Brenda Tyrrell, Prevention Specialist, Community and Family Resources, April 13, 2026

And on our program today, we're going to visit with Brenda Terrell with the Community and Family Resources. Brenda, thanks for coming in. Absolutely. Well, we've been, just so everybody knows, Brenda, new to CFR but not new to providing prevention services.

So tell us a little bit about what you've been doing and then coming to CFR. Yeah, absolutely. So I've been at CFR for, this is my third month, I think, going in. And like Jim said, I've been in prevention services for about three years now.

I'm coming to Boone specifically because this is my county to cover. So I've been trying to make my presence more known. Also, we just changed offices here in Boone. We were out on Story Street.

And we just moved our building over to 900 West Mamie, which is right by the courthouse and also the human services building. People know it as the human service building where veterans services are. So yeah, we've got right there. Yeah, it's a great location.

I was in there last week and parked myself there for a little bit. And that was kind of nice just to have that little space. Are you going to be having an office out of there? I'm not sure. Or exactly, I mean, because they do have you moving around a number of different places.

Right, yeah. So I'm not sure if I'm going to actually have a space there or not, but it's large enough that I can find a quiet place and just kind of hang out. But speaking of offices, so I have started, last week I started doing a library rotation.

So every Tuesday I'll be coming to Boone, Madrid and Ogden to spend an hour at each library, starting at noon-ish around. And people can pop in and get resources and ask questions and see if I can help them find some help that they might need, so on and so forth.

And just kind of hang out and get to know the community and get to know what people are interested in and so on and so forth. So it's going to be every Tuesday or every Tuesday? Every Tuesday. Every Tuesday. You'll be making the rounds to the different libraries.

It makes it easy. It's easier for them to go to their local library and swing by. Right, yeah. And it's a great drive. I mean, you know, like last week when I was coming back from Ogden to Boone, I almost ran into two turkey hens. So that was a little scary, but it was beautiful.

Welcome to the wildlife here. We got that. But mostly focusing on Boone County is going to be okay. Right, right, right.

So yeah, so if there's any need that people of any resident of Boone County can just pop into the library or you'll have my contact number or so on and so forth and let us know. We're going to be attending the STEM event, the DMACC STEM event, coming up on Saturday.

We're going to be doing some really cool science stuff. We've got some pig lungs and we're going to talk about how smoking influences our lungs. Sure. So it's going to be very interactive. I'm excited. I'm really excited about it. So again, that'll be on Saturday morning.

Go out to DMACC. Again, we always sit on the STEM festival to just say, you know, parents, grandparents, bring the kids. Again, come and go as you please. But great learning experience. Absolutely. Yeah. That's a big thing.

A lot of people, and we've touched on it with other guests in the past, but CFR has a just a lot of different services and a lot very traditional type for, again, like prevention specialists and things like that.

So there's a number of different areas where people might find some assistance. Yeah. And I'm glad you brought that up because one of my main jobs is to do like trainings. So we do trainings in like substance use and stigma with substances.

And one of our probably most asked about is we do Naloxone training. Okay. And all of our trainings are 100 percent free. They don't cost anybody anything. And like with the Naloxone training, any participant that takes the Naloxone class with us gets a free box of Naloxone.

So they will have two doses on their person at all times. And that's really important because, you know, you never know when you're going to need it, right? So if you have it, you've got it.

And we also teach, you know, how to recognize the symptoms of an opioid overdose and things like that so people can be more on the – More cognizant of what's happening. Yeah.

I know the big thing is we've got now we're going to have three of those distribution spots that are going to be around the county, one in Ogden, one in Madrid, one in Boone.

And again, the big thing I know is the Board of Health, when they were looking at that, okay, we're going to put these out there, but people need to know how and what to do. Yes, exactly. So here we get – you can learn this. Yeah, absolutely. So you do separate individual ones?

I mean, for the training, or is it – can you go together for a group? Yeah, absolutely. What's the best way? Yeah, I think as a group is probably the best just in terms of use of time, right? You know, we want to get as many people trained to use Naloxone at a time.

