GUIDE publishes a monthly newsletter titled “Inspired to Make Healthy Choices.” Click on the publications below to read them.
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Volume 8: Issue 1 (Building Healthy Habits) – Being intentional about making healthy choices can help you feel better and increase your quality of life.
Volume 8: Issue 2 (Caring for Your Heart) – Take steps to boost your well-being by focusing on prevention and activities to improve heart health.
Volume 8: Issue 3 (Power Your Brain) – Small actions over time can help you build, retain and protect brain function.
Volume 8: Issue 4 (Surprising Facts About Alcohol) – Understanding how alcohol affects our bodies can help us make informed decisions about drinking!
Volume 8: Issue 5 (Supporting Teen Mental Health) – Teenage years can be full of pressure and come with intense emotions and feelings, which can increase the risk for mental health concerns. Adults can make a difference by providing support and connecting them to resources if necessary.
Volume 8: Issue 6 (Alcohol Safety) – Practicing safe drinking can reduce your risk of harm. If you are over age 21 and choose to consume alcohol, it’s important to drink responsibly.
Volume 8: Issue 7 (Boost Your Physical Health) – Positive physical health habits can help lower your risk of disease, decrease stress and increase energy. Caring for your health is an ongoing, intentional practice.
Volume 8: Issue 8 (Preventing Teen Substance Use) – You have the power to be the reason your child chooses to make healthy decisions and not engage in substance use.
Volume 8: Issue 9 (Recovery Is Possible) – With the right treatment, support and resources, everyone can recover and lead a fulfilling life.
Volume 8: Issue 10 (Crisis Lines to Prevent Suicide) – If you or someone you know needs emotional support or is having suicidal thoughts, resources are available that offer help by trained professionals.
Volume 8: Issue 11 (Wellness During the Holidays) – No matter the holiday, making healthy choices can positively influence our experiences!
Volume 7: Issue 2 (Heart Health) – Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable disease and death and a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Quit smoking to protect your heart!
Volume 7: Issue 3 (Shattering the Myths) – Common misperceptions about alcohol, vaping and other drug use perpetuate social norms that can lead to health consequences and harmful impacts on communities. Make a stand for prevention by learning and sharing the realities of substance use!
Volume 7: Issue 4 (Avoid Social Hosting) – Through social host liability laws, adults can be held responsible for underage drinking parties, regardless of who furnishes the alcohol. Even if other parents give their permission, adult hosts could be fined up to $1,000 and serve up to a year of time in jail!
Volume 7: Issue 5 (Caring for Your Mental Health) – Making mental wellness a priority can improve your quality of life! Check out our Mental Wellness Bingo challenge and try different ways to complete a line this month!
Volume 7: Issue 6 (Facing the Facts About Marijuana) – Common misconceptions exist around the safety of marijuana. While many people think it is harmless, it is actually a dangerous drug that can lead to serious consequences.
Volume 7: Issue 7 (Advocacy) – Practicing advocacy allows you to clarify your personal values and beliefs, use your voice for something important to you and help influence change. It can also be a great way to raise awareness for various issues related to prevention, social justice and more!
Volume 7: Issue 8 (Alcohol-free Fun) – A great way to make healthy choices that support prevention is by engaging in positive activities that don’t involve drinking!
Volume 7: Issue 9 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) – There is hope. Call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress. The Lifeline accepts calls from anyone.
Volume 7: Issue 10 (Make the PLEDGE) – Parents are the #1 influence in a youth’s decision to avoid alcohol, tobacco products and other drugs. Join other Georgia parents in completing GUIDE’s Parent Pledge!
Volume 7: Issue 11 (Tools to QUIT SMOKING) – Begin your quit journey today! Invest in your health by quitting smoking, vaping and using smokeless tobacco.
Volume 7: Issue 12 (Coping with Stress) – Managing stress in healthy ways is important for your mental well-being.
Volume 6: Issue 1 (Boost Your Health) – Make 2021 your healthiest year yet with these nine tips to boost your health and well-being!
Volume 6: Issue 2 (Ending Tobacco Use) – Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Creating tobacco-free environments can improve our quality of life everywhere we go.
Volume 6: Issue 3 (Nutrition) – Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of diseases like diabetes and longer life expectancy.
Volume 6: Issue 4 (Busting Myths About Alcohol) – Help prevent underage drinking and alcohol use disorders by learning and sharing the realities of alcohol!
Volume 6: Issue 5 (Mental Wellness Tips) – Mental health is important for our overall health! It’s important to be intentional about caring for our mental health. Get ten mental wellness tips.
Volume 6: Issue 6 (Home Safety) – Home safety is an important topic that is often overlooked! Prevent injuries in your home with these safety tips.
Volume 6: Issue 7 (Save Brains) – Alcohol damages the teenage brain! Keep youth in your community safe by honoring underage drinking laws and not serving alcohol to minors.
