Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer October 2025: Recognizing October as Substance Abuse Prevention Month
What is Substance Abuse Prevention Month?
Drug Use & Mental
Ask A Teen Influencer!
Health
Hear from MADD teen influencers as they share real advice about the risks of substance use and ways to deal with stress.
Being stressed doesn’t mean you have to give in to substances. This article explores positive outlets to cope with stress.
Learn about what this month really means and how you can get involved!
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by Jaaniya Dhillon, MADD Teen Influencer Why Prevention Starts With Us
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, but what does this truly mean? This nationwide observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of preventing substance abuse and addressing the harm that it causes. One of the major goals of the month is to focus on early intervention. Since most substance use begins before age 18, it’s important to encourage conversations
about substance experimentation and the harm it has on developing brains. When young people understand the risks of substance use early on, they’re more likely to make healthier choices and support their peers to do the same. Though these conversations can be uncomfortable, they’re crucial to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. Breaking the cycle of addiction starts with open communication and understanding. By talking honestly about substance use and mental health, we can foster a community where the youth feel informed and empowered. Prevention isn’t just about saying no; it’s about creating an environment where young people feel supported to make the decisions that protect their health and future.
MADD Teen Influencer
October 2025
The Link Between Drug Use and Mental Health Disorders
When vaping, you are exposed to two major risks. First, you don’t know where the vape is coming from or whether it’s contaminated. Second, while both vaping and smoking are harmful, vaping has stronger effects because vapes are highly concentrated. According to The National Library of Medicine, “there is now reasonable evidence from longitudinal studies that regular cannabis us predicts and increased
risk of schizophrenia and of reporting psychotic symptoms.” This relation highlights a growing public health issue of the misuse of cannabis among youth. To address and discourage this, we should implement educational
Interventions among younger student populations to warn them about the risks of cannabis for vulnerable young individuals. By educating the youth, we can reduce the risk of long-term problems created by the use of
cannabis, such as addiction and mental health disorders. Raising awareness can protect future generations from the harms of substance use.
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. MADD Teen Influencers may respond to your question on the next episode of Healthy Teen Talks! TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
MADD Teen Influencer
October 2025
by Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer Drinking in College: A first-year’s survival guide
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Freshman year is an exciting, yet vulnerable time in a young person’s life. A combination of contributing factors, such as being away from home for the first time, experiencing newfound autonomy, and social influences among peers, can cause drinking freshman year to go hand in hand. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Here is a story that highlights the importance of teen driver safety.
Alcoholism, the first six weeks of a student's first year in college are a vulnerable time for harmful and underage drinking and alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year. As a first-year student myself and living over three thousand miles from home, I have entered into my freshman year, hitting the ground running. Each day is a nonstop whirlwind of classes, study sessions, club meetings, and, of course, weekend football games. It seems more often than not, alcohol is involved in many of these weekend activities, making it more of
an expectation that one will partake as part of the social norms on campus. Having been involved with MADD as a Teen Influencer since my freshman year of high school, I am not surprised by the normalizing of underage drinking, but I was surprised that many of my new friends actually chose not to drink. Was this the new normal on my particular campus? Or were young people entering college not disillusioned by the old “Animal House” days and not interested in partying? Since I am more of an academic and
take my school work seriously, drinking into the wee hours of the morning never appealed to me. Is the culture of nursing a hangover on the way to an 8 am class on the way out? After doing a little research, I found that there is, in fact, surprising information about the current state of drinking in college. Overall alcohol use: According to a recent survey by Gallup News, annual alcohol use in college students has decreased by nearly 15% since 1980.
MADD Teen Influencer
October 2025
Contributing factors: Several factors are likely contributing to this decrease, including a greater understanding of healthy living, noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increased online information, stricter laws and education programs, and changes in how parents discuss alcohol with their children. After talking to a few high school Binge drinking: Binge drinking rates have fallen significantly, according to this same study by Gallup. For example, one study shows a decline from 44% in 1980 to 35% in 2014. Another source notes a 34% decrease in binge drinking behaviors between the 1990s and recent years.
friends who are now scattered across the country at various universities and colleges, I found that not all campuses are created equal. It seems that drinking culture runs deep on some campuses and is not going to die down any time soon. From what I’ve discovered, most of the heavy drinking culture surrounds sports on campus, especially and not surprisingly, football in the fall, and many freshmen are pulled early in the semester into binge drinking at sporting events.
Regardless of where you attend college or your views on drinking as a young adult, the trend seems to be leading towards health and wellness and a focus on success in academia. For me, I will spend my fall evenings enjoying my new college environment, taking in all the opportunities offered, knowing who I am, and standing up for what I believe in.
MADD Teen Influencer
October 2025
1.Stress is normal, turning to substances isn’t. 2.Parties can be fun without alcohol or drugs. 3.Make sure to plan before parties. 4.Find healthy coping mechanisms. Prevention Month to spread awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and to encourage healthy choices. This month is about learning, supporting one another, and taking steps to prevent addiction. Substance abuse affects many lives, families, and 3 by Karma Herrera, MADD Teen Influencer Every October, we recognize Substance Abuse communities, so we must come together to educate ourselves and others. Prevention starts with understanding how substance use can harm our health, goals, and relationships. By talking openly about it, we can break the stigma and show that it’s ok to ask for help or say no. There are many ways to get involved this month. People can wear purple to show support, create posters or social media posts to spread awareness, or even start school campaigns to promote staying drug-free. It’s also a good time to focus on mental health, find healthy ways to cope with stress, and support friends who might be struggling. Healthy ways to cope with stress can include exercising, journaling, talking to someone you trust, listening to music, or taking breaks to relax. Substance Abuse Prevention Month reminds us that choices matter. By staying aware, choosing positivity, and helping others do the same, we can build a stronger and healthier community together. Substance Abuse Prevention Month
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MADD's mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking and other drug use. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage substance use, these teens will help MADD end impaired driving.
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