If the thought of talking to your teen about drugs makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Many parents worry they’ll say the wrong thing, or that if they bring up the topic of drugs, it will only encourage curiosity. The good news? Honest, age-appropriate conversations are actually one of the most effective ways to help youth make healthy decisions. Here are some tips to get the conversation started: Start the conversation early and have it often. There doesn’t need to b

YES! Addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disease rather than a simple moral failing or lack of willpower. Here are some key components of the disease model of addiction: 1. Biological Basis: Addiction has a biological basis. Repeated use of certain substances can lead to changes in the brain's structure and function, particularly in areas related to reward, motivation, and decision-making. These changes can make it difficult for individuals to control their drug use. 2

KED & YOU Why is digital marketing important for an organization like KED? With so many wonderful community organizations in WNY, it’s important for people to know exactly what KED does. We are unique in the free educational programming that we offer. Our team is highly adaptable to meet any audience’s needs and will do everything they can to get families the support they need. What platform do you think is most important for reaching families right now — and why? Although so

KED & YOU Share your favorite moment from recent programming: While working with a particularly at-risk population, a young lady said “Alright miss you win, you got in my head. You're the only one that's ever made me think twice about any of this.” Why is this work especially important in our community? There is so much misinformation and stigmatization surrounding substance use, and young people aren’t being told the whole truth. With increased accessibility to substances an