Teenagers and young adults often receive a great deal of misinformation about drug and alcohol misuse from popular culture, the Internet, TV, movies, contemporary music, and social media. Each year, on average, 4,358 young people under the age of 21 die from alcohol related deaths. While people aged 18-24 generally use nicotine at lower rates than older adults, amphetamine misuse and daily marijuana use – at their highest rates since the early 1980s – remain pressing concerns.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) created National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW). The week-long NDAFW observance, which took place Jan. 21-28 was a success as communities, high schools and colleges across the country held events to connect teens and young adults with scientists and other health experts to help dispel myths and misinformation about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the human brain, body, and behavior.
In support of NDAFW and the importance of ongoing efforts to provide meaningful information and resources, Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Total Health is highlighting its latest thought-provoking tour focused on Mental Health and Wellness. The tour offers insight to a wide range of personas whose health is impacted by varying degrees of mental health conditions or concerns, including the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
The tour includes the powerful story of Marcus, our persona of a young adult who has begun to misuse alcohol as he navigates through the stresses of his post-college life. Through the Center’s interactive Mental Health and Wellness exhibit, visitors can not only learn about Marcus’ life, but also about the array of resources Kaiser Permanente provides to help individuals who may be struggling with alcohol or drug addiction.
Marcus and other personas featured in the tour introduce visitors to programs created by Kaiser Permanente and other innovators that showcase the importance of integrating mental health care into everyday health. Guests have an opportunity to see examples of mental health and wellness resources in various scenarios, ranging from the broader community to the school classroom and the workspace.
Click here to see a sneak peek and schedule a visit to experience the Center’s tour first hand. Mental health and wellness affect everyone, and we look forward to providing visitors with a unique, educational, and interactive experience that further highlights this important topic.
The Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health hosts internal and external educational events. All events – including annual banquets, quarterly meetings, trainings, interviews – feature healthy catering options and can be customized to incorporate the interactive exhibits that make the Center for Total health experience both fun and informative for attendees. If your organization is interested in hosting an event, please send us an event request via our website. We look forward to hearing from you!
