The teenage years are a crucial time to prevent addiction. The brain is still developing, making it more vulnerable to the lasting effects of drugs and alcohol. It’s also a time when peer pressure can lead to risky choices. So how do you help teens not only say no, but also inspire their friends and communities to make better decisions?

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, meet Annabelle Lovell, a high school junior raising awareness about the dangers of teen drug and alcohol use—not just at her school, but across the country. She recently served as the opening speaker at CADCA’s national conference. CADCA, or Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, represents thousands of community coalitions nationwide, making Annabelle’s role a major honor and responsibility for someone her age.

Annabelle joins us along with Mollie Kruse, a member of our Emily’s Hope Youth Prevention Coalition, who’s taken the message all the way to Washington, D.C., even meeting with the Senate majority leader to talk about the importance of preventing substance use. Together, they share their advice for parents, educators, and other teens as the nation continues to face a deadly drug epidemic.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• Why So Many Teens are Struggling, and What We’re Missing
• Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
• Inside Victoria’s Voice: The Diary That’s Waking Parents Up

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz