Author: gigitasa

In 2006, the research project TRACE (Teens Report on Adolescent Cannabis Experiences) was launched. Researchers at the Nursing faculty at the University of British Columbia strived to understand the context in which youth cannabis use took place. The ‘data’ of the research consisted of interviews with teenagers. The research team interviewed 77 teenagers who shared their thoughts and experiences with cannabis. 

Of course, of course, let me explain why this is relevant. 

The study uncovers that many teenagers use cannabis to deal with feelings of distress. These feelings could be depression or/and anxiety. Additionally, teenagers were NOT aware of resources that could help them alleviate their feelings of distress. 

Considering these findings, is NOT surprising that youth (15-24-year-olds) are age group LESS likely to seek help for mental health problems. Ultimately, these unattended mental health problems can affect youth academic, interpersonal, and societal spheres. That’s why it’s important. 

Shortly after, the team involved in the TRACE project started rolling out articles. These articles addressed smoking cannabis considering gender, the effect of school staff on students’ cannabis use, smoking cannabis in nature, and using cannabis to relieve feelings of distress.

The projects TRACE I -III uncovered essential findings, which can be found in the infographic below

Based on the findings of TRACE I and II, the research team put together a film as part of TRACE III. Cycles is a film that embodies knowledge translation by exploring how high school students engage in decision making as to whether to use or not use cannabis. The film is a fictional drama that revolves around two main characters, teenagers. The film portrays how different factors influence teenagers to use and not use cannabis. It is NOT a moral tale; however, it allows for the viewer to reflect on the consequences of potentially consuming cannabis.

Moreover, the film calls the viewer to ponder the complex context of cannabis consumption, which reflects reality’s decision-making. The film can be used in classroom settings as an educational resource. There is a Facilitator’s guide with lesson plans, designed for teachers or any individual who decides to facilitate the session. 

TRACE IV was carried out between 2017- 2018; this consisted of conversations with PARENTS of teenagers who have used cannabis. The researchers wanted to understand how the conversations took place and if any resources could facilitate these discussions.  

The findings uncovered that parents who use cannabis have been excluded from conversations. Parents believe that a harm reduction approach should be prioritized or, at a minimum, a pragmatic “abstinence-plus” approach. Parents who consumed cannabis felt stigmatized, impacting the context for the conversation with their adolescent children.​

Based on the data of TRACE IV, there have been two publications so far, one article that addresses the assumption that parents are the best cannabis use prevention and analysis of resources available for parents.

You may think that there will be no more TRACE projects, 4 are enough, but NO 

Currently, we launched TRACE V. What are we trying to study now? Youth who may have experienced health or social inequities and use cannabis. 

The GOAL is to identify how marginalized youth (outside “the mainstream”) perceive the potential risks of using cannabis and including youth as co-developers of harm reduction messages…..through Digital Storytelling

So far, we have talked with 33 youth ( ages 17-24) across Canada. These people have been kind enough to share their experiences with cannabis and personal life experiences with what I like to call health and social struggles, including mental illnesses, discrimination, chronic illnesses, trauma, child maltreatment, and low income.

TRACE V has its own Instagram, where you can find its awesome study flyer (tracev.letstalk) and a video honouring some of TRACE’s accomplishments over the last decade. Additionally, the link in the bio leads to a linktr. ee that provides links to articles, the Cycles video, and links to cannabis education. 

Thank you for reading; consider yourself informed! 

Writing a story, regardless of the field, can be nerve-wracking. There are so many elements to consider and developing an idea at times seems daunting. I created an infographic that identifies 4 principles of storytelling. The fundamentals address how to navigate the “prep” before storytelling takes place.  Additionally, I included some statistics about storytelling and its relevance. For example, people’s neural activity increases when listening to a story; moreover, most consumers prefer advertisements that resemble stories. I invite you to take a look.

The ideas that I mention in the infographic can also be found below, where I develop the ideas even further.    

1. Identify a message– Establish the main message you want to get across with the story you will create. Let the message or the main point be the guiding point of what you want to communicate. This is a fundamental concept that can be adapted into many fields, from marketing to literature.
2. Be emotive– Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts and figures; consequently, the emotions evoked in the reader or consumer play a significant factor in remembering a story or an advertisement/campaign.  Writing the story from life experiences or considering the power of emotions can help to pull in the reader/consumer’s attention. The goal is to cause feeling.
3. Outline the story’s structure– Writing is a subjective experience. For some people, it comes easily; for others, it can be more challenging. Sometimes writers also face the loathsome ‘writer’s block.’ Create an outline can help you keep on track and get started. Every story has a begging, a middle, and an end. If you want to be specific, you can create a story spine ; having a stricture will facilitate writing since the basic idea has already been identified. Side note: creating an outline also helps task-oriented people.
4. Keep it simple– While it is understandable that you want to write the most fantastic story ever, sometimes writers do not achieve that excellence every time they write.  Start with a simple idea and stay within the outline.  Sometimes the best stories are stories with a good plot, meaning they have a story spine. Work from the perspective of  “Less is more.”

I hope this short entry helps you “get going” in your writing or storytelling process. I am confident that these steps will help you write a great piece. Thanks for reading!

