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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

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

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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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

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

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: prescription-drug-abuse, prevention, doctor-shopping

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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: tobacco, prevention

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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

Lindsay Lohan made another court appearance this week. This time, she was fitted with an ankle bracelet that will monitor her alcohol consumption.

“The bracelet uses the same technology as a Breathalyzer, but instead of checking the breath for alcohol, it samples the perspiration on the skin. After alcohol is consumed, it eventually enters the bloodstream and a small amount is expelled through the skin.” [Source: The Associated Press]

The reporter covering Lindsay’s story for the Associate Press wondered if parents would soon be trying to use similar technology to monitor their kids. More importantly, he wondered if they should use it. Because the technology isn’t widely available, yet, parents have some time to answer that question for themselves.

 

Labels: alcohol, prevention

Posted By: Teen Drug Help 0 Comments

Television shows like “Intervention” have increased in popularity over the last few years. They tell stories of friends and family who, worried about a loved one’s drug or alcohol use, elicit the help of a professional to orchestrate a “family meeting” where the loved one is confronted and asked to get help.

When a [loved one’s] very health and well-being is in danger, sometimes the only option left to the family is a well-planned intervention …

Contact an alcohol and drug treatment professional with an established track record of successful interventions. Make a list of family members, friends, co-workers and employers to take part in the planning and intervention.” [Source: About.com]

Planning an effective intervention can take weeks, should be done with care, and should involve professional assistance. Your loved one should be treated with respect, and friends and family members should have treatment options readily available should the loved one agree to enter a treatment program. 

Most importantly, an intervention should never be planned without the help of a trained, experienced professional.

 

Labels: prevention, intervention

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

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

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

Certain children with "anxious temperaments" are more likely to engage in teen substance abuse. Early detection and intervention of anxiety disorders among children may prevent later drug and alcohol use among adolescents and teenagers, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin.

"Children with anxious temperaments suffer from extreme shyness, persistent worry and increased bodily responses to stress," said Professor Ned Kalin, lead author.

"It has long been known that these children are at increased risk of developing anxiety, depression and associated substance abuse disorders," Kalin continued. "We believe that young children who have higher activity in (certain) brain regions are more likely to develop anxiety and depression as adolescents and adults, and are almost more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems in an attempt to treat their distress."

This study appears in the journal Nature.

Labels: substance use, anxiety, prevention

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

Putting new taxes on alcohol or raising existing taxes to account for inflation would prevent 600 to 800 deaths a year, according to a study from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Researchers looked at the number of alcohol-related deaths in Florida and compared them to the financial burden imposed by alcohol excise taxes, and found when taxes went up, death rates went down.
• If Florida taxes on liquor had been allowed to rise with inflation, the tax on distilled liquor would be $14 a gallon, and the tax on wine would be $5 a gallon.

This study appears in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Labels: law, death, prevention

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 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

Classes and discussions about substance abuse help at-risk children avoid alcohol in the short-run, according to a new study from Great Britain.

• Researchers from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry tested 2506 children, average age 13.5 years old.
• The researchers worked to determine the students' risk for developing dependencies on alcohol or drugs.
• 1159 children were determined to to be at high risk.
• Of these, 624 received a school-based intervention, and the others became part of a control group.

The intervention consisted of two 90-minute sessions led by teachers who had undergone a three-day workshop and four hours of supervised follow-up.

• Within the next six months, the children were re-tested.
• The group that had the intervention were 1.7 times less likely to use alcohol.
• The intervention group members were also 55% less likely to engage in binge drinking than were the members of the control group.
• However, the long-term effects of the intervention are yet to be determined.

This study appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Labels: students, schools, prevention

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

Newspaper and television news stories can reduce the likelihood of teen drug abuse, according to a study from Australia. Most previous research has indicated that media encourages drinking and drug use among young people by depicting it in a positive way, especially through advertisements.

• Lead author Professor Caitlin Hughes and her colleagues analyzed 4,397 news articles, and conducted focus groups among adolescents, asking them to read newspaper reports involving substance abuse.
• The team found that news stories that featured the detrimental health and social consequences of illegal drug use could be effective into deterring young people from experimenting with them.
• However, these kinds of stories represented only 24% of the ones they analyzed. About 70% of the articles were about drug-related crime or law enforcement.

"Compared to criminal arrest portrayals, health and social harm portrayals, such as cannabis psychosis or warnings associated with drugs, produced more deterrent effect on youth," the authors wrote."

This government study was conducted at the University of South Wales National Drug and Alcohol Research Center.
 

Labels: teen drug abuse, prevention

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 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

Posted By: Teen Drug Help 0 Comments

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

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment