February 2021 HEALTHY YOUTH Worcester County Prevention Service's Youth Newsletter Welcome! In this Issue: Welcome to the February 2- Life Skills: Listen to edition of the Healthy Youth Your Language Newsletter! In this issue, we 3- Healthy Behaviors: have included information on Recipe for Spaghetti proactive language, the dangers of opioids, the 4- Heart Health for Kids importance of being heart 7- Prevention: What are healthy, and the importance opioids? of drinking water. In addition, you'll find a yummy 8- Stress Buster: Coloring recipe for spaghetti, a fun page coloring page, and 9- Tip of the Month: information on upcoming Drinking More Water programs in our parents corner. We hope you enjoy! 10- Parents Corner LIFE SKILLS LISTEN TO YOUR LANGUAGE: BEING PROACTIVE OR REACTIVE Each day you and I get about 100 chances to choose whether to be proactive or reactive. Are you in the habit of reacting to everyday things or are you proactive? The Choice is yours...It really is. You do not have to respond the way everyone else does, or the way people think you should. Reactive people make choices based on impulse. They are like a can of soda pop. When life shakes them up a bit, the pressure builds and they suddenly explode. Proactive people make choices based on values. They think before they act. They recognize they cannot control everything that happens to them, but they can control what they do about it. Unlike reactive people who are full of carbonation, proactive people are like water. Shake them up all you want, take off the lid and nothing happens. No fizzing, no bubbling, no pressure. They stay cool, calm and in control. “I’m not going to let that guy or girl get me upset and ruin my day!” THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROACTIVE MIND-SET IS TO COMPARE PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE RESPONSES TO SITUATIONS THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. REACTIVE LANGUAGE PROACTIVE LANGUAGE I'll try I can do better than that That's just the way I am I'll do it There's nothing I can do Let's look at all our options I have to There's got to be a way I can't I'm not going to let your bad mood rub You ruined my day off on me Page 2 HEALTHY BEHAVIORS ONE-PAN SPAGHETTI Ingredients: Yields 12 servings 1 pound ground beef (lean) 1 onion (medium, chopped) 3 1/2 cups water 1 can tomato sauce (15 ounces) 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon rosemary 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups spaghetti noodles (broken) 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded) Instructions 1. Brown meat and onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat (300 degrees in an electric skillet). Drain fat. 2. Stir in water, tomato sauce, and spices; bring to a boil. 3. Add spaghetti, cover pan, and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. 4. When spaghetti is tender, top with grated cheese. 5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2-3 hours. Page 3 HEART HEALTH FOR KIDS WHAT IS HEART DISEASE? Heart disease is also known as cardiovascular disease or “CVD.” CVD is a very serious health condition that stops the heart or blood vessels from working properly. When your heart and blood vessels are working at their best, blood flows easily and is circulated around the body freely. If there is a blockage in our blood vessels or if our heart is not pumping blood properly, this prevents blood from being delivered to many important parts of our body. Not having blood constantly delivered to the many important parts of our body can cause serious illness or even death. Although some people are born with certain types of CVD, most people develop CVD as a result of poor lifestyle habits, such as eating unhealthy foods, not getting enough exercise or using tobacco. TRUE OR FALSE? Heart disease is a problem only for adults; it can’t happen to children or teenagers. FALSE. Heart disease can affect anyone at any age! The blockages that occur in the heart and blood vessels that cause cardiovascular disease begin developing in childhood. Far too many young people have unhealthy diets, use tobacco and don’t get enough physical activity. Practicing healthy habits at an early age can help prevent the development of heart disease when you are young and later in life. Page 4 FOLLOWING LIFE’S SIMPLE 7 CAN HELP YOU LIVE A LIFE FREE OF CVD! Making small changes in your life can add up to a big difference in your cardiovascular health, even for children and teenagers! If you’re born with a heart problem, these seven steps can help you live a healthier life, too. It all begins with making the decision to follow Life’s Simple 7! 