(upbeat rock music) - you're watching teen kids news. i'm livia, and here's this week's top story. - [katie] this report is brought to you by the council on addiction prevention & education. (jazz music) bus load after bus load of students from four school districts arrived at new york's dutchess stadium for a special event. - we're going to have 1,400 students here

which is really important these days. - [katie] this youth rally was sponsored by the southern dutcess community coalition and the nonprofit agency called cape. - cape stands for the council on addiction prevention and education of dutchess county. - we're here 'cause our science class is coming and learning about how bad drug addiction is for us. and how to help ourselves and how to help others. - the eighth to ninth grade transition year is one of the higher risk years. and decisions tend to happen. - and make them aware of the risks that are out there. the risks going into high school. help them make good decisions because there's going to be a lot of peer pressure towards the other way. - [katie] set up along the edge of the field were a number of exhibits manned by vendors. they weren't selling anything, they were there to give out free information.

was to have vendors here that could spread information about the provider services that are available. but more importantly to provide a fun venue that's healthy, that focuses on their health and wellness, with a bit of a focus on the substance usage issue because it is so prominent in our county. - [katie] the students heard from local leaders, like new york state senator sue serino and county executive marcus molinaro. - too many kids in dutchess county and the demons of addiction. - [katie] but substance abuse is not just limited to dutchess county. it's a nationwide issue. - no one is exempt. it's in the inner-city, it's in the suburbs, it's literally everywhere. - the prescription drugs is what the students are starting with. - they have access to their grandparents, to their parents, their neighbors parents. they have access to their medicine cabinets.

and that's what's escalating the problem. - so there's stuff like oxycontin, codeine, other opioids that introduce them to heavier drugs later. - [katie] besides these so called gateway drugs, let's not forget there's also alcohol and tobacco. - most people know that cigarettes, tobacco, is bad for them, but they don't necessarily realize is that e-cigarettes are derived from tobacco. they contain nicotine and they contain cancer causing agents and we're gonna start seeing all sorts of things i'm sure. health effects from those as well. they are not a healthy alternative. - when teen kids news continues, we'll show you how music helped spread the word to refuse to use. we'll be right back. - ? i'm not scared. i'm in denial. it's not as deep as you think. ?

to alert teens to the dangers of drug abuse. (upbeat rock music) - part of our dutchess county prevention program is to participate in community coalitions such as we're having here today. - now what we're gonna do is get to your musical entertainment part, but we're gonna open up first

great, great thanks to big mountain entertainment and dwayne harris and his band for joining us here today. (clapping) - [katie] dwayne had a very personal story to share with the students. - you know when i was your age my parents waved goodbye to me everyday before i went off to school. i know that they didn't say i can't wait for dwayne to grow up to be a drug addict and an alcoholic. i know you're waiting to hear the music. but i truly hope that you hear me. have no use for substance abuse. it's my honor to talk to the kids and tell them about doing drugs. how it can affect their life

and i'm a drug addict and alcoholic. thank you. (clapping) - well it was touching and how it helped probably many kids here who may have done drugs or thinking about it. to help them stop or don't do it. - [katie] a young, up and coming singer and songwriter, ayanna martine was next to take the stage. - me, myself, i haven't really had a problem with substance abuse, close people that i hold dear to my heart that struggle with it. so i wrote these songs for them. this one's called, stuck on repeat. ? do you really wanna be the one to say ? kid don't end up like me. ? don't like end up like me.

