For the most current advocacy information, please visit the Copley-Fairlawn PTA Council Advocacy page or the National PTA Advocacy page.

Vaping:  Dangerous. Severe lung disease and deaths reported. Nationally, in 2018 there was a 48 percent rise in vaping among middle-schoolers and a 78 percent increase in vaping among high-schoolers. The Federal Food & Drug Administration data shows 3.62 million US middle and high school students are using e-cigarettes, including 27.5% of high school students in 2019, up from 21% in 2018 and 11.7% in 2017.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0906-vaping-related-illness.html
To do: Become familiar with vaping equipment, sales and health consequences.

Substance abuse: Top 5 substances abused by Teenagers: 

1. Marijuana

2. Cocaine

3. Stimulants

4. Pain Killers/Prescription Drugs

5. Spice/K2

https://www.scph.org/medication-disposal/dump-box-locations
To do: Become familiar with substances abused; keep all prescription drugs under lock and key and dispose of them at the Copley Police department (1280 Sunset Drive Copley). Check your teens “storage places” such as purses and drawers periodically.

Suicide: Suicide is the leading cause of death among children ages 10-14 and the second leading cause for ages 15-34. From 2007 to 2018 the number of suicides among youth ages 10-24 increased by 56%.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=teen-suicide-learning-to-recognize-the-warning-signs-1-1696
To do: Become familiar with warning signs of depression and suicide. Know the suicide hot line.