So groups – I mean, not huge groups, but, you know, 10 – eight, 10 people. Sure. The training is about 70 minutes long, but it walks – like I said, it walks through, you know, the overdose symptoms.

It also talks about how to recover somebody that you've done Naloxone until the EMS can get there. Sure. And how to actually administer it and what actually Naloxone is. So it's very – it's good knowledge to know.

And, you know, with everything that's happening, you know, it's really important to know this is an option to save people's lives. Because it does happen, even in rural parts of Iowa. Yes. Yes. And being aware of what you've got or how to deal with it is very important. Yep. Yep.

Okay. So for the training part, if somebody were to be looking at something like that, say, look, my friends and neighbors, we've got a few of us that would like to do this. They just make contact. Is that the best way? Yes. Yep. Just reach out.

You can call the AIMS – it's probably better to call the AIMS CFR just because that's where my office is. Okay. And they would be able to hook you up with me and my phone number there at the AIMS office. So, yeah. And I'm happy to come over.

I mean, I'm here probably two or three days a week. Sure. Or shoot an email to Brenda T. at CFRHelps.org. Yep. Absolutely. Yeah. All right. So that's just one of the many trainings that you have available. Right.

And I know that kind of fits in because I know we have those distribution spots that are going to be put out there. They did leave it up to – Board of Health did leave it up to, yeah, the cities where they were going to have them located. So – Yeah.

And again, the idea is try to find a spot where they would be easily accessible to the public. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Other things. What other things you were – So, in case – I don't know how up into trainings people are, but we also do, like, understanding addiction and recovery.

And that's more family and loved ones-based rather than the person who's in recovery. Mm-hmm. We have – stigma is huge, of course, when we're talking about, you know, any kind of misuse. Stigma is a huge issue. Sure. So we have one that's specifically for stigma.

We have one that is called Kratum and other novel drugs. So we talk about Kratum, xyloxone – or, sorry, xyloxine. She's got all of this. I can't get my medications mixed up. And so we have a lot of those. What's out there? Yeah.

What's coming down the pipe – Kratum is a hot topic with the legislature here just a couple of weeks ago. Exactly. Yes. Yep. Yep. A bill that will allow Kratum to be identified as a controlled substance.

So as you're working through these things – and I look back at this and what I see in the news and stuff, and so the big thing I hear is something like Kratum. About the time when you think you're getting the public aware of it, all of a sudden they change. Yeah.

And then they're pushing it a different way, and especially towards younger people. Right. Yeah. And it's a constant struggle, right, because we're starting to make some headway, and then we're treading back a little bit.

And then we're starting some more, you know, and then we have very creative people and very creative marketing techniques that allow, you know, a workaround. And then we're starting again, and yeah, it's a constant – Just keep it right.

It's like Sisyphus, you know, is constantly rolling that boulder up the hill, and it's coming right back down. And then just when we think – Yeah. We're getting to the top. Yep, yep, yep. It is – that's why it's an ongoing challenge. That's why they're addictions. Yes.

Right, exactly. Yeah. So a lot of different trainings available, and – Yes, yes. Yeah, I know you just scratched the surface on some of them. Yeah, we've got – I don't know, we've got like 18 or some – There's a lot. It's a lot, yeah.

Are some a little different, again, for different kind of specialized groups or things like that? Yeah. Well, we do have trauma-informed care.

We have trauma-informed care for the general public, and then we have trauma-informed care for law enforcement, so we kind of – because it's a very different view from when you're just a general person who needs to know about trauma-informed care, and then law enforcement and how to help people when – When they're encountering – Right, right, right.

So yeah. They run into it a little more frequently than – Yeah, yeah. And we do some fraternity trainings with drug trends and, you know, things like that just to, you know, keep everybody in the loop. So, you know, a wide variety of things. There's a lot there. Yeah.