Volume 6: Issue 8 (Tips for Sipping & Serving) – It’s your responsibility as a guest or a host to manage each social gathering without putting yourself or your guests in jeopardy when it comes to alcohol.
Volume 6: Issue 9 (Suicide Prevention Month) – September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about suicide and how we can take part in prevention.
Volume 6: Issue 10 (Resisting Underage Drinking) – Parents can prevent underage drinking by teaching their child resistance strategies. Building these skills early prepares them to make healthy decisions later.
Volume 6: Issue 11 (Getting Better Sleep) – Sleep plays an important role in health! Consistently getting a good night’s sleep is associated with improved mental performance, a healthy immune system and much more.
Volume 6: Issue 12 (Importance of Family Mealtimes) – Youth who eat dinner with their families on a regular basis are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Volume 5: Issue 1 (Beat the Winter Blues) – Studies show that extreme weather changes can negatively affect mental health. Be mindful of how winter weather can impact your mental health and be prepared to fight the winter blues.
Volume 5: Issue 2 (Prescription Medication Storage & Disposal) – More than half (53%) of prescription opioid users report getting pills from friends or family (SAMHSA). Learn how to properly store and dispose of unused medicine to help prevent poisoning, misuse and overdose in your home.
Volume 5: Issue 3 (Rethinking Drinking) – Low-risk drinking is the limit of alcohol an adult should maintain to not develop a drinking disorder. However, low risk does not mean NO RISK. Based on your health, your age and how alcohol affects you, you may need to drink less or not at all.
Volume 5: Issue 4 (Teen Marijuana Use) – Marijuana use may be legal in some states, but that does not mean it is safe. Parents, you’re the #1 reason teens choose to remain drug free. Make sure your teens are aware of the many short- and long-term consequences of marijuana use.
Volume 5: Issue 5 (Mental Health Facts) – One way we can promote positive mental health is by increasing our understanding, raising awareness and helping reduce the stigma. Do you know the facts? Test your knowledge with our trivia!
Volume 5: Issue 6 (Power of Parents) – Parents have the power to prevent underage drinking! Over 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their PARENTS are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
Volume 5: Issue 7 (Physical Activity Benefits) – Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health, leading to many immediate and long-term benefits. Get tips for incorporating physical activity into your daily routine!
Volume 5: Issue 8 (Cleaning the Medicine Cabinet) – Protect your loved ones by getting rid of expired, unused or unwanted medications around your home! Follow these tips for cleaning out your medicine cabinet and safely disposing of medications at home.
Volume 5: Issue 9 (Suicide Prevention) – Friends and family are often the first to recognize the warning signs of suicide and can take the first steps toward helping an at-risk individual find help. If you think someone you know may be suicidal, learn how to take immediate and effective action.
Volume 5: Issue 10 (Lung Health) – Your lungs and respiratory system help power your body by allowing you to breathe. Everyday actions, both positive and negative, can impact your lung health!
Volume 5: Issue 11 (Gratitude) – Research shows that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being. Practicing an “attitude of gratitude” impacts an overall experience of happiness, and these effects tend to be long-lasting.
Volume 5: Issue 12 (Impaired Driving) – More than 10,000 people die annually in alcohol-impaired driving crashes – that’s one every 50 minutes. We all have the power to reduce impaired driving in our communities!
Volume 4: Issue 2 (E-cigarettes & Vaping) – The use of e-cigarettes is on the rise among youth across the country. Despite misconceptions that vaping is safe, it is as harmful as smoking cigarettes AND makes youth users 4 times more likely to use cigarettes or other tobacco products later in life.
Volume 4: Issue 3 (Color Me Healthy) – Colorful foods add many health benefits to your plate. When you use the color wheel to guide your food choices, you increase the nutrients, vitamins and disease-fighting phytochemicals in your body.
Volume 4: Issue 4 (Underage Drinking) – Underage drinking is a community problem. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance among teens and can result in many health and safety risks.
Volume 4: Issue 5 (Suicide Prevention) – Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people age 10-34 in the U.S. Family & friends are often the first to recognize warning signs of suicide and can take the first step in getting help.
Volume 4: Issue 6 (Summer Safety) – Summer is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy many activities. Utilize these tips to say safe while having fun around fireworks, bugs, the sun and water.
Volume 4: Issue 7 (Student Athletes & Injuries) – Playing sports increases the possibility of injury. In situations where medical treatment is necessary, teens can have easy access to opioid medications long after their injury is healed.
Volume 4: Issue 8 (Prescription Drug Misuse) – Drug poisoning is the #1 cause of unintentional death in the US. Medication safety starts with YOU! Learn how you can take action.
