I Chose a Natural High | Natural High

Dancer at Francis Parker rockin’ a PLEDGE tank! #Dancer...

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:18:19 -0400

Dancer at Francis Parker rockin’ a PLEDGE tank! #Dancer #Naturalhigh

What is a Natural High? nat·u·ral high noun ˈna-chə-rəl ˈhī : An...

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:55:20 -0400

What is a Natural High?

nat·u·ral high noun ˈna-chə-rəl ˈhī : An activity, art form or sport that you love to do and makes you feel good… inside and out. Everyone has a natural high.

Check Us Out On Vans Warped Tour

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:42 -0400

Check Us Out on Van’s Warped Tour!

Look for our tent at the California locations

Jun 19 . San Diego . Sleep Train Amphitheatre

Jun 20 & 21 . Pomona . Pomona Fairplex

Jun 22 . Mountain View . Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jun 23 . Ventura . Seaside Park

Watch last year’s Warped Tour recap

Buy Tickets

Teaser Alert

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:31 -0400

Teaser Alert!

We are filming a new celebrity… can you guess who?

Think you know who it is? Tweet it!

Tweet @NaturalHigh with your guess and use #GuessWho

Up & Comers Spotlight: Ricky and Alix

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:28:00 -0400

Written by: Micah Schoell

Alix Naugler’s natural high is volleyball, and Ricky Desantis’ is golf. They have athletic natural highs. Alix loves rap music, volleyball, serving others and making them laugh (“even if I look dumb doing it”), while Ricky is most passionate about playing golf and being involved with Natural High, besides school, friends, or “doing some sort of outdoor activity.”

Ricky and Alix both attend Carlsbad High School as seniors. They both work with Natural High on the Youth Leadership Team. I got to ask about their experience with Natural High and learn more about them and their stories.

Natural High: How did you two meet?

A: I met Ricky during my history class my junior year. He sat behind me and I never really talked to him, but one day he was talking to the girl next to me and she was sharing how she got ‘trashed’ the other night at some party doing drugs and alcohol.

R: The girl invited me to a party with drugs and alcohol and I told her that I wasn’t going to go because that wasn’t me.

A: She then asked Ricky if he was into that kind of stuff, and Ricky said that it wasn’t really his thing, that he was a golfer and that doing that stuff would bring down his performance and affect his game. I remember thinking that this is the kind of person we need on Natural High’s Youth Leadership Team because I thought he really embodied the Natural High Message and Lifestyle.

R: Alix got my number from a mutual friend, and asked me to be a part of Natural High.

A: I thought he would be a great asset to the organization. Now that I look back, it was so out of my character to go out of my way to do something like that, but I’m so glad I did, because Ricky is my one best friend who I can count on and trust. We both became part of the NHYLT and have been great friends ever since!

NH: Why is being naturally high important to you?

A: It’s important to me because I have set goals in life that I yearn to execute: attending college, playing collegiate volleyball, establishing a career. If I do drugs and alcohol, I won’t have the ability to achieve these goals and won’t be able to reach my potential as a student and an athlete.

R: It’s important to be naturally high because it gives you the best opportunity to reach your goals. Whether that means pursuing a sport, education, or just being the best version of yourself, being clean is the first and most important step.

A: I know that drugs and alcohol can quickly damage someone’s lifestyle so I strive to live without that negative influence and yearn to thrive off my inner passions and desires in life to become the best I can be at whatever I want to do.

NH: How big a part of your life is your natural high?

R: My natural high is my life. I spend more time on the golf course than anywhere else. I’ve been golfing my whole life and plan to continue playing as long as I can.

NH: Has anybody tried to persuade you from your natural high?

R: Most people I’m around at Carlsbad are involved in drugs or alcohol on some level. There have always been opportunities or invitations to try drugs or alcohol, but never any serious pressure. People know and respect the fact that I am pursuing a big goal, and they understand my choice.

A: A lot of the girls on my volleyball team smoke and a few of my really close friends smoke as well, but they do not pressure me at all. They respect how I live naturally high and don’t persuade me to do anything I don’t want to.

