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Partnership for a Drug-Free America has announced its first-ever mobile public service campaign. It is joined by Ringleader Digital and marketing company Contagious.

"The campaign utilizes banner advertisements on targeted Web sites that drive to mobile ... sites where parents can sign up to access tips, tools, and advice from Partnership's Time to Talk program. Parents can also sign up to receive their first 'talk tip' via text message."

The websites and ads, which can be viewed on cell phones and personal digital assistants that have internet capability, give the Partnership an effective avenue through which to share its important message and information. Source: BusinessWire

Labels: prevention, awareness

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The Clear Creek public school district is proposing to drop its Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (DARE) program based on evidence that the program is ineffective at keeping kids off drugs. The proposal has created an outcry among district parents who support the decades-old curriculum. According to William Modzeleski, associate assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS), the number of schools that utilize DARE has decreased sharply since 2001, when the federal government pulled funding for the program after several studies indicated that the program wasn't working.

The DARE program is based on the concept of resistance training - teaching kids to say no to drugs. In recent years, however, some experts have argued that resistance training simply isn't sufficient to reach kids. Proponents of DARE say that the program is an important vehicle for getting information to kids.

James Dement, a Friendswood Police Department officer who has administered the DARE program for 10 years, believes the program makes a difference: ""Yes, there are going to be kids who use drugs no matter what you do, no matter what you tell them. ... Then, there are kids who have decided 'I'm never going to use drugs and that's it. I've decided.' But, it's the ones in between. At least you can get them that information, and they're going to make better decisions." (Source: galvestondailynews.com)

Labels: schools, prevention, awareness

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The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month. The designation is an effort to recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse in the United States, and raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse.

According to SAMHSA, alcohol abuse affects Americans in many different demographics, including "college students who binge drink at local bars; pregnant women who drink and put their babies at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome; professionals who drink after a long day of work; and senior citizens who drink out of loneliness."

SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicates that in 2007, nearly one in four individuals age 12 and older participated in binge drinking at least once during the 30 days prior to the survey. This means that approximately 57.8 million people participated in this dangerous behavior. (Source: ncadi.samhsa.gov)

Labels: alcohol, awareness

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Medina, New York, is implementing a new program using orange stickers to help raise awareness of underage access to alcohol. Drug-Free Communities Coordinator, Kaitlin Smith for Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, explains the project: "Project Sticker Shock is a community awareness campaign intended to address youth access to alcohol and community norms that support not providing alcohol to minors. ... It is used to help remind store clerks, as well as adults purchasing alcohol, that providing alcohol to youth that are under the age of 21 is illegal. This project unites youth, alcohol retailers, teachers, parents, media and community members in striving for a common goal."

A small group of high school students and a teacher spent several hours this week visiting local alcohol retailers and applying over 3,000 stickers to alcoholic beverage containers. (Source: journalregister.com)

Labels: alcohol, underage-drinking, awareness

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The Illinois Meth Project recently released the results of the 2008 Illinois Meth Use & Attitudes Survey. The results show that teens in central Illinois are more aware of the dangers of first-time methamphetamine (meth) use. Over half (53 percent) of teens reported seeing "great risk" in trying meth, which is a 7 percent increase over the 2007 results.

Other perceptions also changed over the past year. The percentage of teens who agreed that trying meth just once can result in getting hooked increased from 76 percent in 2007 to 88 percent in 2008. Teens also acknowledge other meth-related risks in greater numbers than last year: dying (68 percent in 2007, 76 percent in 2008), stealing (74 percent, 81 percent), having unwanted sex (75 percent, 83 percent), tooth decay (65 percent, 74 percent), poor hygiene (71 percent, 79 percent), or turning into someone they don't want to be (81 percent, 88 percent). (Source: www.carmitimes.com)

Labels: meth, awareness

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School officials from Washoe County, Nevada managed to capture the attention of a roomful of teenagers with the debut of a documentary titled “The Truth About Prescription Drug Use and Abuse.”

“At the back of the room Thursday, Davy Jones and Cathy Bandoni, whose 15-year-old son, Austin died last year after an accidental methadone overdoes, watched the video, in which they talk about his passions and finding him dead. At one point, Jones and Bandoni left the auditorium in tears.” [Source: Reno Gazette-Journal]

During an interview later, Bandoni said she’s glad the film was done “by kids for kids,” believing it’s likely to have a greater impact. Surveys have shown that prescription drug abuse by teenagers increased from 10.1 percent in 2007 to over 14 percent last year.

 

Labels: prescription drugs, drug prevention, students, schools, awareness

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In Connecticut, a group of parents is ready to try something different in order to protect their kids from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse: homework. Not for the kids, but for the parents.

