FARM
OVER PHARMA™
“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”
— Alexander den heijer
If you are experiencing persistent moderate to severe anxiety or depression, please consult your healthcare provider for the best plan of action in your unique case. Medication or more intensive treatment may be necessary based on professional opinion.
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IntroA little time planning can go a long way and give you much more success than just forwarding a mail or a link. Think through these topics and be sure to do your research.
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Educate yourselfMake sure you have a good understanding of what is happening with the drug landscape in America with the introduction of fentanyl so you are able to competently and confidently speak to the issues. Some good resources: The Fentapill Problem: A Summary Parent Resources
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Personal StoryAre you a bereaved parent yourself or have a close friend or family member who is? Personal stories have huge impact. Think about if and how you want to tell that story as part of this effort in a way that makes the impact you are looking for and respects your child and family. Decide what aspects of your story you are not willing to share or are not important to the main message.
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Local NewsLocate one or more relatively recent news stories from your own community or those nearby (google ‘fentanyl’ and your city or state). The more current and specific the story is about age, Fentapills, social media, etc., the better. Save these web links.
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DataFind key data points and information about fentanyl/fentapills from reputable places that support the idea that this is needed in your community. If you can access local data and information through your local health department or law enforcement, that is ideal. Also be on the lookout for specific data points in local news articles. Songforcharlie.org is a good place for national numbers. Here are some links that can help you find national and state insights: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm#dashboard https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2020/han00438.asp https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/analysis.html https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/synthetic/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00395.asp https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state
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Existing curriculumIf your school district publishes their learning standards and/or curriculum, find out what is already included on this topic. If you have a teacher contact that teaches health curriculum, they can help you find this. It can be helpful if you know the specific learning standard/target you are trying to influence (i.e.: “Educate students on the social and health impacts of misuse of controlled substances”). If you can get your hands on classroom content, it is helpful to know if it specifically covers fake pills that can easily bought on social media so you know if there is a gap in the existing curriculum being taught in your schools.
Health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of well-being in which the mind, body and spirit are balanced.
When experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety our health is compromised with all three aspects taking a toll. Our body becomes tense and weaker, our mind gets foggy, and our spirit can be disheartened under stress.
We tend to look for the fastest solution that might make symptoms decrease or disappear - drugs, including but not limited to alcohol, Xanax, marijuana, and Adderall. However, most drugs only temporarily help mental health, pain, or emotional problems and hold potential dangers.
Drug use runs the risk of:
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Creating dependency and tolerance
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Addiction and withdrawal symptoms
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Harmful side effects
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Increased risk of mental health issues
In many cases, we can treat mild to moderate pain, addiction, depression, and anxiety without drugs - we just need to adjust our environment and our consumption to create a healthier balance.