? but now your begging for a fix. ? - i really liked her music. it had a meaning to it, and i like music with meaning. - it was cool how she took her own experiences and wrote about it. - i got approached by a few people and they said that my music really touched them. it really gave them some insight. so i'm very proud of that. - [katie] in keeping with the spirit of making the day go both educational and fun, - give it up for six stories told. make some noise. hands up everybody. - ? why don't you say hey, hey, hey. (upbeat rock music)

- my name is tyler mcdermott, and i'm the drummer. - and i'm adam peters, i'm a bass player. - [joanna] and we come to rally's all over just to tell people that substance abuse is an epidemic that's going across the nation. and it needs to be stopped. so we got to play a 40 minute set to get the message across through music. do you think it worked? - yeah, the kids were really responsive. they were having a great time. - [joanna] they did have fun. what do you think? - [tyler] i would say it got the message across pretty well. about this topic because i've been told by so many people, this isn't what i want to hear. so we hope that by bringing music to it, it keeps it young, keeps it fresh, and lets them know this is something that's happening right now. it's really important and it could be fun too. tell your friends, tell everyone you know. there is no use for it. - i think it'll et a message across because we'd bring all these kids together and talk about this big issue. but we're not doing it in a serious way, we're doing it in a fun way. - i think it's just different to get out there

- [katie] rally organizers wanted the students to leave with their heads held high. so they created a special sign and had it flown overhead. but there was still one more inspiration in store. - there's some research out there that points to the fact that if you write things down, you are more inclined to meet your goals. now granted, we couldn't have 1200 kids writing down their wish, so we had to make a substitute. - [announcer] three, two, one, let them go! - [elaine] and that was the purpose of the balloon release. so that they could mentally think about it and we'll release it into the universe and hope there's good karma with that. - it's a good event. it will give message around the world to help people not do drugs, and get help. - [katie] that message is quite simple. - no use for substance abuse. refuse to lose.

brought to you by, the national road safety foundation. - cool party. - what do you guys want to drink? - can i have a head on collision with a concussion twist. - make mine a fatal accident with no survivors. - and you? - a designated driver please? you know just a bottle of water. - awesome. - you're a lifesaver. - if you took first aid training, you may know what cpr is, but i'll tell you about a different type of cpr

- when someone's in medical distress, they might need cpr. but as eden reports, there's another type of cpr many of us could use from time to time. - that's right.

when we're feeling upset or tense. to tell us more about this is author and educator dinana thompson. hi. - hi. - just to be clear diana, there are a number of programs called emotional cpr, what makes yours different? - other programs are designed to help you to change the emotion. to go from being frustrated to being relaxed. but i take a different approach. i believe that emotions are energy. and when you capture that energy, you can direct it where you want it to go. so my technique is created for young people to help direct that energy to solve problems like taking a test or going out on stage or working through a challenge with a friend. - what are the signs that someone might need emotional cpr? - when someone needs medical cpr

there heart rate changes. and they lose consciousness, or they pass out. it looks like they're asleep. and it's the same three clues that you need emotional cpr. there's a change in your heartbeat. and a change in your breathing. if you're angry, you're breath might come very fast. if you're afraid, you might hold your breath. so it's your heartbeat, it's your breathing, and finally your thinking. at you feel that you feel confused, that your not as clear and as focused as you'd like to be. - okay. so if we have one or more of those responses how does your emotional cpr work? - there are three steps. the first is to feel the energy in your body because that emotion is just energy. and it's actually there to help you. most of the time we try to push away from it and resist it. but when you feel it,

in your stomach. feel the tightness in your shoulder. feel your heart pounding. and know it's there to help you. you don't have to be afraid. second, is your breathing. you'll notice if you're angry, you're breathing will come very fast. and if you're afraid, you'll hold your breath. and that's a problem because when your breathing changes it affects the chemicals in your body and in your brain. so you want to get in charge of your breathing. you hold it for three seconds, and then you let it out on a count of 10. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. if you can do that two or three times, you'll be in control of your breathing. finally, is to take charge of your thinking process because you really want to reactivate your thinking

and focus on something completely different than the problem. focus on the color of the wall. what someone is wearing. the temperature in the room. when you reactivate your thinking then you can turn and shift your focus back on the problem at hand. ask yourself, what's the problem, and how can i use this energy to help me solve it. - so when you say reactivate, it sounds likes rebooting, like the way if we have a problem with our computer, is that what you're talking about? - that's exactly it. you want to turn your attention to something completely different and then come back. it's a like rebooting a computer. - interesting. so in addition to being an educator and an author. you're also an actress. how did your work in theater help you come up with emotional cpr? - well most people study emotions in textbooks and clinics or by studying other people.

