset. There are several other empty beer bottles in the foreground.

Alcohol Use Disorder: From the Perspective of the Alcoholic, Interview 3

A college student interviews a friend about her experience with alcohol use disorder and her struggle with addiction.

Anonymous

Mar 13, 20245 min read

A man is passed out face down on a couch with one arm drooping to the floor. There are several empty alcohol bottles and glasses on the floor.

Alcohol Use Disorder: From the Perspective of the Alcoholic, Interview 1

A college student recounts an interview with a peer who deals with alcohol use disorder and discusses his experience with rehab.

Anonymous

Jan 18, 20245 min read

A close-up picture of a vape pen surrounded by cannabis buds.

What Are We Thinking?

A high school student discusses her experience learning that a classmate is vaping after class.

Anonymous

Jan 12, 20244 min read

A close up image of a green prescription drug bottle on its side with white pills spilling across a table top.

David's Addiction

A college student discusses a friend's experience becoming addicted to pain killers and how they recovered.

Anonymous

Dec 28, 20232 min read

A young woman sits at a table leaning her head on her hand while holding an almost-empty bottle of alcohol in the other hand. She looks despondent.

The Negative Effects of Drinking

A college student discusses how drinking alcohol can negatively affect a person's relationships, health, and stability.

Anonymous

Nov 27, 20232 min read

A young woman sits on a chair in a white room with her legs folded up against her body, one arm crossed over her legs and the other arm holding her head. She appears to be in distress.

Numb and Spaced Out

A Ventura County young adult discusses her experience with domestic violence and using cannabis concentrate to numb out rather than cope with her challenges.

Anonymous

Nov 22, 20232 min read