Screenagers Under the Influence screening at Reel Pizza April 28

Contributed by Jesup Memorial Library.

Jesup Memorial Library, Healthy Acadia, and Reel Pizza invite the public to attend a free screening of Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol, on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. at Reel Pizza Cinerama, 33 Kennebec Pl, Bar Harbor.  Doors will open at noon and concessions will be available for sale.  Kids and teens will receive a coupon for $5 off concessions while supplies last and there will be raffle prizes.  This film is recommended for kids in grades 6 and up.  All community members are welcome to attend.

Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age, the third feature documentary in the Screenagers trilogy, delves into how the tech revolution has reshaped adolescence and its effects of substance use.  The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, and create healthy home environments. The film also includes many ways young people use their wisdom and strength to help each other and themselves through this complicated terrain around substance use.

While most documentaries about substance use focus on severe addiction, Screenagers Under the Influence fills a pressing need for a film that explores more common scenarios.  The film is grounded in teens’ current reality of being flooded by images on social media, movies, and TV shows about vaping, drugs, and alcohol.  Like the first two Screenagers films, Screenagers Under the Influence interweaves cutting-edge science with personal stories to create an informative and entertaining film experience for young people and adults alike.  Screenagers Under the Influence focuses on practical solutions for keeping our teens safe in a changing world.

Some community members may already be familiar with the Screenagers series.  Jesup Memorial Library screened the first installment of the series before the pandemic. Healthy Acadia shared Screenagers online, followed by Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age and a panel discussion with Kendra Rand, Josh Erlich, and Corrie Hunkler in 2020.  This screening of Screenagers Under the Influence will be the first on MDI.

This year, a local group of parents called “Team Screenager” has been instrumental in helping to fund and promote this series.  Parent Kendra Rand says, “Having this film series come to our island is such a gift.  These films are valuable conversation starters for families and for the whole community.  We're really lucky.”

For more information about this event, please visit www.jesuplibrary.org/events/screenagers-3.