Volume 4: Issue 9 (Combatting Germs) – People come in contact with 60,000 germs every day. Though washing hands is the single most important mechanism we have to prevent infection, we can practice many other healthy habits to help combat germs.
Volume 4: Issue 10 (Impact of Drunk & Drugged Driving) – Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk driving crashes. Make plans to avoid drunk and drugged driving before you start drinking.
Volume 4: Issue 11 (Gratitude) – Research shows that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being. Practicing an “attitude of gratitude” impacts an overall experience of happiness, and these effects tend to be long-lasting.
Volume 4: Issue 12 (Quitting Smoking) – Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US. Did you know? Knowing why you want to quit smoking impacts your chance of success.
Volume 3: Issue 1 (Prescription Drug Disposal) – Disposing of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs is the best way to ensure your prescriptions are not misused or abused. They may be disposed of at drop box locations throughout your community or at home by following a safe protocol.
Volume 3: Issue 2 (Teens and Alcohol) – Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for teens and young adults, which has damaging effects on the developing brain. Teens are less likely to drink alcohol when they realize that a majority of their peers are NOT drinking.
Volume 3: Issue 3 (What’s In Your Food… Container?) – Plastic food containers are filled with harmful chemicals, which are endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors can avoided by making some easy changes, like microwaving in glass containers and reducing the use of canned foods.
Volume 3: Issue 4 (The Safety Issue) – June is National Safety Month. Take steps to ensure no one you love gets injured in a preventable accident by creating a home emergency plan, getting at least 7 hours of sleep, watching out for tripping dangers and always wearing a seat belt.
Volume 3: Issue 5 (Overdose Prevention) – Opioid overdoses are reversible. In a life-threatening situation, don’t panic or run; call 911. Knowing the signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond could help you save a life.
Volume 3: Issue 6 (Importance of Sleep) – Sleep is an important part of staying healthy! Improve your sleep habits to lower stress, fight infections, improve attention and much more.
Volume 3: Issue 7 (Rethinking Drinking) – Low risk drinking is the limit of alcohol an adult should maintain to not develop a drinking disorder. Based on your health, your age and how alcohol affects you, you may need to drink less or not at all.
Volume 3: Issue 8 (Quitting Smoking) – Every year, more than 480,000 people die from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. If you’re ready to quit, follow these steps for success.
Volume 3: Issue 9 (Winter Wellness) – Be prepared to stay safe and healthy this winter. Winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. While it is important to be mindful of your body during this cold and flu season, you should keep your environment safe as well.
Volume 2: Issue 1 (Heart Health) – Take care of your heart by learning about the risk factors associated with heart failure and steps you can take toward health.
Volume 2: Issue 2 (Colorful Foods) – Create a better balance in your diet by learning about the various benefits of foods based on their color.
Volume 2: Issue 3 (Alcohol: Impact on Athletes) – By choosing not to drink, athletes can continually improve their performance and avoid the negative impact alcohol has on the body.
Volume 2: Issue 4 (Memory) – Our ability to remember can be enhanced with good habits! There are many ways to exercise your brain to improve your memory and prevent cognitive decline.
Volume 2: Issue 5 (Eyesight & Hearing) – Small decisions can be made in day-to-day activities to minimize damage and avoid risks posed to our eyesight and hearing.
Volume 2: Issue 6 (Avoiding Germs) – Identifying where germ hot spots exist and how to limit exposure can make a big difference to your environment and health.
Volume 2: Issue 7 (Attitude) – Research suggests there are numerous health benefits to positive thinking. Practicing a good attitude and approaching situations with a positive outlook can be easier with these steps provided.
Volume 2: Issue 8 (Prevention) – Prevention makes a big difference in several aspects of your family’s health, home safety and general well-being.
Volume 2: Issue 9 (Rx Abuse Prevention) – Prescription drug abuse has significant impacts on individuals and communities. By taking a few small steps in our daily lives, we can be a part of addressing this issue.
Volume 2: Issue 10 (Importance of Walking) – Improving our overall health can be as simple as walking regularly to boost energy levels, improve circulation and reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and certain cancers.
Volume 2: Issue 11 (Distracted Driving) – Becoming more aware of the dangers of distracted driving can help us make better decisions when on the road and prevent motor vehicle deaths and injuries.
Volume 2: Issue 12 (Controlling External Cues) – Developing mindful eating habits by being aware of how our environment impacts food intake can play a significant role in avoiding overeating.
Volume 2: Issue 13 (Brain and Addiction) – Addiction is a disease of the brain. Anyone can become addicted, though certain factors can point to how high one’s risk is, such as family history, age of first substance use and involvement in spiritual programming.
Volume 2: Issue 14 (Healthy Back) – Consistent physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough Calcium and Vitamin D contribute to a strong, pain-free back.
Volume 2: Issue 15 (Rethinking Drinking) – Drinking too much alcohol can have serious impacts on the body, including dehydration, a compromised immune system and increased risk for several diseases (liver disease, heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis).
