Walking through the hallways of Sun Prairie West, I see it every day. The quick, nervous glances as someone ducks into a bathroom. The familiar scent of a sweet, fruity vape cloud clinging to the air. It’s an unspoken reality for so many of us—a silent struggle played out in every corner of our lives.

Friday night football games at Broughton High School, late-night Cook Out runs, and cramming for tests in the library with friends—these are some of the moments I know I’ll never forget. They’re the things that make being a high school student in Raleigh special. But I’ve also seen how quickly those memories can be overshadowed when substances get involved.

Today on the blog we're hearing from Chris McLain, Research Coordinator for Project SMART at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg...