BRiDGES / MCCASA

10/26/2026

👻 MYTH: You can't overdose on cannabis.

FACT: Consuming too much cannabis can cause poisoning and serious, sometimes dangerous effects.

While a fatal overdose from cannabis alone is unlikely, using too much can cause extreme confusion, panic, paranoia, hallucinations, a rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and severe nausea or vomiting.

Edibles can carry an additional risk. Their effects can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin, which can lead someone to consume more before feeling the effects, increasing the risk of poisoning or serious injury.

Bottom line: “Unlikely to be fatal” doesn't mean “you can't have too much.” Cannabis can cause serious adverse effects, especially when high-THC products are consumed in excess.

📊Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/faq/index.html?utm_source and https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/poisoning.html?utm_source

10/26/2026

🎀 This week we’re excited to see several schools across the county putting our Red Ribbon Week toolkit into action! This toolkit was developed by our Prevention Education Team and shared at our annual Youth Leadership Conference this past spring.

This year, students will select teachers to wear red capes and keep an eye out for students who are being “SUPER”—helping others, making positive choices, being great role models, and promoting a drug-free lifestyle. 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️

Here’s to celebrating the everyday heroes in our schools who are making a difference!

10/25/2026

Remember, you could win a $500 or $250 gift card toward pet supplies by participating in NYS Quitline's "Quit for Your Pet" campaign! Learn more at https://www.nysmokefree.com/pets

Quit for Your Pet Cards! Order or download our ever-popular “Quit for Your Pet” cards – Get Free Help to Become and Stay Tobacco-Free The New York State Quitline offers a variety of free services, including Quit Coaches to provide individualized support, confidential texting programs, and free...

10/24/2026

Remember, you could win a $500 or $250 gift card toward pet supplies by participating in the NYS Quitline's "Quit for Your Pet" campaign! Learn more at https://www.nysmokefree.com/pets

10/23/2026

When cannabis products are no longer needed, what happens to them matters. 💚

It’s easy to forget about an old edible, a nearly empty package, or a cannabis product that has been sitting in a cabinet or drawer. But keeping unwanted products around can create an opportunity for accidental exposure, especially for children, pets, or visitors.

If you have cannabis products you no longer want or need, take a moment to check how they should be disposed of before tossing them in the trash. Making products unusable and taking a few extra precautions can help keep them from being accidentally consumed or retrieved from the garbage.

And remember to check those places where forgotten products may turn up, bags, drawers, cabinets, and other storage areas.

Safe Use. Safe Storage. Safe Disposal.
Small steps can help make a difference.

10/22/2026

🍂 Save the Date! 🍂

You’re invited to join us for a morning of connection, remembrance, and support.

The Su***de Prevention Coalition of Madison County is hosting an International Survivors of Su***de Loss Breakfast on Saturday, November 21. This gathering is a chance for survivors of su***de loss to come together, share space with others who understand, and honor the people we carry with us.

💜 All survivors of su***de loss are welcome.

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ 10:00–11:30 a.m.
📍 Canastota Public Library

Registration is now open! If you or someone you know would like to join us, please register here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtEV2m1XIUjueqO-rFSEPhnQA2Ae5l6A6jdB28t-M744Q51Q/viewform?usp=header

10/21/2026

Unwanted cannabis products shouldn't end up where someone else can access them. 💚

Cannabis products don't always look like what we might expect. Edibles, in particular, can resemble familiar foods, which is one reason it’s important to think about what happens to them even after you’re finished using them.

If you have expired, unwanted, or leftover cannabis products, make sure they are no longer usable before disposing of them. Taking that extra step can help reduce the chance that a child, pet, or someone else will come across a product in the trash.

Safe disposal is one more way we can make our homes and communities a little safer.

Looking for more information on safe cannabis disposal? The New York State Department of Health offers guidance on how to safely dispose of unwanted cannabis products and packaging. Learn more here: https://www.health.ny.gov/community/cannabis/safety.htm?utm_source

Safe Use. Safe Storage. Safe Disposal.
Small steps can help make a difference.

10/20/2026

Help us wish a happy first work anniversary to Megan!

Megan is our Information and Referral Services Coordinator and also the Lead Facilitator for the Su***de Prevention Coalition of Madison County.

Megan came to BRiDGES straight out of college and has been going full force since the moment she started! In just a year she has learned how to lead a coalition, began working with EAP clients, expanded her knowledge about our local resources, built many relationships with community partners, helped plan our Annual STEPtember for Su***de Prevention, Awareness, and Remembrance Walk where she also served as a guest speaker, earned her certification to train QPR, and became a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

We appreciate so much about Megan! She is always willing to learn something new, she is a natural encourager, and she is incredibly compassionate.

🥳 Congratulations on 1 year at BRiDGES!!

10/20/2026

💙 Happy Health Education Week! 💙

This October, we’re celebrating the incredible health teachers we have the privilege of working with. Thank you for creating spaces where students can learn, grow, and build skills for healthy futures!

We’re proud to partner with health teachers through our Prevention Education Team, bringing classroom education on life skills, healthy decision-making, and substance use prevention.

Together, we’re empowering students with the tools they need to make healthy choices. 🌱

Thank you, Health Teachers, for all that you do! 👏

Brookfield Central School District, Canastota Central School District, Cazenovia Central School District, Chittenango Central School, DeRuyter Central School District, Hamilton Central School, Madison Central School - Madison, NY, Morrisville Eaton, Oneida City School District, Stockbridge Valley Central School