STEP Up Thomas

Busy schedules can lead to overlooked habits.

As you prep for fall activities, make SAFE HOME practices part of your routine:
• Lock up alcohol.
• Secure medications and other substances.
• Create an environment where support, hope, and help are always within reach.

Prevention doesn't have to be complicated—it starts with intentional choices.

Hope starts at home. By locking up alcohol, medications, and other substances, you're creating a SAFE HOME that can help prevent substance misuse and reduce risk during a mental health crisis. One simple action can make a life-saving difference.

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Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we can't see. Every statistic represents a person, a family, and a community. By addressing mental health, reducing substance misuse, reducing access to substances, and supporting one another, we can help prevent both overdoses and su***de.

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Looking for a fun (and FREE) family adventure this weekend? Don't mind heading to Atlanta?

If you have a Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card, you can enjoy FREE admission to 7 participating metro Atlanta museums this weekend through the Museums on Us® program! 🏛️✨

It's a great opportunity to make memories, spark curiosity, and enjoy some quality family time before the back-to-school rush.

Learn more and see the participating museums here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/07/29/free-access-7-metro-atlanta-museums-this-weekend-heres-how-get/

Knowledge saves lives. Talk early. Talk often.
Whether someone is struggling with mental health, substance use, or both, they deserve hope and support. Help your friends and family recognize the dangers of fentanyl and make informed choices.

Sometimes the path ahead isn’t easy to see... but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. If you’re walking through a season that feels overwhelming, remember this: there is always another path forward. Even when life feels like a dead end, hope has a way of opening new roads we couldn’t see before.

Take one step.
Reach out.
Accept help.
Keep going.

Your story isn’t over, and your life matters more than you know.

If someone you love seems to be struggling, don’t wait. A simple conversation could become the turning point that helps them find hope again.
Hope is real. Help is available. New paths are possible.

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One Healthy Choice Can Change Everything
Breaking a habit isn’t just about saying “no”—it’s about saying “yes” to something better.
Instead of reaching for a cigarette or v**e, try replacing that habit with something that strengthens your mind and body:
✨ Take a short walk
💧 Drink a glass of water
📖 Read a few pages of a book
🎧 Listen to your favorite music or podcast
🙏 Spend a few moments in prayer or deep breathing
💪 Do a quick workout or stretch
One of the biggest keys to success? Don’t do it alone. Find an accountability partner—a friend, spouse, family member, coworker, or mentor—who will encourage you, celebrate your victories, and help you stay focused when cravings hit.
Remember: Progress is made one healthy choice at a time. Every craving you overcome is one step closer to a healthier future.
💙 Need help quitting? The Georgia To***co Quit Line is FREE and confidential. Trained quit coaches are available to help you create a personalized quit plan, and eligible adults may even qualify for free ni****ne replacement therapy.
📞 Call: 1-877-270-STOP (7867)
📱 Text READY to 21586
🌐 Learn more: Ready to Quit Georgia
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In crowded stores it’s easy to get caught up in the frustration of the never ending list, the costs, the chaos. Looking at a car full of school supplies, it’s easy to see notebooks, pencils, and folders. But I see something more.
I see excitement.
I see preparation.
I see hope for what can be.
I see little conversations in the store aisles.
I see choices that felt so important.
I see another chapter beginning.

One day our kids won’t remember every item we bought, but they’ll remember how we made them feel as we prepared for a new school year.
Make the memories. Take the pictures. Enjoy the little moments.

They become the big ones. ❤️🍎✏️