• Discuss it with a friend or a trusted adult such as a teacher or a school counselor.
• Hang out with non-smoking friends.
• Breathe deep and stay calm.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Do something else, such as listen to music, read, play videogames, practice drawing or other art forms, or practice playing a musical instrument.
• You can also try: Getting rid of all ashtrays, lighters, and smoking materials
• Decide how to turn down a cigarette before it is offered to you. Practice refusal skills and know the facts, negative consequences, health risks, and financial burden of what you’re being asked to do.
• Exercising. Go for a walk or a bike ride, or get involved with sports such as running, swimming, basketball, volleyball, softball, or go skateboarding.

• Putting your saved money in a big jar.
• Telling yourself each morning that you don’t smoke.
• Reward yourself each week for being tobacco-free by doing a fun activity that you enjoy.
• Get involved in more social activities.
• Surround yourself with non-smoking friends.
• Talking to a smoking coach who can help you create an individual quit plan that is just right for you.

• Washington State Tobacco Quit Lines
  • For those who do not have insurance or a plan that includes telephone counseling: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Callers receive one call with a quit counselor to set up a quit plan or help you stay quit. Callers over 18 can also request self-help materials by mail.
  • Apple Health: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Callers with Apple Health qualify for 8 counseling calls to the Quitline and up to 12 weeks of free nicotine patches/gum per year. A trained quit coach will help pick the best medications for a successful quit. Apple Health may vary depending on what plan you have.
  • Quit For Life: Private insurance. Check with your human resource office or health plan benefits guide to fine your Quit For Life phone number or call 1-866-784-8454 for a live transfer to your counseling program.
  • Medicare Part B: Covers 8 in-person visits in a 12 month period by a qualified doctor or other Medicare-recognized practitioner. If you have Medicare Advantage, call or visit your health plan website. If your prescription plan does not cover nicotine replacement, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You may be eligible for two weeks of free nicotine gum/patches.
  • Other Quit Lines
    • English: 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669
    • Spanish: 1-855-DEJELO-YA or 1-855-335-3569
    • TTY Line and Video Relay: 1-877-777-6534 (for hearing impaired)
    • Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin): 1-800-838-8917
    • Korean: 1-800-556-5564
    • Vietnamese: 1-800-778-8440
    • Veteran Quitline: 1-855-QUIT-VET or 1-855-784-8838 (Monday-Friday, 5:00am to 7:00pm. Available only to veterans who receive health care through the VA health care system. Visit  http://www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking  for more info.)
  • For more tobacco information, quit line information, and quitting resources in Washington State, visit  http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Tobacco/HowtoQuit

• Online Resources
  • EX Plan is a resource for those who are uninsured and is a free quit-smoking program.  http://www.becomeanex.org/  
  • Smokefree is an online resource containing quit plan tools, method exploration, professional resources, medication information, Smokefree text and app support, comprehensive information on the challenges of quitting, and many more helpful tools. Visit https://smokefree.gov/ to learn more.
  • CDC Tobacco Quit Info: This website contains a variety of links to other websites that give information on the negative effects of tobacco use as well as quit help resources and are meant to help someone quit smoking. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/resources/index.htm to learn more.

