OCTOBER 2026
Upcoming Events
OCTOBER 14 at noon - Join our monthly coalition meeting in person or online! Here’s how.
Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. is Webster’s Fall Drug Take Back event. Start gathering up your unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications, and kick off Red Ribbon Week with a trip to our drive-through drop-off event. It couldn’t be easier! Optionally, you may register to receive a reminder email a day before the event. Many thanks to the Town of Webster and Webster Police Department for making this important service available to residents.
Oct 23-31, Red Ribbon Week: Use WHEN’s 100% FREE Red Ribbon Week Tool Kit to plan easy and fun activities perfect for schools, camps, scouts, youth groups and more, broken out by age group! Pick one activity, or select one for each day of the week. Mix it up between games, reading, physical activities, etc. for an engaging and meaningful prevention week appropriate for your age group and setting.
Webster Headlines
Happy birthday to these WHEN members celebrating in October:
Abbey J., Courtney P., Carolyn M., Heather G., Shawn S., Leslie R.,
Andrea E., Kerry M., and Kerry H.!
Big News:
Long-time WHEN volunteer, Dustin Bailey, has been named WHEN’s new Youth Director!
After many years of steady leadership and funding, WHEN is finally in a position to focus on increasing direct youth participation in our coalition activities! We have been working toward this goal for such a long time, and all the pieces are now falling into place.
Dustin Bailey, who you may know as a WCSD Coordinator of Unified Basketball and Bowling, will be running these youth-led, adult-supported, substance use prevention activities as a branch of WHEN. Dustin’s experience in Young Life and his long-standing involvement with WHEN and Webster youth make him a perfect fit for this new role.
We hope the increased focus on direct youth involvement will offer the perfect next step for kids who have participated in Above the Influence in our middle schools. Please help us congratulate Dustin and expect to be hearing more about this work in the coming school year!
Please share our extensive, free Red Ribbon Week Kit with anyone who might use it – educators, troop leaders, daycare facilitators, clubs, youth groups, etc.
What is Red Ribbon Week? It's an annual opportunity to focus our attention on the healthy habits that guard against developing a substance use disorder. It's a chance for youth to practice skills, build resiliency, and gain the knowledge and the fortitude to make healthy choices. There is science to support the role of protective factors in mitigating the development of substance use disorders. Here is our chance to keep kids on track to achieve their hopes and dreams.
Our kit is built around strengthening protective factors and organized by age group, so you'll find positive activities with intentional benefits, not just random fluff. Check it out. Let us know if you have suggestions, we are always improving it!
Lunchtime Legends are BACK!
"The Legends are Baaack!" It was so gratifying to get this kind of reception from Webster middle schoolers when they saw we were set up in the cafeteria. They were so enthusiastic and we noticed many repeat visitors, indicating that kids are starting to recognize WHEN as a support they can count on – an outcome we are thrilled to observe, continue, and grow. Enjoy a few photos from our time at both Spry and Willink lunches. We are always looking for volunteers to play games, do crafts and chat with the kids, so please sign up when you are able, it's a great time!
The Fall Drug Take Back is Saturday, October 24, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and volunteers are needed. Please consider helping out for a bit. Sign up here. You can also help by sharing our social media posts with your contacts to get the word out and remind the community of this important event.
.png)
A Daughter's Recommendation
“Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, and communities that promote the health and well-being of children and families.” - ChildWelfare.gov
By WHEN member, Dana Buccieri, MEd
It’s been my good fortune to have a child follow in my footsteps and choose a profession in the helping field. She spent three years of her working career at a rehabilitation center supporting those experiencing substance abuse and addiction. Needless to say, we talk “shop” a lot! When I was exploring what topic to address in this month’s WHEN newsletter, she asked if I had explored the role of shame, anger, and guilt in the family system, specifically regarding when teens experiment. She also stated “part of preventing addiction is harm reduction.”
More often than not, when our teens experiment with drugs and alcohol (and a large number will despite our best intentions), we overreact due to our fear and worry regarding their safety. Understanding their behaviors and educating them regarding what to do when, where, and how, is not always at the forefront of our minds when their use comes to our attention or they are caught.
As minors, drug and alcohol use is illegal. However, 15 year olds want to be 25 year olds, and their behaviors may emulate this desire, especially if such is modeled in the home. I am not judging anyone’s home life here; we were the poster family for daily wine drinking; we owned a wine shop for 10 years! But let’s face it, we are not necessarily who or what we preach.
“Experimentation with substances is relatively common in adolescence,” says Angela M. Orvis, PsyD, psychologist and clinical supervisor at Rogers Behavioral Health’s West Allis hospital. “Typically, teens try substances for a variety of reasons like curiosity, a desire to be perceived positively, and peer pressure,” she explains. Rogers Behavioral Health
Dr. Orvis goes on to explain that if you suspect your teen is using substances you should attempt an open conversation with them using a supportive tone. If your emotions are running too high, it decreases the likelihood of future open conversations. Understanding why your child might try or use drugs is an important step towards having those conversations with them.
-
Low Self-Esteem - They lack confidence regarding their appearance, and relationships, especially if social media is overly used. They also lack hobbies or activities.
-
Lack of Knowledge/Education - Some believe it is normal. Our culture has adopted a “pill cures all” mentality. Many teens do not understand the potential consequences of drug use and how it can harm their minds and bodies.
-
Genetics - If there is a family history of drug addiction or alcoholism, teens may be genetically predisposed to experiment. Be honest and open to sharing this history and the real risks of substance use and addiction.
– Song for Charlie’s New Drug Talk, Connect to Protect - What leads young People to Experiment with Drugs. May 6, 2026
If you are worried about your child’s experimentation with substances or alcohol, seek out trained professionals to assess whether their use is truly experimentation or could lead to an addiction. These professionals ensure that appropriate interventions and recommendations are received in a timely manner.
Some of the reasons teens may use drugs include:
-
Curiosity - They want to know what it feels like. Even if they know that substance use is bad, the brain that controls rational decision-making and judgment is not fully developed in teens.
-
Peer Pressure - Their friends are doing it, or use as an attempt to fit in.
-
To Feel Better - It is a form of self-medicating during a difficult phase in life or to combat other mental health concerns like depression, social anxiety, and stress. Many teens are overly stressed with packed schedules or challenging relationships, and they lack the coping skills to manage life.
Spotlight
Coming soon.
Upcoming Meetings
Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 14 at noon. Register here to receive details for both in-person and online options.
We meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Many of us join during our lunch break. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. In fact, our goal is to have representation from all walks of life, to better meet the needs of the whole community.
Read last month's Coalition Meeting Minutes.
Quick Resources
We've gathered many resources on our website. Find local mental heath resources here and a host of other supports on our Get Help page. Looking for something else? Please shoot us an email and let us know.