NH: What are your future plans, career-wise and academically?

A: I am attending USD this fall, as a part of their Honor’s Program, playing collegiate club volleyball. I plan to get a degree in International Business and in Spanish. After college, I am just going to see what opportunities I have to make a difference in the world and impact people’s lives.

R: Next year I am playing golf at San Diego State [SDSU] on scholarship. I hope to play professionally afterward, but if it doesn’t work out, I hope to find a job in a sports-related industry.

Online Voting Is Now Open

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:11:17 -0400

Online Voting is Now Open!

Help us choose the grand prize winner

Video submissions have been narrowed down to the top six for the 2013 Video/Writing Contest and are now open for public voting. Click the “Vote Now” button above, or visit our Facebook Page to watch the videos and vote on your favorite… then pass along to your friends!

Role Model Mondays

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:45:03 -0400

Join the conversation Monday, May 20th

Upload a picture of who inspires you to Instagram tag @LiveNaturallyHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

Upload a picture of who inspires you or tell us about that person on Twitter tag @NaturalHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

Natural High 2012 Contest Winners Sam and Eric perform for RBVHS...

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:21:58 -0400

Natural High 2012 Contest Winners Sam and Eric perform for RBVHS and encourages their peers to find their passions and purpose!! #Naturalhigh #Dance

At Rancho Buena Vista High this morning! #NaturalHigh

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:50:36 -0400

At Rancho Buena Vista High this morning! #NaturalHigh

We say yes to our natural highs. What’s yours? #NPW2013

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:28:56 -0400

We say yes to our natural highs. What’s yours? #NPW2013

In light of National Prevention Week, Natural High wants YOU to...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:54:00 -0400

In light of National Prevention Week, Natural High wants YOU to vote on our video finalists from the Natural High Video/Writing Contest.

National Prevention Week is a SAMHSA-supported annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues.

This year, SAMHSA’s theme for National Prevention week is: Your voice. Your choice. Make a difference.

Hundreds of youths used their voices to produce and submit videos that showcase their natural highs. Your choices will determine the contest winners. By voting and asking your friends to vote, we will spread the message that having a natural high is better than seeking artificial ones- and ipso facto, we will all make a difference.

Get involved by voting and sharing about the contest on social media. Use this outline:

I say “YES” to my @NaturalHigh, . These people say “YES” too. Vote for your favorite contestant http://ow.ly/kZH6Z #NPW2013

Or, e-mail your friends and include this link: http://woobox.com/kd34yk

Voting ends May 21.

What difference will YOU make this National Prevention Week?

Five reasons why Allura Garis earns the highest honor of being...

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:27:20 -0400

Five reasons why Allura Garis earns the highest honor of being our Role Model this Monday:

1. It’s her birthday!

2. Her story is raw. Check out how she came to find Natural High and moved her way up the ranks to become our Youth Engagement Coordinator: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/music-and-positive-lifestyle-one-teens-natural-high

3. She proclaims every day that it is the “best day ever.” She finds everything about life exciting- whether it’s skateboarding, paper airplane contests or going to concerts.

4. Allura walks the talk and leads by example. At 20 years-old (today!), she actively encourages her peers to live substance-free.

5. She’s already inspired more people than most of us will in our lifetime.

Whose awesomeness should you be celebrating in your life? Let them know they are a role model by uploading a picture of who inspires you to Instagram tag @LiveNaturallyHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

or…

Upload a picture of who inspires you or tell us about that person on Twitter tag @NaturalHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

Maria Morris' natural high is being a mom

Mon, 13 May 2013 01:48:00 -0400

We hope all of you moms out there had a lovely day celebrating YOUR day… we believe we could not pursue our natural highs if it was not for you believing in us to do so. We asked a friend, partner and natural high mom to share about just that:

“Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you Natural High for asking me to be a guest blogger today for Mother’s Day, what a treat! Being a mom to my amazing sons, and “momager” for James is MY natural high! Since he was a baby, I’ve always encouraged James to follow his heart and his dreams, to be creative, and to make good choices…there is no better high for me than to see James living his dream, writing music, performing on stage, writing books. Making a difference in the world one page and song at a time - his natural high. I even got serenaded with a song this morning! The journey is one we are sharing together as a family and it’s the best!” -Maria Morris

