Rise Recovery (San Antonio, Texas) provides substance use interventions across six public school districts and with San Antonio's first ever recovery high school: Rise Inspire Academy.

Rise attribute the success of its efforts to a model that engages peers as catalysts for change.

The above presentation explores the following topics:

a) The pitfalls of a "just say no" school culture and how to change it;

b) the teenage brain on "socially acceptable" substances, and

c) building a youth alternative peer group to engage a recovery revolution.

Listeners will learn how substances impact adolescent brains and learn tools to intervene with youth who are already engaged in substances.

Data on Substance Use During the Pandemic:

• The Opioid Crisis and the Hispanic Population (SAMHSA, 2020)
• Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses Across the United States Driven by Synthetic Opioids Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic (CDC, 2020)
• COVID-19 Impact on US National Overdose Crisis (ODMAP, 2020)
• Overdose Deaths Accelerating During COVID-19 (CDC, 2020)

Recommended Reading for Youth:

• High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction by David and Nic Sheff