When it comes to keeping our young people safe from the harms of substance use, data matters —
but people matter more. In Crow Wing County, the BLADE Coalition (Brainerd Lakes Area Drug
Education) is heading into 2026 with renewed energy, meaningful data, and a growing community
of people who believe that prevention is everyone’s responsibility. From an upcoming appearance at
the Brainerd Home Show & Expo to a new scholarship opportunity for local high school students,
BLADE is making its presence known — and inviting all of us to be part of the solution.

Mark Your Calendar: BLADE at the Brainerd Home Show & Expo

On March 20–21, 2026, dedicated BLADE Coalition volunteers will be staffing a booth at the
Brainerd Home Show & Expo — one of the most well-attended community events in the Brainerd
Lakes Area. This is not just a table with brochures. It is an open invitation to have a real
conversation about the health and future of our youth.

Coalition members will be asking two simple but powerful questions of everyone who stops by:
“How do you show up as a trusted adult for our youth?”
“What does it look like when a trusted adult shows up for you?”
— For youth visitors

These questions go to the heart of what the data is telling us. And speaking of those answers —
BLADE is sweetening the deal. Stop by the booth, share your perspective, and you will be entered to
win a pair of JBL Tune 670NC Wireless Headphones or a membership to the beloved Northland
Arboretum in Baxter, MN. Walk away with great materials, swag, and the knowledge that your voice
is helping shape prevention efforts right here at home.

What the Data Is Telling Us: 2025 Minnesota Student Survey

BLADE Coalition members have been digging into results from the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey
for Crow Wing County, and what they found is both sobering and profoundly hopeful. The numbers
make a clear case: the relationships we build with young people, and the ways we invest in them,
directly influence whether they turn to substances.
Consider these findings:

2025 Minnesota Student Survey — Crow Wing County Key Findings
▶ Students who are more engaged in learning are almost 2 times less likely to vape.
▶ Students who use technology between midnight and 5:00 AM on 3–5 school nights are over 2
times more likely to vape than peers who don’t use technology late at night.
▶ Students with one or more trusted adults to talk to are almost 2 times less likely to vape.

▶ Students with a greater sense of empowerment are almost 2.5 times less likely to vape and over
4.5 times less likely to use marijuana.
▶ Students with a positive sense of identity are over 3 times less likely to vape and over 2 times less
likely to use marijuana.

The message woven through each of these data points is consistent and clear: connection protects.
Empowered, engaged, and seen young people are far less likely to reach for substances. That is not a
coincidence — it is a roadmap. And it is exactly the roadmap BLADE is following in 2026.
Calling All Young Leaders: $1,000 Scholarship Opportunity

Prevention is not just something adults do for young people — it is something young people must
help lead. That is why BLADE is actively recruiting a Youth Sector Representative for its Drug-Free
Communities Grant Youth Prevention Task Group. This bi-monthly task group is already meeting
and growing, and there is a seat at the table reserved for a motivated Brainerd-area high school
student.

The selected representative will earn a $1,000 scholarship and will play a meaningful role in
shaping the direction of prevention efforts in our community — bringing authentic youth voice to
coalition decisions, helping craft peer-to-peer prevention messaging, supporting youth-led events,
and recruiting fellow student ambassadors.

To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in grades 9–12 within Brainerd Public Schools
and be under the age of 18. The role requires attendance at six bi-monthly meetings (90 minutes
each) and a willingness to represent BLADE in the community alongside classmates. To request an
application, email Talia Brodhead directly at Talia.brodhead@mnpra.org.
Stronger Together

BLADE Coalition knows that no single organization, school, or family can do this work alone. That is
why the coalition actively partners with local law enforcement, schools, parents, students, and
community organizations — all working toward the same goal of reducing youth substance use and
creating pathways to a healthier future.

To the adults in our community: you are not alone in this. To the young people reading this: your
voice matters, and there is a place for you at the table. Whether you stop by the booth at the Home
Show in March or apply to become a Youth Representative, BLADE wants to hear from you. Because
in Crow Wing County, we are Stronger Together.

CONNECT WITH BLADE COALITION

Website: www.bladeinitiative.org | Facebook: facebook.com/BLADEBrainerdLakes
Youth Representative Applications: Talia.brodhead@mnpra.org
Visit Us at the Brainerd Home Show & Expo • March 20–21, 2026

By Talia Brodhead