Get the education out, and then from there we can – because, yes, we have the basic services of prevention specialists. Yeah. But part of it is educating the people. Exactly, yeah. Helping to get that. Yeah, and we need people to work with us, right?

You know, we can have all the trainings available to us all we want, but if people aren't reaching out and we're not giving the trainings, they're kind of not really working, so – Kind of not getting everything there. Yeah.

Well, let's do – again, so when you're going around, again, to the libraries on Tuesday, which, again, would be – I don't know what times you're going to be at all of them, but I'm guessing the local libraries will pass that information along. Yeah.

But people that do want to find out about that, come and visit. Absolutely. I get bored at office hours, and when I get bored, dangerous things tend to happen. Oh. Yeah. So come and see me.

I've got lots of – I always bring a lot of, like, cool little swag things and, you know, helpful information and things like that. And just a reminder, all of our trainings are free, so it's not going to cost anybody anything to come to some of our trainings. That's a big – Yeah.

Free trainings. Yeah. All right, so let's talk a little bit about some of the other things you have coming up, because, obviously, you mentioned you're going to be out at the STEM Festival. Exactly. So that is smoking. Smoking says vaping, I'm guessing, is included in there. Yes.

Yep, yep, yep, yep. Yeah. And then we're going back to, you know, we start to make some headway in the vaping, and then, you know, marketing happens and other things take over, and then we have to, like, start over again. Yeah. So it's never going to be a done training.

It's always going to be updated, added, so on and so forth. The other thing that we're doing, or trying to raise awareness about, is 420, which happens next Monday. Monday, Monday. Right?

So 420 is – some people call it, like, the National High Day, but actually it's about marijuana and the use of marijuana. And a very general statement is this. Recreational marijuana is illegal to use in the state of Iowa. Mm-hmm.

And so we have this 420 day where people view it as, well, I mean, it's going to smoke and get high on 420. So we're trying to raise awareness about, you know, 420 is not necessarily a holiday. It's like, you know, you can partake, but there are going to be consequences. Yes.

You know? And if you partake, we want you to be safe. So we talk about, you know, don't drive, don't get in a car with somebody that you think has been taking, you know, or using marijuana, so on and so forth.

So we're going to be doing some outreach on Iowa State's campus on Thursday. We'll be there for a couple hours in the free speech zone. I think we started at 1130. Okay.

Just talking about, you know, here are the cold hard facts about 420 because, you know, maybe they don't – maybe people don't understand that it is – but there's a lot of gray areas about what's legal and what's not.

If you look at, you know, what's legal in the state of Iowa and when it comes to marijuana, there's a yes, and there's usually an asterisk that says, except in this – Except for. Yeah. So it's very – it's hard to follow. Mm-hmm.

So we want to, like, raise awareness and make sure people are as safe as they can be on 420. Yeah. Medical, cannabidiol. That's one thing. Yes. But we're talking the recreational, which I'm sorry, but neighboring states are – Yes. Yep. And that's a big problem. Yeah.

Because even if you can't get it in Iowa, you can get it – you drive two hours and you can get it. Yeah. Yeah. So we're just trying to raise awareness. Like, this is illegal. It's not a legal activity. It is legal in 20 – I think 24 states, but it isn't legal in Iowa. Okay.

We got that part. That's 420. Yes. We got that. So if you don't know what 420 is, it happened in, I think, the late 1970s. A group of five students decided that they were going to smoke marijuana at 420 every day. So 420 became the moniker for marijuana. Okay.

That's where that came from. That's where we get it. Yeah. She's got the history done. So tell us – I mean, that's, again, starting that story for a lot of people. That's a big thing. Yeah. And the way that the story can sometimes be twisted, it makes it seem like it's a yay.

It's a great thing, but it's actually very illegal. So – Still illegal. Yeah. And that's one of those issues that, you know, a lot of people think when I pass along news stories about operating well under the influence and stuff like that, they're thinking alcohol.