References:

O’Hara, Carolyn. 2014. Harvard Business Review. “How to tell a great story.” https://hbr.org/2014/07/how-to-tell-a-great-story

Neidlinger, Julie. CoSchedule. “How To Use Your Blog To Tell A Story.” https://coschedule.com/blog/tell-a-story/

This week I used Twitter for the first time; yes, I know,  that took me long enough.

I told the story about when I forgot to bring a mask to an event. The story’s premise is that I was driving to the event, and I noticed I had no mask; I had a specific amount of time to pick up people and then get to the event. The story has 3 parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. The opening establishes the context within which the story took place. The middle presents the issue I had to resolve in a timely matter, and the end is the resolution of the problem.

I used pictures to provide the reader some sense as to where I was. I use hashtags and gifs for some comedic relief and appropriate accessories commonly used on the platform. I told the story in the first person and used commentary to let people “inside my mind” with the hopes of being a relatable story for people who experience anxiety. I described anxious thoughts to establish my uncertainty; I was unsure if any store attendants would allow me to go in without a mask.

The story is relatable since it emphasizes common thoughts people encounter when commuting via car and getting to a place faster.

To read the story, please click below.  https://twitter.com/GigitaSA/status/1457454794084261890

In the Dark is a US series that I recently finished watching. My taste is eclectic, but I recognize that the plot of the series had me begging for me!

There are 3 seasons out, but today I would like to focus on season one!

So, you may ask, Ana, why did you like the first season?

The plot was interesting; let me break it down for you using the  Disney formula!

Once upon a time, there was a blind woman in her twenties named Murphy Mason.  She used to drink a lot and have meaningless sexual encounters. She used to work at Guiding Hope, a company created by her parents, to train service dogs. She lived with her best friend (Jess), who she had known since childhood, a vet who ALSO worked at Guiding Hope; Jess was Murphy’s handler. Murphy is depicted as a very sarcastic, inconsiderate, and emotionally detached character.

Here are some moments that bring to life the funny, yet irreverent nature of Miss Mason from season one  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUnSHCEaYCc

One day, Murphy goes to her usual spot where she  smokes in an alley close to her apartment and calls out to her best friend (underage and super cute!) Tyson Parker. ( Click here to see Tyson Parker’s cuteness! https://cwatlanta.cbslocal.com/2019/05/03/in-the-dark/)

How did this unlikely pair meet?

Tyson saved Murphy from a violent mugging.

Tyson is usually in this alley since he is a dealer, and the alley is where he moves his product.  Murphy finds Tyson lying on the ground and is non-responsive; she identifies him by feeling his face.   Murphy leaves the alley to get help, and when she comes back with the police, the body is gone.  The police are skeptical to look for Tyson since Murphy is intoxicated. The way she identified the body was not considered substantial evidence to assume Tyson was dead or kidnapped.

Because of that, Murphy engages in an unskilled investigation to find Tyson or Tyson’s body. This gives her life purpose.

Because of that, Murphy undergoes a series of events where she, her best friend, and another Guiding Hope worker (Felix, who pretty much got roped into this mess) go against drug dealers, steal illegitimate money,  and go to jail. The unfortunate events keep rolling in; Murphy gets stranded in the woods and has a fallout with her best friend Jess…You get the picture!  Towards the end of the season, the police discover Tyson’s body. Murphy is not content because she wants to know WHO killed Tyson. Her search for answers continues.

Until finally, in the last episode of season 1, Murphy learns that Tyson’s killer was actually one of the detectives (Dean) assigned to the case, who was giving information to a drug dealer (Nia)  in exchange for financial support. Nia was Tyson’s boss!.

Murphy sleeps with Dean and gets him to confess that he killed Tyson, also offering that he killed Tyson because the latter found out about his agreement with Nia (Murphy secretly recording this conversation!). Murphy tries to escape with the recording, but Dean catches up to her and forces her into a car. Murphy physically assaults Dean while he is driving, which causes him to hit her back and lose control of the wheel. The car literally falls off a bridge and FLIPS OVER. Somehow, Murphy and Dean make it out alive!

Oh yeah….. The culmination of season one happens when  The drug dealer Nia forces Murphy, Jess, and Felix (new owner of Guiding Hope) to launder money for her (The best part of the season!).  Also, even though Murphy gave the recording to the police, Dean gets out scotch-free!  If you are interested to see the trailer for season 2, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIEnbqve3rY

Besides the plot, I like the portrayal of characters. They are complex individuals driven by various factors to behave in specific manners.  While usually inconsiderate, Murphy cares deeply about her friend Tyson because she actually made an emotional connection with him; it shows her humane and gentle side. However, it came at the expense of creating tension with Jess. Murphy does not appreciate anything that Jess does. On the other hand, Jess realizes the unfair manner in which Murphy treats her. Furthermore, I enjoy watching relationship dynamics and seeing how characters navigate complex emotions. I believe a series is good when there is character development, which happens very slowly for Murphy, by entering a romantic relationship, developing a relationship with her service dog, and recognizing her unfair treatment towards Jess.

Thank you for reading my review! Let me know if you have watched the show and share your favorite moments!