Browse our list of resources for information on substance abuse.
Downloadable Resources for Substance Abuse
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Show #20 The Future of Wellness and Safety in Schools Bryce Baker – CEO and Co-Founder of Pixel Digital Health Can technology bridge the gap between the internet and common…
PreventionCoalition is an informational site designed to educate parents, teachers and concerned community members about teen drug use and ways to prevent it. Visit them at https://thepreventioncoalition.org.
Steps to Take in Finding a Treatment Program for Addicted Loved Ones
This article originally appeared June 6, 2022 in EveryBrainMatters.org by Rachel Gutow-Ellis, (CPC) and Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S. You can find the article by clicking here. Many of us have…
Show #46 Children with a Future Balanced on Fragile Hopes Susan Work – CCEO Emeritus, Holy Family Ministries Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, yet we have systemic biases…
“Deceptive drugs made of fentanyl are killing young people across America at an alarming rate. Fentanyl is infiltrating our communities through counterfeit pills, cocaine and any other street drug you…
Iowa Report Cites Progress Amid Growing Threats from Mutating Illicit Drugs
For Immediate Release November 16, 2022 Contact: Susie Sher (515)725-0308 Iowa Report Cites Progress Amid Growing Threats from Mutating Illicit Drugs Iowa’s 2023 Drug Control Strategy, released by the Governor’s Office…
Our Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, contributed his expertise to a 2022 All American High School Film Festival Official Selection film by Adrian Guan. The 14-minute film, “Dilapidated: The Fall of…
Show #48 Becoming Ourselves – A Reason for Hope Reverend Dr. Charles Infelt Reverend Dr. Charles Infelt, whose journey from Waverly Iowa to the inner City of Chicago has given…
Methamphetamine use increased dramatically in the past four years: the number of people who self-identified as frequent methamphetamine users increased by 66%. “What makes these data even more devastating is…
Here’s a website with some great tips for people wanting to know if the young adult in their life may be using drugs: https://greenhillrecovery.com/drug-use-in-young-adults/
This article originally appeared in the Des Moines Register on July 5, 2021 by Peter Komendowski and Chris Fox. The stress, isolation and anxiety brought on by the pandemic have…
Iowa Alliance of Coalitions for Change discusses alcohol issues in the age of COVID-19
This article originally appeared in the Muscatine Journal on March 23, 2021 by David Hotle. Click here to view it. Another story appeared on KCRG.com. Click here to view that…
Show #51 A Matter of Faith. Survival, Hope & Inspiration. With a little help from our friends at Lutheran Church of Hope we can face adversity and explore the revelation…
Show #8 Drugs and Children: Secrets for Parents on location in Conrad, Iowa to talk Media Literacy Show Show #7 Drugs, alcohol, and all forms of risky behavior are…
The Partnership has two new episodes to watch in our Surviving Bad series! Show 13 – click here Substance Use Treatment & Recovery – Can Faith Guide Us Past the…
Addiction Group is an informational web guide created for people struggling with substance use disorders (SUD), alcohol use disorders (AUD), and co-occurring mental health disorders. https://www.addictiongroup.org/addiction https://www.addictiongroup.org/alcohol https://www.addictiongroup.org/drugs https://www.addictiongroup.org/blog/meth-in-your-system/ https://www.addictiongroup.org/drugs/illegal/crystal-meth/sores/
Pandemic: Gen Z and Alcohol Abuse, Mental Health, and Public Health
The Partnership has two new episodes to watch in our Surviving Bad series! Show 9 – click here Generation Z, the Pandemic and Alcohol Abuse – Your High School and…
Watch Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, talk about current trends in addiction, including the effects of cell phone usage, and what we can do to help ourselves and those around us….
Show #36 A Reality Check for the Holidays. Celebrations can cover up a lot of stressors, but after the party is over reality happens. These can be tough times…
Juul targeted kids with ads on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, lawsuit alleges
Juul, one of the country’s leading e-cigarette companies, is accused of illegally targeting young people online in advertising campaigns that featured youthful looking models holding Juul devices, the Massachusetts Attorney…
Recognizing Drug Use in Adolescents: A Quick Guide for Caregivers and Adults
This guide for parents and caregivers describes different substances teens use, how a teen may look when on that substance, how they may act, and how the substance may make…
The true cost of cannabis: Why don’t its illnesses, deaths command media headlines?
