Stanley High hosts Skittle Skool
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Junior high and high school students learned about health issues on Wednesday during the "Skittle Skool" sponsored by the Mountrail County Health Foundation, the Stanley Park District and the Stanley High School, according to a press release.
The idea for Skittle School started last December when a group of local community groups, including the Stanley Police Department and Mountrail County Social Services, got together to discuss the growing problem of opioid abuse in the area. Skittle Skool got its name from the "skittle parties" that drug users use. Kids go into their parents' medicine cabinet, take pills with them to a party, mix all the drugs in a bowl and randomly pick a drug out of the bowl and take one. April 11 was chosen as the date because it was the Wednesday before Stanley's prom.
The event included 20 presenters. Stacy Schaffer from 31:8 Project covered sexting. Kris Halvorson from the Stanley Police Department and Hillary Burchett from the Stanley Ambulance Service discussed how and when to call 911 for a drug overdose and the danger of Nar-Can Usage.
Virginia Dohm from North Central Human Service covered healthy dating relationships.
Michelle Svangstu from Upper Missouri District Health Unit discussed the long term effects of smoking and chewing tobacco and how vaping is not a safe alternative.
Abby Ruland and Tammie Braaflat from the Mountrail County Medical Center discussed safe sex, STDs, HPV and the importance of the HPV vaccine.
Tara Nardacci and Dr. Longmuir from the Mountrail County Medical Center and Gerald White and his team from the Three Affiliated Tribes Drug Task Force discussed prescription drug abuse and what it can lead to.
Shelly Kinney from Mountrail County Social Services discussed drug exposure and its effects.
Terry Goldade from Northland Community Health Center discussed the effects of screens and screen time on mental health.
Brenna Thompson from Pospishil and Associates discussed suicide, cutting and self harm.
Bob Hayes from Bob Hayes Addiction Services discussed alcohol abuse and addiction.
Stephanie Nishek from Dakota Natural Health covered the importance of a health diet for a developing brain.
Pastor Carter Hill from Prairie Lutheran Parish discussed bullying online and off.
"Skittle Skool is just the start of what we want to do here in Mountrail County for our youth and our communities overall," said Stephanie Everett, Mountrail County Health Foundation's Director. "We look forward in working with all the presenters and planning future events to see what sort of movement we can start locally."