1. Avoid smoking and using tobacco products 2. Be physically active every day FACT: Less than 50 3. Eat a heart-healthy diet percent of 12- to 19-year- 4. Keep a healthy weight olds get enough physical 5. Keep your blood pressure healthy 6. Keep your total cholesterol healthy activity each day to keep 7. Keep your blood sugar healthy their hearts healthy. How can I make physical activity part of my daily routine? There are many ways to increase the amount of physical activity in your life. The hard part is making the decision to get off the couch and be active. And you don’t have to exercise until exhaustion each time; just get your body up and get moving. Just tell yourself that getting moving is something that you need to do each day and decide what you want to do today! Here are some ideas: • Brisk walking, dancing and biking are fun types of physical activity • Go outside and play • When you play video games, play games that require you to get up and move • If you have time while you are doing other things, take short, brisk walks in between for at least 10 minutes at a time • Make it a family affair. Take walks after dinner, go for bike rides or hikes on the weekend with your parents and siblings • Ride your bike or briskly walk to school or wherever you need to go • Plan a family field day that includes some of your favorite outdoor games, like hiking, biking or swimming Join our free Just Walk program and earn free prizes! Visit justwalkworcester.org and sign-up today! Page 5 Page 6 PREVENTION WHAT ARE OPIOIDS? WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED OPIOIDS? Opioids are naturally found The most commonly used prescription in the opium poppy plant. opioids are oxycodone (Oxycontin), Some opioid medications hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and are made from this plant morphine. Heroin is an opioid, but it is not a while others are made by medication. Fentanyl is a powerful scientists in labs. Opioids prescription pain reliever, but it is have been used for sometimes added to heroin by drug dealers, hundreds of years to treat causing doses so strong that people are pain, cough, and diarrhea. dying from overdoses. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF OPIOIDS ON THE BRAIN AND BODY? In the short term, the release of dopamine into your body can make some people feel really relaxed and happy. But it can also cause more harmful effects, like extreme sleepiness, confusion, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Over time, opioids can lead to insomnia, muscle pain, heart infections, pneumonia and addiction. WHAT IS PRESCRIPTION WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OPIOID MISUSE? OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE? Taking your prescription in ways other than Loud snoring or gurgling noises instructed, like taking more than your prescribed Limp body dose or taking it more often Unresponsive Getting and using prescription pills from a friend or Pale/clammy skin family member, even if it’s for a real medical Blue lips/fingertips condition Slow or erratic pulse Taking prescription drugs to get high Slow, shallow breathing (or no breathing at all) Mixing prescription opioids with alcohol or other Unconscious drugs Page 7 STRESS BUSTER EMAIL YOUR COLORING PAGE TO [email protected] TO RECEIVE A PRIZE! Page 8 TIP OF THE MONTH THE IMPORTANCE OF DRINKING WATER It is recommended that youth drink 5-8 cups of water per day depending on their age! Do you know why it is so important to drink water? DRINKING WATER HAS MANY BENEFITS! Helps digest food that you eat Helps you avoid dehydration Keeps your brain sharp Gives you more energy Helps keep your heart healthy TIPS ON HOW TO DRINK MORE WATER Drink water when you first wake up Add fresh fruit to your water if you want flavor Drink water when you take a bathroom break Drink water before eating meals Carry a water bottle with you Fill your cup or bottle up with water anytime it is getting low Call us at 410-632-1100 ext. 1102 to be mailed a FREE water bottle! Page 9 PARENTS CORNER VIRTUAL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS The Worcester County Health Department is excited to offer FREE, VIRTUAL after-school programs for kids in grades 2 - 3 and 6 - 8. The program is designed to teach kids about life skills, alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention education, and self- esteem. Weekly prizes will be mailed out to participants who complete their lessons. If you’re interested in learning more about the classes being offered, please call (410) 632-1100 ext. 1112 or ext. 1115 Page 10 VIRTUAL NARCAN TRAINING What is Narcan? A medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.