Amanda Ruback, Community Outreach Coordinator with the Missouri Poison Center, says cases of accidental cannabis overdose in children have been on the rise in Missouri since the legalization of the drug two years. This week, we welcomed her to the PrevenTable for a show and tell, where she discusses cannabis safety and storage and explains her role with the center.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of The Collective’s grand opening, we brought in certified peer specialist John Singer to provide insight into his motivation for creating a recovery community center in Jefferson County. He explains the ability of RCC’s to lower barriers to recovery, our partnership with Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation, and why transportation services to treatment are so important in JeffCo. Come visit us at The Collective now!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Executive Director x Executive Director today at the PrevenTable! Aaron Laxton with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) details his background in social work, the story of ARCA’s beginnings, and the challenges of leading an organization right now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we're headed back into the weeds with certified substance abuse counselor and clinical social worker Jay Winig! For the last 17 years, Jay has been a valued part of Saint Louis University’s Counseling Center, beginning the “Sober at SLU” support group for students in recovery, as well as the SHARP and CARRP programs intended to reduce the harm of alcohol and cannabis on campus. Jay and Jenny talk about how cannabis use has evolved since recreational-use legalization in Missouri, plus Jay's efforts to support students in managing the demands of college without drug use interfering.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Whitney joins Jenny at the PrevenTable for a lesson on Recovery Community Organizations, independent centers focused on helping individuals achieve long-term recovery. Bill and his wife, inspired by their own recovery journeys and the feature documentary “The Anonymous People,” opened their own RCO in Georgia after witnessing the success of peer driven models. He tells the backstory of the RCO’s founding, plus discusses his goal to reduce barriers to recovery.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the U.S. military, masculine gender norms and an emphasis on mental toughness have traditionally been practiced to enforce stoicism within troops. But, mental health and masculinity often clash during the effort to reduce stigma surrounding veterans’ abilities to cope with trauma. Chris Mendes, Director of Operations at Veterans Community Project, directly speaks to his and others’ experience with this military mentality, the crossover between veteran populations with substance misuse, and the VCP’s attempts to connect veterans to behavioral health services.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Bradford of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health is here to give us the scoop on current rates and trends of drug use among young people. She shares what’s working—and what’s not—plus describes the impact of and takeaways from the Missouri Student Survey.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lakesha Robinson, Sr. Advisor on Children, Youth, & Families to the St. Louis city mayor, joins Jenny to share more about her “heart” work. Focusing on resource access for families and community collaboration, Lakesha explains the impact of the Mayor’s Youth Cabinet, describes how connection helps reduce risk factors for youth, and dives into the details of several initiatives she runs.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.