• The Washington Poison Center
  • E-Cigarette and Marijuana Kit
    • http://www.wapc.org/wp-content/uploads/DRAFT-Ecig-Kit-User-Guide-APRIL.pdf
    • The Washington State Poison Center has an E-Cigarette and Marijuana Display Kit that is available online for presenters to use to help inform others. It gives information on the usage statistics, different ways an individual could use e-cigarettes and marijuana, how each substance is seen and used by youth in the state, and the devices that could be used.
  • Toxic Trend Reports
    • The Washington Poison Center website contains reports on toxic trends in Washington State. Most reports focus on E-cigarette and marijuana usage. Reports from 2016, 2015, and previous years are also available.
    • The website contains a “Statistics” toxic trend page, which covers a variety of issues including abuse/withdrawal, contamination/tampering, food poisoning, medication errors, product misuse, self-harm, etc. The page also has a “Washington State Injury and Violence Prevention Guide” from 2013. Statistics reports are available from 2010-2016.
• Escape the Vape
  • www.escapethevape.org
  • Escape the Vape is a vape prevention campaign based in King County in Washington State. The website contains information on the process of vaping, how you can quit, other available resources, and information on the different chemicals that are found in vape “juice” which are helpfully explained by “The Chemical Crew.”
• Drug and Alcohol Classes and Other Support
  • Youth and community drug, alcohol, and tobacco classes/workshops are available. The ESD 113 contact for north Pacific County is Jessica Verboomen.  Email: jverboomen@esd113.org Phone: 360-942-2474 ext. 2141.
  • ESD 113 True North Student Assistance also provides assessments, outpatient and intensive outpatient drug and alcohol treatment services for youth in north Pacific County.
  • https://www.esd113.org/Page/2408
• School Counselors
  • School counselors are trusted adults who have many great resources that could be available to youth in north Pacific County. Counselors for tri-district schools are:
    • Raymond School District – Lyndsey Owen (lowen@raymondk12.org)
    • South Bend School District – Adrienne Lartz (alartz@southbendschools.org)
    • Willapa Valley School District – Jessica Todd (jessicat@willapavalley.org)
• Washington Smoking In Public Places Law (RCW 70.160)
  • Prohibits smoking in any indoor enclosed public space, such as workplaces, bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, casinos, etc.
  • Owners must post “No Smoking” signs and must make sure that no one smokes within 25 feet of any door, window, or exit.
  • Illegal to deface or remove “No-Smoking” signs.
  • For additional information on the Smoking in Public Places Law, visit www.doh.wa.gov/tobacco/secondhand/secondhand.htm or www.smokefreewashington.com
• Reporting a Violation
  • Washington State
    • Go to http://lcb.wa.gov/enforcement/report-violation  and file a report using the report form provided by the state. Information will be made available to the public unless reporters mark the “Do Not Release My Name” box. Can be used for any alcohol, tobacco, vape, or marijuana violations.

TAll Cop Says Stop

Source: tallcopsaysstop.com

Source: tallcopsaysstop.com

Peer Helper Surveys- Results

Mediation Training

Also in June, I had the opportunity to attend a 40-hour basic mediation training sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Center and taught by the lovely Donna Hallock (also a TAC board member!). It was a very informative and applicable training and I really enjoyed using some skills I had learned in other contexts and applying them to the format of a mediation. I learned a lot about myself, as well, because we explored our own biases, privilege, and values.

Sustainability

So long, and thanks for all the fish

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Teen Advocacy Coalition, Willapa Community Network, Pacific County Resiliency Corps, and all the other lovely individuals and organizations in Pacific County that have provided me with opportunities for so much personal and professional development over the past ten and a half months. I have deeply appreciated and enjoyed my time serving and living here. Thank you all so very much!

TAC AFter Prom Party 2016

Adventure DAy

During the month of May, I had the opportunity to help facilitate low ropes course activities with 6th grade students from across the county. I had a BLAST watching the students develop as a team and work together to solve problems. I have to say, my favorite group was from Hilltop School in Ilwaco (pictured right). This group in particular impressed me with their intuitiveness, strategy, and spirit. Each time I thought I had a good teaching point, one of the students would voice it to the group before I got a chance to perform my facilitator duties. What impressed me the most was their unfailing unity as a team. A number of times, one student would notice another feeling disengaged or no longer participating and draw that student back into the group. They were truly amazing to work with.

Peer Helper Surveys

Teen Night

​Over 60 students attended our April TAC Teen Night at South Bend High School from 8pm-12am and had a blast playing flag football, video games, board games, doing crafts, shooting hoops and playing volleyball in the gym, having a cook out, and spending time with friends. We were happy to have our Prevention Consultants, Officers Miskell, McComas, and Verboomen attend and enjoyed a demonstration by K9 Deko. Thank you to all our volunteers and chaperones who helped make Teen Night a success!

Raymond Sources of Strength Week

Science Of Hope Conference

TAC After Prom Party 2016