The as-yet-unnamed group includes 20 parents equipped with training and materials to lead intensive 12-hour workshops designed to teach skills such as how to communicate with your kids about touchy subjects and where to set boundaries. [Source: New Canaan (CT) Patch]

Robert Curry, the man spearheading the new group, says the goal is to more than talk about drugs and alcohol. Parents to lay a foundation that will help them in all areas of parenting. The program is based on a curriculum developed by the Georgia-based Active Parenting Publishers and the book How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid by Joseph Califano.

 

Labels: parental-involvement, substance use, prevention, awareness

Posted By: Teen Drug Help 0 Comments

Martha Hernandez was 17 when she died recently from a simultaneous alcohol and drug overdose. In the weeks leading up to her death, there were signs that something wasn’t right. Groups like Richmond Addiction Services (RAS) in Canada want parents to know that a child doesn’t have to be addicted to be in trouble.

Some teens are too young to have formed an addition. That doesn’t mean their drug and alcohol use isn’t dangerous, as has been underscored with the deaths of Hernandez and her friend, Kayla Lalonde, both of whom died within a few hours of each other after consuming fatal amounts of booze and drugs. [Source: Richmond News]

Neither girl would have been diagnosed an “addict,” but deadly consequences can result from the misuse of drugs or alcohol whether the person is addicted or not.

 

Labels: alcohol abuse, drug addiction, substance use, awareness

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When Caitlin’s brother was about to graduate from high school, the stress and uncertainty surrounding his future caused him to turn to drugs in a misguided effort to find relief. Caitlin saw her brother change right before her eyes.

“Money was disappearing from the house; her once cheerful brother was moody and did not look well, she said. At times, he could not keep his eyes open. ‘He was generally a nice person, easy going,’ Caitlin Reed said. ‘We noticed he was mean.’” [Source: The Gazette (MD)]

Caitlin’s brother eventually admitted his addiction and sought help, but Caitlin knew that other families weren’t so lucky. So she started a Facebook group aimed at raising awareness about OxyContin addiction. So far, the group has 1,100 members, most of whom are teenagers worried about friends, family members or themselves.
 

Labels: oxycodone, oxycontin, awareness

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Officials in Cheshire, Connecticut, have worked for years to curb underage drinking. Some of their strategies have worked better than others, and now they’re trying a new one – focusing on parents.

“For the next three weeks, local radio airwaves will carry a message directed at parents, asking that they reconsider facilitating their child’s desire to drink by holding parties in what they consider to be ‘safe’ environments. The commercial, which will feature the voice of Cheshire Police Lt. Jay Markella, has already begun playing …” [Source: Cheshire Herald]

The commercials were funded by a grant to the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking. Cheshire Youth and Social Services Director Michelle Piccerillo says the commercials are necessary in order to persuade parents away from their casual belief that drinking is just “part of growing up.” Piccerillo hopes that, as parents learn about the dangers associated with underage drinking, they’ll steer their kids away from it.

Labels: teen drinking, prevention, awareness

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

Former troubled teen Alfred Murillo knows that if someone hadn’t intervened in his life 30 years ago, today he’d likely be in a jail cell or a coffin. When he was 15-years-old, he caught the attention of a 65-year-old street minister named “Augie” who believed Alfred had potential.

“’He told me that regardless of my past, I still had something to give and my choices mattered,’ recalls [Alfred], now 45. ‘you could tell that he genuinely cared. He came to the house and talked to my mom and me and gave me some direction. Augie helped me get the courage to make big changes in my life, and I could see that being in a gang was literally a dead end.’” [Source: The Deseret News]

Today, Alfred is paying that favor forward by reaching out to kids in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City. He distributes backpacks, cloths and food. He also meets one-on-one with kids he thinks have potential. His hope is that, in 30 years, some of them will pay it forward, too.

 

Labels: prevention, awareness, mentor

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If you’re not familiar with Australian football, you probably haven’t heard of Ben Cousins. But for a “down under” continent of sports enthusiasts, Cousins represents the best and worst of the sport.

Though he’s a brilliant athlete, a lot of his talent was wasted and ruined by a long struggle with drug addiction. He recently released a two-part TV documentary aimed at warning others to stay away from drugs.

The film is brutally, painfully, unflinchingly honest about how substance abuse turned a radiant football career into a tabloid train wreck, with Cousins front-and-centre for much of the time detailing the demons that have derailed – and defined – his life. ...

Images of the brilliant midfielder, Brownlow medal winner, West Coast captain and jubilant fan favourite grind hard against grainy close-ups of Cousins inhaling ice… [Source: The Age]

Cousins purposely allowed the documentary to be rough and raw, hoping that the brutal reality of drug addiction with cause young people to think twice about experimenting with drugs.