Volume 2: Issue 16 (Combating Mental Illness Stigma) – The overwhelming reason why individuals do not seek treatment is the negative stigma associated with having mental illness. Early intervention and support can help reduce the duration of untreated symptoms and potentially curb the severity of the illness.
Volume 2: Issue 17 (Demystifying Food Labels) – Food labels can often be misleading. Avoid being fooled by checking things like serving size; amount of sugars, sodium and fat; ingredients that are hard to pronounce; and the % Daily Value.
Volume 2: Issue 18 (Heroin Epidemic) – The US imports 26% of world’s heroin supply, yet we have only 6% of the world’s population. One of the main catalysts to the epidemic has been the over-prescription of pain relieving drugs, such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet and Demerol.
Volume 2: Issue 19 (Did You Know?) – Small changes like bringing the phone to your eye level and reapplying sunscreen every two hours are just a few choices that will go a long way to being healthier. Here are some of the latest facts and interesting findings to assist you in making healthier choices.
Volume 2: Issue 20 (Balance) –Balance is a comprehensive function and complex task our bodies do every day without us giving it much thought. Though our balance gets worse with age, we can improve it if we continually challenge it, such as by completing practice exercises.
Volume 2: Issue 21 (Impact of Underage Drinking) – Usage of alcohol in the past 30 days of Gwinnett’s 12th grade students decreased from 45% to 15.66% based on the 2016 Georgia Student Health Survey. Yes, it’s true, MOST teens do NOT drink alcohol. It is important to note, though, that alcohol continues to be the drug of choice for our youth. And youth who drank alcohol in the past thirty days report that they receive it from parents and other adults and tend to drink the most at home and at friends’ homes.
Volume 2: Issue 22 (Did You Know?) – Making small changes in your daily meals and creating healthy habits will assist you greatly in staying healthier. Here are some of the latest facts and interesting findings to assist you in making healthier choices.
Volume 2: Issue 23 (Impact of Drunk & Drugged Driving) – Driving under the influence has greatly increased in the past few years. Most drivers do not understand how alcohol and various drugs can increase the risk of car accidents. However, becoming more aware of the risks can help keep everyone safe.
Volume 2: Issue 24 (Importance of Sleep) – Sleep is an important part of staying healthy, both physically and mentally. Learn the amazing benefits and techniques for improving your sleep habits.
Volume 2: Issue 25 (Did You Know?) – Increasing our knowledge as new research becomes available can improve our quality of life, allowing us to prevent possible risks while enjoying the positive results of certain behaviors.
Volume 2: Issue 26 (Being Optimistic) – Our attitude and outlook on situations have significant impacts on many aspects of our lives. Being optimistic can lead to positive coping skills, achieving goals easier and improved health.
Volume 2: Issue 27 (Underage Drinking) – Don’t be a party to underage drinking! Youth who do not drink have better grades and are rarely involved in risky behaviors.
Volume 2: Issue 28 (Nutrients Working Together) – New research has shown that certain nutrients working together can create greater health effects, a concept called food synergy.
Volume 2: Issue 29 (Preventing Diabetes) – More than 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year. Learn the risk factors and some steps in prevention.
Volume 2: Issue 30 (Our Amazing Bodies) – DYK? The average person has about 5 pounds of bacteria in his or her digestive system. Learn more facts about our bodies in this issue!
Volume 2: Issue 31 (Sexual Abuse) – Experts estimate that 1 in 10 youth are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Understand the risks, learn the signs and react responsibly.
Volume 2: Issue 32 (Flexibility) – Stretching to improve your flexibility has many positive effects on the body, such as improving circulation, relieving stress and preventing injury.
Volume 2: Issue 33 (Opioids & Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law) – Although most overdoses occur in the presence of others, fear of arrest and prosecution prevents many people from calling 911. However, Georgia’s Medical Amnesty Law protects victims and callers seeking medical assistance at drug or alcohol overdose scenes.
Volume 2: Issue 34 (Our Amazing Bodies) – Did you know? The harder you concentrate on falling asleep, the less likely you are to fall asleep. Appreciating and taking care of our bodies is much easier when we understand how they work.
Volume 2: Issue 35 (Preventing Underage Drinking) – Alcohol continues to be the drug of choice for teens and young adults. Do not wait to talk to your children about the negative consequences of drinking, smoking and/or using drugs.
Volume 2: Issue 36 (Living in the Moment) – Living in the moment, also called practicing mindfulness, has numerous health benefits, including decreased anxiety, improved focus and increased self-control.
Volume 2: Issue 37 (Synthetic Drugs) – Synthetic drugs are versions of illegal drugs, slightly altered
to avoid being classified as illegal, that are chemically made and mimic the effects of illegal drugs.