Happy Mother's Day - Our moms inspire our natural high(s)

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:31:00 -0400

We asked the Natural High Street Team and staff to share how their mom inspired them to follow their natural high(s). Read what they had to say:

“My mom has always supported my natural highs and has always been there for me, I love you mom!” -Jeremy, Dearborn Heights

“My mom is my my natural high because she is my best friend and always believes in my dreams.” -Brandi, Cleveland

“Happy Mother’s Day mom, you ALWAYS encouraged me to follow what I am passionate about. Be it - music, dance, skating, and karate. Thank you!” -Allura, San Diego

“My Mom is my Natural High because she is my best friend and she has defied all odds!” -Sasha, San Diego (by way of Omaha, NE)

“My mom supported my natural high by spending thousands of hours in the car driving me to soccer practice/games and always cheering me on. Couldn’t have achieved my dream without her. Love you, mom!” -Lisa, Coronado (by way of Monrovia, Calif.)

“My mum inspired me to live naturally high because she always told me to never give up, fed me and helped me out in times I really needed it.” -Donald Guerin, Sunshine Coast, Australia :)

Music and a Positive Lifestyle: One Teen’s “Natural High”

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:05:05 -0400

“What is Allura Garis’ Natural High? Music.

Why? She enjoys how music brings people together. She also loves the passion that her favorite musicians bring to their performances.

Allura became the Youth Engagement Coordinator for Natural High, a drug abuse prevention organization, thanks to her commitment to living a drug-free life. But it wasn’t always that way.”

READ MORE on NIDA Teens

Our Youth Engagement Coordinator, @alluragaris shares her story...

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:35:57 -0400

Our Youth Engagement Coordinator, @alluragaris shares her story on Nida Teens blog - check it out online. #Naturalhigh #WorldChangers #Inspiration

Natural High is rooting for @mikeconleyjr in the playoffs!...

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:38:40 -0400

Natural High is rooting for @mikeconleyjr in the playoffs! Congrats Madison, Parker and David! You’ll be getting these in the mail! #MemphisGrizzlies #MikeConleyJr #NaturalHigh #Basketball

Role Model Spotlight: Why Tia Quinn is Our Role Model

Mon, 06 May 2013 15:59:12 -0400

It’s another #RoleModelMonday, but it’s not just ANY Role Model Monday…. Natural High was able to spend May 1-3 with the BOOST Collaborative Family at the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. and found out how one person can inspire the masses. BOOST stands for Best Out Of School Time, and let us tell you, these folks know how to have a good time!

Want to know why? Because of Tia Quinn, our featured Role Model and the fearless leader of BOOST. Tia has been funneling the fun, learning, experience and heart into “out of school time” for over 20 years. She spends months planning the conference and putting together the best staff, leadership team, presenters and keynotes in order to host the most energetic and impactful experience possible.

Thank you to Tia for making the 2013 BOOST Conference one of Natural High’s most enriching experiences of the year so far! Natural High was able to talk with hundreds of education professionals and give them the latest Natural High program, in addition to some insight on the imminent digital wave of resources! In total, we were able to add 200+ new educators, organizations and after-school programs to the Natural High Education Network. This will allow nearly 84,000 youth to discover, amplify, and pursue their natural high.

Tia’s natural high is creating positive change for today’s youth as well as the people, communities, and partners supporting them outside of school.

Join the Conversation

Upload a picture of who inspires you to Instagram or Twitter every Monday and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

Role Model Mondays

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:13:45 -0400

Join the conversation Monday, May 6th

Upload a picture of who inspires you to Instagram tag @LiveNaturallyHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

Upload a picture of who inspires you or tell us about that person on Twitter tag @NaturalHigh and include the hashtag: #RoleModelMondays

BOOST is our natural high! Thank you to everyone who came to our...

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:58:53 -0400

BOOST is our natural high! Thank you to everyone who came to our morning workshop! #BOOSTConference #Naturalhigh