Teen Drug Help
Mobile Campaign vs. Drugs Underway
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: awareness, prevention
Texas Public School District Wants to Drop "DARE" Program
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: awareness, prevention, schools
April Is Alcohol Awareness Month
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
New York Town Uses Stickers to Raise Alcohol Awareness
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, awareness, underage-drinking
Illinois Meth Project Releases Survey Results for Central Illinois
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: awareness, meth