Not always the case. I know from law enforcement they say, it's not always the case of alcohol. Right. Yeah. And like the National Safety Traffic Administration, they have their slogan, if you will, for 420 is, if you feel differently, you drive differently.

So, you know, if you're going to imbibe, don't drive. Okay. You know, so – because it's unrealistic, of course, as we know, it's unrealistic to expect everybody to not do it. Sure. But if you're going to do it, do it safely. Be safe. Yeah. Bottom up. Yeah.

A lot of different things happening. Yes. So, again, we've got that going on. I haven't really touched on it, but I know you guys are one of the few that actually focus on it, just gambling addiction. Yep. Yep. And not getting less invasive. How's that? Yes. Shall we say?

Because, again, with all the apps and the things like that that are going on, and a lot of advertising. Yes. Yes. It's always there. Yeah. You're 100 percent right, and it's just getting – it's growing every single day, you know, every single day. And there's a lot of concern.

Our focus is problem gambling in the workplace for this year's grant. Hopefully, we'll extend that out a little bit. But, yeah, problem gambling is a problem. Gambling is a problem.

Again, when we're talking about these different things, and, again, people would start talking about services.

If someone wants to find out about having someone receive services, or if someone is interested in receiving services, if they're not already visiting with, again, there's a way to do that. It's a lot of individual type. I'm guessing is how you do most of it. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, are we still talking about problem gambling? Well, gambling or – Just in general. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, we have – we do group activities, but individuals are also part of that group, right? So, we can work with an individual, say, manager, right? Sure.

That can make the decisions for the rest of the group. Sure. And then the trainings will be for the group itself. Yeah. Okay.

But for problem gambling, what our role is is to help businesses have a workplace gambling policy in place to recognize if someone is struggling with that, then they have a protocol that they can follow. You can follow along for that. Yes. Yeah. So many things to keep track of.

Exactly. It is. There's so much. And so much new information comes out all the time, too. Yeah. You guys are constantly getting updated on that, too. Yep. Once again, Tuesdays you go to the libraries in Boone and Ogden and Madrid. Yep.

And I can give you those times if you'd like. Okay. Sure. I'll be in Ogden 12 to 1. Okay. And then followed shortly by Boone from like 1.15 to 2.15. Okay. And then I go over to Madrid. Okay. Until from like 2.30 to 3.30. So I'm there an hour each. Okay. Yeah.

So roughly those timeframes come in and you'll be there. Yeah. You could come and visit. Yeah. Say hi. Welcome you. Yeah. I'd love to hear and see people. Yeah. And hear the stories. Yeah. Again, not just or go to the STEM Festival on Saturday at DMACC. Yeah. Yeah.

And you know, I'm just going to just pitch this just a minute because we are here to help. We are we're ready to jump up and help. So all people have to do is let us know that we would like you to help us. We are ready to go. We just have to like. You've got the information. Yes.

You've got the people. Yes. If you need help, we're here. Yeah. Come and see. Yeah. That's part of the stigma thing, isn't it? Right. Yeah. It is. You know, and stigma is huge.

It's really huge because I don't think people understand like the long-term effects of stigma will actually decrease how people seek help or if they seek help.

So if we're not addressing stigma, we're not necessarily going to get the response that we would like to see because people are have their own ideas of what, you know, people who use or misuse are or do. So we have to kind of fight that a little bit. Yeah.

Well, I look forward to keep visiting with you and keep updated. We'll try to have you in every month here to let folks know what what's happening. Brenda Terrell is a prevention specialist with community and family resources.

Now in the 900 block of West Mamie Eisenhower, the human service building. And once again, they've just come to the front door and come in and say, I'd like to visit with. Yeah. She might not be there all the time, but you will be at the libraries on Tuesday. Yes.

And they can, the Boone office can get ahold of me at any time. All right. Yeah. Or shoot her an email at Brenda T at CFRHelps. Absolutely. .org. Yep. Thanks for coming in and joining us. Yeah. Thanks for having me.