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Youth Education

The Youth Collaborative strives to be a resource for our community. In addition to providing clinical and research treatment options, we empower the community through education, including presentations and community outreach events. Currently, we offer a high school internship program, the MUSC Teen Science Ambassador program, and an education program, “Just Say Know.”

Teen Science Ambassador Program

The Teen Science Ambassador program is an internship, offered by the Youth Collaborative, for students with a passion for science. Our ambassadors will learn about career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in medicine.

The mission of the Teen Science Ambassador program is to encourage young people to pursue careers in the STEM field through hands-on research exploration, career preparation, college readiness, and mentorship.

Applications are currently closed.

Just Say Know: Understanding the Science of Addiction

The “Just Say Know” program, developed by the MUSC Youth Collaborative, is a neuroscience-focused substance use prevention program designed to empower youth with the scientific knowledge needed to make informed decisions about substance use. The program incorporates opioid-specific content to address the ongoing opioid epidemic, which has significantly affected youth both in South Carolina and nationwide. Following the presentation, students may even have the opportunity to examine a real human brain to help them see it as a physical organ.

  • The presentation is designed to last 1 hour and 15 minutes (1 hour for content, 15 minutes for questions and discussion), but can be shortened to meet time constraints, or lengthened to cover additional content and activities.
  • Just Say Know can be presented to audiences of any size. It is suitable for classrooms, lecture halls, or other educational spaces equipped for presentations.
  • 94% of past participants reported learning valuable information about substance use and the brain. (Meredith et al., 2021)

Topics Discussed

  • Substance Use: Just Say Know provides education on the risks of various substances, including alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and opioids such as fentanyl.
  • The Developing Brain: Neuroscience-based insights into how the adolescent brain is developing and how substance use affects that development.
  • Empowerment: Strategies on how to say no and advice for making informed, healthy decisions about substance use.

Why Choose Just Say Know

By participating in the Just Say Know program, schools can:

  • Positively influence school-wide awareness and behaviors regarding substance use.
  • Address a critical public health issue impacting youth in the Charleston community.
  • Complement science curriculum with neuroscientific research findings on brain development.

Schedule a Presentation

To schedule a “Just Say Know: Understanding the Science of Addiction” presentation please complete the form linked here or contact:

Emma Gaskins

Email: youthoutreach@musc.edu, Phone: ‪(843) 310-8668‬