To kick off Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, Biddeford Schools are partnering with Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition and the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club to feature a screening of the documentary SCREENAGERS: Under the Influence, which addresses vaping, drugs, and alcohol in the digital age. The event will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 6 pm at the Thornton Academy Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion and resource fair. We hope our middle and high school parents can attend.
As teens navigate a world where vaping and substance use are increasingly normalized, this film tackles the urgent issues facing today's youth. With dealers slipping into direct messages on Instagram and Snapchat and the media continuously glamorizing drug and alcohol use, the need for informed discussions has never been more critical.
SCREENAGERS: Under The Influence—the third film in the acclaimed Screenagers trilogy—explores how the digital age is reshaping adolescence and its implications for substance use. This groundbreaking documentary moves beyond the narratives of severe addiction to address the more common, everyday challenges teens face. Featuring interviews with leading experts—including Dr. Anna Lembke, Dr. Lisa Damour, and Dr. Nora Volkow—this film blends cutting-edge science with compelling personal stories, making it both informative and relatable for audiences of all ages.
“Parents today face a perfect storm of challenges, from the rapid growth of technology and legalized cannabis use to increasing mental health concerns,” said Cheri Anderson, Director of the Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition. “With nearly 1 in 5 teens facing mental health struggles, it’s more important than ever to equip parents with the tools they need. This film helps dispel common misconceptions and offers practical strategies to promote healthy choices, support mental well-being, set boundaries, and foster positive home environments. By working together, we can guide youth through these complexities and help them thrive in today’s digital world.”
The film offers practical insights for parents and educators, debunking myths and providing actionable strategies to foster healthy decision-making and mental wellness in our youth. Showcasing how teens can leverage their own wisdom and resilience inspires both families and communities to create supportive environments that promote safe and healthy choices.
Middle and high school parents are invited to attend this important screening and engage in the conversation about keeping their teens safe in an ever-changing world. There will be a resource fair with information about local agencies and providers, as well as light refreshments before and after the show. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the film is 50 minutes long with a student skit and panel discussion with experts following.
Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31 each year, serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities, educate youth, and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. The campaign focuses on how one person can make a difference, and this year’s theme is “Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free.”TM This presentation was made possible thanks to a grant from the Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club and Project Alliance-Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition’s drug-free communities grant.
For more information about SCREENAGERS, please view the movie trailer www.screenagersmovie.com or contact Ethan Pollard, CHCC/Project Alliance Coordinator, at 207-602-3555 or projectalliance@une.edu. For more information about Red Ribbon Week, visit www.redribbon.org.
