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
South Dakota May Adopt Plan to Combat Doctor Shopping
Physician and pharmacy groups in South Dakota are promoting a plan to establish a new electronic records system which will help prevent doctor shopping. Doctor shopping is when an individual who is addicted to a prescription drug sees doctor after to doctor to continually obtain new prescriptions. Doctor shopping is already illegal in South Dakota. The new law would authorize a central bank of records to enable doctors and pharmacists to know when a new patient may be shopping for prescriptions.
Barb Smith, chief executive officer of the South Dakota Medical Association, commented on the problem: "The problem right now is physicians don't have access to a patient's prescription history. ... The physician knows what he or she is prescribing but doesn't know if I'm seeing another physician." (Source: www.argusleader.com)
Labels: doctor-shopping, prescription-drug-abuse, prevention
Idaho "Meth" Survey Returns Promising Results
Idaho continues to be ravaged by the destructive force of meth; however, a recent survey shows positive results from the advertising campaign conducted by the Idaho Meth Project. The fledgling nonprofit organization launched a mass media campaign across Idaho last year, which features public service spots showing the grim realities of meth addiction to target those most vulnerable to trying it for the first time.
Teenagers experienced the biggest rise in awareness: 82 percent (up 5 percent from the benchmark study) of teens say there is "great" or "moderate" risk in taking meth once or twice. As many as 63 percent (up 8 percent) of those teens feel there is a great risk. The survey also shows the numbers are up for teens who would strongly disapprove of taking the drug once (83 percent), while 71 percent said their friends would give them a hard time if they tried it even once. Six out of 10 teens have told a friend not to use it.
Megan Ronk, Idaho Meth Project director, is very pleased with the survey results. She believes the advertising campaign is having a positive impact. "In the world of prevention we've see a pretty significant shift in terms of what young people throughout the state think about meth. They perceive greater risk in using the drug and they're talking to their friends."
(Sources: www.bonnercountydailybee.com)
Labels: meth, prevention, teenagers
Texas Group Working to Stop Teen Chewing Tobacco Abuse
A west Texas group, the Permian Basin Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, recently received a grant from the State for $39,000 to help combat teen use of chewing tobacco. According to an article appearing on the website of a local news station, Texas teens are using chewing tobacco at alarming rates, and on average they are starting by age 13. Vella Connley, a representative of the council, commented:
"Everybody talks about lung cancer and smoking cigarettes, but this is just as deadly. ... I can tell you in Ector and Midland County, 20% of the population does use tobacco." (Source: www.newswest9.com)
Labels: prevention, tobacco