ons from the inside out. as an actress i've studied the emotions of the characters i've played and i've had to deal with a lot of my own stage fright, and emotional experiences in performing. - so how did you overcome your stage fright? - the very technique i'm talking about now. emotional cpr. - great, thank you diana for speaking with us. - thank you. - there's an old saying that you shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you. that's why knowing how to take control of your emotions for teen kids news, i'm eden. - when teen kids news continues, i'll have the fascinating facts

- it seems like most of us were born knowing how to type.

but that doesn't mean you should let your handwriting slide. for example, you need to be able to write legibly when taking notes. and that goes double for the essays and tests you take in class. if your teacher can't read what you wrote, what could have been an a, may end up being a b or worse. and i'm not just talking about schoolwork. a handwritten thank you for a gift or special occasion is classy and far more memorable than an email or text. so take a little time each week to brush up your handwriting skills. i'm christin, here to help you make the grade. - 50 u.s.states, 50 state flags. each one with its own unique history. here's eric with flag facts. (drum beat) - the design of this state flag

- it's as simple as can be. two colors. you have the red and the gold that is a reference to queen isabella of spain, who sponsored much of the exploration of the new world. the symbol in the middle is a zia sun symbol and it was found in an archaeological dig on a water jar. what was important to the zia was the number four. and you'll see four lines facing in the four different directions. now four was not just important to them for the four directions. they believed in the power of the four seasons. of life that every person should pursue like purity, and being of sound mind. and all those sorts of positive attributes. - the flags bold simplicity helped it win first place in a competition of america's 50 state flags. with flag facts, i'm eric. - there tiny foods with big health benefits. and i've got a great and taste recipe

from the culinary institute of america. - these little guys are tiny powerhouses. berries are nutritious. they help fight things like heart disease and cancer. they even help you lose weight. and that's why i wanted to show you one of my favorite recipe's, a mixed berry bowl. so let's get started. so we're gonna start with frozen bananas. i have frozen berries, just mixed berries here. i have a date. good as a natural sweetener. and i also have almond milk. on this side, these are gonna be my garnishes, for my mixed berry bowl. i have shredded coconut. i have dried strawberries. i have honey, chia seeds, and i have fresh blueberries. i have granola, and some fresh cut bananas. alrighty, so first we're gonna start with putting

almond milk and our date. alright, so you just want to start on a very low speed with this. and as it starts blending you can increase the speed. alright, so you can see the berries are having a little difficulty blending, you're gonna wanna add just a little more almond milk to help the blender and help it get that nice consistency that you want. alright, so that's what i'm about to do right now. and then you continue. okay, so you wanna continue blending until there's no lumps, you have a nice consistency.

i have a frosted bowl. i had this in the freezer. helps keep your smoothie cold. alright, and this is a beautiful color. and next we're gonna garnish our bowl. so i have some of my favorite garnishes. your favorite toppings that you put on your smoothie or your desserts. so i have fresh sliced bananas that i'm adding on first. i have granola. add a little crunch to my smoothie bowl.

alright, i have dried strawberries. this just adds a nice, little different consistency, and texture to your smoothie bowl. alright, fresh blueberries. and chia seeds. food. beautiful. and lastly i'm gonna drizzle it with just a little bit of honey. perfect. and now my favorite part. now we're all ready to try it. mmm, give my mixed berry bowl a try.

for teen kids news, i'm gene'e. - yum, that looks delicious. can't wait to make it. that's it for now. but teen kids news will be back next week. see you then.

- [danni] watch out for the swarms. ants, fish, even termites. they all move and work together, like they have one mind. there's a method to the madness here. it's called swarm behavior and now we're using it for robots. meet the swarmies. get out there and forage, guys. i'm danni washington, marine conservationist, and this week, discover how science copies the animal kingdom to create swarms of robots. because nature knows best. hi, i'm danni washington, and welcome to nature knows best. one of the easiest ways for you and i to communicate is obviously talking.