 

Labels: addiction, awareness, media

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

The Director of National Drug Control Policy has announced that it’s releasing over $85 million in funding to local Drug Free Communities Support Programs across the country. More than 700 communities will receive program grants to help them combat drug abuse.

“’The Drug Free Communities program embodies the Obama Administration’s dedication to evidence-based community prevention efforts that protect the health of our young people,’ said Director [Gil] Kerlikowske. ‘Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students.’” [Source: MediLexicon]

Community coalitions are awarded up to $625,000 over five years for anti-drug programs that include citizen participation. Over 500 communities submitted new applications this year, and of those, 169 were added to the list of 569 DFC coalitions.

 

Labels: prevention, awareness

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

At the Prevention Research Conference, the CEO of Partnership for a Drug-Free America – Steve Pasierb - joined with PhD Ken Winters to present new treatment and prevention programs based on current scientific research.

“’We have developed Time to Talk, Time to Act, and Time to Get Help, groundbreaking resources focused in the areas of prevention, intervention and treatment, respectively,’ said Pasierb.

‘Each of these and several additional resources were developed with guidance from our Science Advisory Board and Parent Advisory Board. They feature tools, guides and online communities and provide information, action steps and personal support for parents.’” [Source: Medical News Today]

Though these tools aren't designed to help teens overcome addictions or substance abuse disorders, they offer guidance on how to ask for and get help.

Labels: prevention, awareness

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in America. And though it is by no means at epidemic levels, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is encouraging people to discard old prescriptions. To help facilitate this, the DEA has organized a nationwide campaign.

“The national prescription drug ‘Take-Back’ campaign will offer more than 4,000 sites around the nation where the public can drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs… The Take-Back event also is a way to address environmental problems that arise when unwanted prescription drugs are flushed down the toilet or dumped at a landfill.” - Source: The Associated Press

Participating locations will take back prescription medications on Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. You can find a location near you by visiting www.dea.gov and clicking on the “Got Drugs?” link at the top of the page.

 

Labels: prescription drugs, prevention, awareness

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Teenage students from Montana's Helena High School are working together in an effort to promote greater understanding about the effects of drug and alcohol use among their peers

According to the 2009 Monitoring the Future survey, nearly 44 percent of high school seniors reported consuming alcohol in the previous 30 days.

According to a report in the Independent Record newspaper, eight Helena High students are raising money to travel to teh National Youth Leadership Institute in Washington D.C.  The students' goal is to develop problem-solving skills that they can teach to fellow students.

“As I got into high school, I started seeing my friends and classmates making the same decisions [with alcohol],” sophomre Amy Heldt said in the Independent Record article. “So the reason dearest to my heart in going on this [trip] is to learn ways to prevent this from happening again.”


 

Labels: substance use, awareness

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Teenagers in New Jersey are being encouraged to put their musical talents to use in the anti-drug effort. In addition to encouraging their peers to stay drug-free, a few teens will also earn music contracts valued at thousands of dollars.

A Dec. 17 article on the website NJToday provided the following details:

• The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music competition is a drug prevention song writing contest looking for talented high school students to create original peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention songs.
• All entries must be received by Jan. 14. County finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges for a chance to win one of three music contracts at the annual statewide Prevention Concert.
• The concert will be held on May 5, 2011, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark.
• The music contracts are valued at $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000.

 

“The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has witnessed enormous enthusiasm from past participants of this program,” noted PDFNJ executive director, Angelo M. Valente. “Last year we received entries from 19 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. “This year we look forward to hearing from students from every county across the state. Whether you’re a rocker, a hip hop artist, a gospel or ballad singer, all music genres are welcome.”

 

 

Labels: awareness

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In an effort to increase awareness of teen drug and alcohol abuse among area youth, school authorities in Swampscott, Massachusetts are taking the creative -- and, to some, controversial -- step of requiring parents to attend a program on the dangers of drinking and drug use.

According to a Jan. 6 Boston Globe article, teens whose parents fail to show may be prohibited from taking part in a number of activities:

 

Teenagers whose parents are no-shows at Monday night’s gathering will not be allowed to participate in sports or extracurricular activities, the district said.

School administrators said they know the unorthodox approach might be off-putting to some — at least a handful of parents have already criticized it — but they insist the meeting is meant to be collaborative, not punitive.

“We can’t do this alone as a school district,’’ said Superintendent Lynne Celli, adding that it is important to present a unified front against underage drinking. “It sends a message when we’re all speaking the same language.’’

Labels: parental-involvement, prevention, awareness

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