Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse Free Environments (SAFE) is highlighting youth prevention efforts this month with a focus on prescription drug safety, fentanyl awareness and alcohol-free homecoming celebrations.The coalition outlined its priorities during its October meeting, emphasizing parents and caregivers remain the strongest influence on whether young people engage in substance use. SAFE partners with Beacon Mental Health’s Parent Up program, which equips adults to connect, communicate and care for children in ways that build protection against alcohol and drug misuse.One of Parent Up’s key strategies is summed up as “Watch, Drop and Talk.” Parents are urged to monitor what prescriptions are in their home, keep them secure, dispose of any unused or expired medications and discuss medicine safety openly with their kids. The guidance is designed to prevent accidental poisonings, misuse or sharing of prescriptions among teens.Beacon Mental Health’...