Youth

Learn from the Heart

“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”

– Unknown

Growing up, you’ll face tough situations around drugs, alcohol, your mental health, and other circumstances where you’ll need to decide what to do. Learning how to navigate these challenges and asking for help when you need it is an important part of becoming an adult.

The following resources are here to help you make smart choices with your head—and your heart.

Find Your Strength

We all face challenges, and focusing on your emotional health is crucial. The My Strength app offers safe and secure tools to help you improve your mood and overcome obstacles. With custom resources, you can track your health, enjoy interactive activities, and find inspiration through quotes and videos.

Who’s Drinking: Take this Alcohol Survey & See the Results

When it comes to alcohol, are you “normal?” Hundreds of teens in Nebraska took this survey to get a sense of who’s drinking, what they’re drinking, and how much.

See How You Compare

How many others feel and act like you do? To find out, start by taking this survey.

Get the Results

Check out the data, results, and insights from the survey. It will give you a better idea of what your classmates are really doing, along with:

  • What binge drinking is and its risks
  • How many calories are in a drink
  • Inherited family risks
  • The adverse effects of alcohol on athletes
  • How to recognize alcohol poisoning

What’s Really Going On Inside You?

Want to know how circadian rhythms affect your sleep? What cells and proteins look like under a microscope? How about the science behind drug use and addiction? Take these Kahoot! Courses and quizzes to explore the biological processes going on inside your body and how medical discoveries have revealed more about what impacts our health. Get smart and have fun right now with Kahoot!

Graphic of a hand holding a phone. The screen of the phone is the login to play a Kahoot! game.

Yolo Solo Pong Game

Turn a “serious conversation” into a good time! The Yolo Solo pong game turns traditional beer pong into a fun way for families and friends to talk about underage drinking.

Learn how many teens are really drinking (hint: most aren’t) and why the risks of underage drinking aren’t worth it. All you need to play are 20 plastic party cups and two to four ping pong balls. You’ll also need the instruction sheet and the game pieces which you can download below. Have a great conversation and a great time!

Tips, Tools & Resources

Learn more about the science of addiction, why stopping drug use can be difficult––and where to find help.

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Test your knowledge on how to best cope with stress.

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Test your knowledge about drugs and drug use.

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Take this quiz on underage drinking and put your knowledge to the test.

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Test your knowledge on what causes drug overdoses and learn how to save a life using naloxone.

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Being online too much can influence our emotions and mental well-being. Here’s why.

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If you’ve ever struggled to get out of bed or spent days without seeing anyone or even brushing your hair, remember, you’re not alone, and there are ways to cope.

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Discover how you can be SMART with a heart by following these tips for using the internet safely and positively.

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If you’re being bullied or know someone who is, there are plenty of ways to speak up and take action to make it stop.

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Try one of these activities or use some of the tools to help you feel better when you’re feeling anxious, scared, or sad.

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How do you say no when your peers tell you to say yes? The best thing of all is to be yourself — even if it means being different. Learn how to stand your ground and avoid peer pressure.

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Finding ways to focus on your emotional health is important. Now you can use My Strength to help you feel better and stay strong.

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Hundreds of teens in Nebraska answered questions about underage drinking to get a sense of who’s drinking, what they are drinking, and how much they’re drinking.

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Use this resource to learn about what to expect when calling the 988 Lifeline.

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Early in her college years, a traumatic incident triggered depression, anxiety, and PTSD in Sadie. With professional help, she found hope and healing.

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Jason experienced years of trauma and the mental health impact it had. He understands the pain and the hope that comes from opening up and talking about his mental health with others.

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When your child hits their teen years they start to make their own decisions in regard to how they treat their body…

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Many teens are aware of their unhealthy habits that are leading to a decline in their health. They are sleep deprived and stressed-  negatively impacting their lives…

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Explaining addiction to kids can be challenging…

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Naloxone can save lives when a potential overdose happens. This website gives young people the facts.

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Marijuana can have several negative implications for your health…

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Quitting vaping can be difficult, but it’s worth it in the end.

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This video from the Mayo Clinic features teens describing common signs that a teen is …

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Nebraska Needs You is a community-wide social media campaign focused on promoting hope, resilience and connectedness among rural youth in Nebraska

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that …

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The LGBTQ+ community is diverse and strong but may face challenges different from the rest of …

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This video by Students Against Nicotine shines a light on the negative effects and need for …

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HOPE Squads are peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs. Student members of the squads …

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Many people are prescribed opioids out of medical necessity, but opioids can still be dangerous and …

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E-cigarettes are unsafe for young people. Whether a young person uses nicotine or marijuana in …

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Marijuana affects the development of teen brains. People who use marijuana have reported less …

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Many people are prescribed steroids for medical reasons, but steroids can still be deadly …

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Tobacco use is dangerous and can be deadly. Smoking is the leading cause of not only lung …

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Cocaine is illegal, addictive, and dangerous. It can cause seizures, strokes, comas …

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Heroin is illegal, addictive, and dangerous. It slows down your heartbeat and breathing …

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Methamphetamine (meth) is illegal, addictive, and dangerous. It can be made from ingredients that …

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Inhalants are dangerous and can be deadly. Each “huff” has the potential to kill, there is no …

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You probably see and hear a lot about alcohol—from TV, movies, music, social media and your friends …

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