This article originally appeared in USA Today on January 3, 2020 by Jayne O’Donnell. …the federal “mental health czar” and psychiastrist, Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, [lamented] how little attention the “settled…
This is a copy of an article originally published December 25, 2019 in the Wall Street Journal by their Editorial Board. The Vaping-Marijuana Nexus Another unintended consequence of celebrating pot…
Trends in gabapentin and baclofen exposures reported to U.S. poison centers
Prescriptions for nonopioid pharmacological therapies such as gabapentin and baclofen have been increasing… Gabapentin and baclofen misuse, toxicity, use in suicide attempts, and associated healthcare utilization among adults in the…
This article originally appeared Nov. 18, 2020 in the Iowa State University News Service. Of the 1,588 middle and high school students surveyed, more than half (55%) had at least…
Lung Disease Associated with Vaping in Iowa Shows Large Percentage Related to THC
This article was originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Several states have recently reported cases of severe respiratory illness among teenagers and young adults with a history…
For Immediate Release Thursday, September 19, 2019 Contact: Peter Komendowski (515) 729-7334 Iowa to Host Digital Literacy & Wellness Conference Targeting Youth High-Risk Behavior Reduction DES MOINES – Peter Komendowski…
Nearly 21 million Americans are living with substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Three-quarters of those struggling with addiction to alcohol, pain medication, marijuana and other substances…
This originally appeared April 28, 2019 on kiow.com by AJ Taylor. Peter H. Komendowski, who is President of the group, which is a part of the Governor’s Office on Drug…
A Special Edition of Surviving Bad: Iowa Students Speak Out on Alcohol, Marijuana and Vaping. Filmed at MFL MarMac HS in Monona, Iowa with a live audience, students share their…
More Face To Face Time Could Lower High Risk Behavior, Healthy Iowa President Says
This article originally appeared in the Atlantic News Telegraph on May 6, 2019 by Jennifer Nichols. Our own Peter Komendowski, Executive Director of the Partnership for Healthy Iowa, spoke to…
Surviving Bad – Students and Teachers Share Views on High-Risk Activities
This weekend! Watch students and teachers from MFL MarMac HS share personal views on high-risk activities Iowa’s youth face today on #MC22’s one-hour special episode of “Surviving Bad.” Hosted by…
This originally appeared on KIOW on May 16, 2019. Peter H. Komendowski, who is President of the group, which is a part of the Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy,…
Meth Vs. Opioids: America Has Two Drug Epidemics, But Focuses On One
This article was originally published in Kaiser Health News by April Dembosky on May 6, 2019. While public health officials have focused on the opioid epidemic in recent years, another…
This study was originally published in the journal, Psychopharmacology. Cannabis containing equivalent concentrations of CBD and THC appears no less impairing than THC-dominant cannabis, and in some circumstances, CBD may…
Peter Komendowski Talks About the Role of Seniors in Influencing Children
Peter Komendowski of Partnership for a Healthy Iowa talks about a variety of topics, including the roles that seniors can play in shaping the mindsets, behaviors and lives of children.
Mediacom Newsleaders Features The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa
The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa’s Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, talks about all the things affecting kids these days and how to create positive experiences. Watch the video!
The Partnership’s Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, will be presenting at The Chronicles of Substance Abuse: The Addition, the Secret, and the Solution: April 23, 2019 6:30pm – 8:00pm Forest City,…
The Partnership for a Healthy Iowa is co-sponsoring a town hall: April 15, 2019 6:30pm – 8:00pm Sioux City, IA This informative event is free and open to the public….
This article first appeared in the Clinton Herald on March 26, 2019. April 1: “Digital Responsibilities; What Families Need to Know.” The speaker will be Peter Komendowski, president of The…
FDA rolls out vaping policy to make it harder for minors to buy flavored products
This article was originally published by The Washington Post on March 13, 2019 by Laurie McGinley. The Food and Drug Administration issued a much-anticipated policy on Wednesday that is designed…
The Alcohol Crisis In America Has Been Overshadowed By Opioids, But Can No Longer Be Ignored
This article originally appeared on February 23, 2019 in Forbes by Nicole Fisher. When talking about drug abuse and drug-related death in the U.S., most conversations and statistics do not…
Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising: E-cigarettes are the main reason
This article was originally published in February 2019 by the Centers for Disease Control. Tobacco product use among US youth is increasing. More than 1 in 4 high school students…
Vaping has created teen nicotine addicts with few treatment options
This article was originally published January 18, 2019 by CBS News. The FDA is holding a hearing Friday morning to address the alarming spike in teen vaping and how to…
Show #12 The Prison System. You might think prison is a dark and hopeless place. At the Iowa Department of Corrections they seem to be focused on hope and inspiration…
Article published in MedPage Today on December 22, 2018 by John Gever “In April, we reported on an FDA order to remove some kratom products from the market because of…
From The Daily Iowan, December 11, 2018, by Jordan Prochnow Methamphetamine: Iowa’s most resilient crop
https://dmu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=9952fabb-5eda-4491-a254-a9ae00cb86b9
This article was originally published on December 12, 2018 by CNN at https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/12/health/drugs-overdose-fentanyl-study/index.html. Fentanyl is now the most commonly used drug involved in drug overdoses, according to a new government…
Originally published by Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences at https://cme.dmu.edu/DMUGrandRounds-Dec2018 Our Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, will be one of the featured speakers at the next DMU Grand Rounds,…
Originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health Download the What You Should Know Opioids Brochure (PDF) by clicking the image below.
Originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health Download Iowa’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Infographic (PDF) by clicking the image below.
Originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health Unless you’re taking a drug your healthcare provider prescribed just for you, you won’t know if it’s safe for your body….
Originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health Download the Prescription Drugs are Still Drugs Brochure (PDF).
Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response – English and Spanish
Originally published by the Iowa Department of Public Health Download the Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response Brochure in English (PDF). Download the Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response Brochure in Spanish (PDF).
From the Iowa Department of Public Health Published at https://yourlifeiowa.org Download the Iowa Opioid Fact Sheet (PDF) by clicking on the image below.
From the Iowa Department of Public Health Published at https://yourlifeiowa.org Download the Good Samaritan Law Fact Sheet (PDF) by clicking on the image below.
Originally published at Your Life Iowa: https://yourlifeiowa.org/purchase-naloxone-without-a-prescription Did you know you can purchase naloxone at your local pharmacy without a prescription? Naloxone is a prescription medication that can reverse an…
From the Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Behavioral Health/Bureau of Substance Abuse. Click on the flyer below to download it (PDF).
Interesting graphical display of an article on fentanyl. Fentanyl: The Deadly Drug Haunting America [Washington Post]
Rural Americans face many of the same problems as their urban counterparts. One of them is the fight against opioid abuse and addiction. This week, President Trump sent reinforcements to…
This story was originally published Oct. 25, 2018 on journal-eureka.com. Story by Jake Bourgeois Former Iowa royalty took her drug safety message to Jones County in an effort to provide…
The Daily Grind – September 17: Peter Komendowski & Cheryl Buntsma – Substance Abuse Seminar
Listen to Peter on the Siouxland Radio Show, The Daily Grind. Click the Play button below to hear it.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/fda-calls-teen-vaping-an-epidemic-weighs-bans-on-flavored-e-cigarettes
View our monthly “Surviving Bad” TV show.
Show #12 Women of the National Guard: Today’s military woman has more opportunity and responsibility. It’s not about man or woman – it’s about who’s best for the job. Watch…
Show #11 Therapy can be scary. When you are facing tough challenges, making bad choices, or paying the price for mistakes, you need help. Is therapy the answer? Can you…
Show #9 Loneliness, depression and dysfunction have special meanings over the holidays. The pressures of the holidays can be hard to handle. A little care, understanding, and love can be…
Show #8 A Crisis Unfolds, Medicine vs. Addiction. Even Grandma can face a drug overdose. Two doctors talk about emergency rooms and the confusion about what drugs really do. Featuring…
This documentary aims to analyze the opioid crisis in Iowa and what is being done to prevent it in Story County. Originally published April 23, 2018.
Corridor author fights the opioid epidemic through children’s book
Teaching children about drugs is a topic on a lot of people’s minds. “Talking about medication is not an easy topic to talk about with kids, and so making sure…
An estimated 175 Americans are dying every day from drug overdoses, including opioid addicted Iowans. Executive Director Peter Komendowski talks with members of the Fort Dodge, IA community. He shares…
Opioid crisis may not peak in Iowa for 5-7 years, so now’s time to prepare
KJAN http://www.kjan.com/index.php/2018/06/opioid-crisis-may-not-peak-in-iowa-for-5-7-years-so-nows-time-to-prepare/
Town hall meetings focus on how to help end the opioid epidemic
RadioIowa https://www.radioiowa.com/2018/06/27/town-hall-meetings-focus-on-how-to-help-end-the-opioid-epidemic/
Rural Communities Fight with the Struggle Against the Opioid Epidemic
This originally appeared on Iowa Public Television. The war on drugs is as old as civilization itself. However, the focus of that battle has changed over time, with the attack…