Monday, October 27, 2008
Red Ribbon Week Winners
Congratulations to Cassie Johanning! Her 5th grade classroom was the winner of the pizza party for the Red Ribbon Week poster contest.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Help us celebrate National Recovery Month
The Regional Preventi0n Center and the Addiction Recovery Center are co-hosting an open house at 1105 Hugh, Frontenac, KS to help education community members, agencies, and other professionals about the services from prevention to treatment that are available in the community.
Join us from 3 pm to 7 pm on September 22nd!
Join us from 3 pm to 7 pm on September 22nd!
Binge Drinkers Forget Worst Aspects of Being Drunk
Binge drinkers tend to forget the negative aspects of getting drunk and focus on the pleasant memories, which may help explain why they continue to drink despite instances where they get sick, black out, or have other problems. The Independent reported Sept. 10 that Theodora Duka, a researcher from Sussex University, said that studies show that alcohol affects memory selectively, and that many binge drinkers don't remember the worst aspects of their drinking experiences.
"The effects of alcohol on mood are known contributors to its use and abuse. It is less known how its effects on memory and inhibitory control add to alcohol being and addictive drug," said Duka, a Sussex University professor. "Material acquired in an intoxicated state is less effectively retrieved in a sober state. Thus people who abuse alcohol forget the consequences of intoxication during periods of abstinence."
"The effects of alcohol on mood are known contributors to its use and abuse. It is less known how its effects on memory and inhibitory control add to alcohol being and addictive drug," said Duka, a Sussex University professor. "Material acquired in an intoxicated state is less effectively retrieved in a sober state. Thus people who abuse alcohol forget the consequences of intoxication during periods of abstinence."
Friday, August 15, 2008
Adults Provided 40% of Alcohol to Underage Drinkers
Adults over the age of 21, including a substantial number of parents and guardians, are contributing to the underage drinking phenomenon by supplying free alcohol to young people, a nationwide report. The report, Underage Alcohol Use: Findings from the 2002-2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, states that more than 40 percent of youths ages 12 to 20 who used alcohol in the past 30 days reported receiving free alcohol from an adult. One in 16 underage drinkers, or an estimated 650,000 youths, had received alcohol from a parent or guardian in the past month.
SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. "Its findings strongly indicate that parents and other adults can play an important role in helping influence — for better or for worse — young people's behavior with regard to underage drinking." The report also states that binge drinking rates are significantly higher for young people living with a parent who engaged in past-year binge drinking. A total of 30.3 percent of underage drinkers reported that they were in their own home when they had their last drink, while 53.4 percent were at someone else's home and comparatively few were at a restaurant, bar or club.
SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. "Its findings strongly indicate that parents and other adults can play an important role in helping influence — for better or for worse — young people's behavior with regard to underage drinking." The report also states that binge drinking rates are significantly higher for young people living with a parent who engaged in past-year binge drinking. A total of 30.3 percent of underage drinkers reported that they were in their own home when they had their last drink, while 53.4 percent were at someone else's home and comparatively few were at a restaurant, bar or club.
Friday, July 11, 2008
JV Games Yields to Pressure on Beer Pong Wii Game
After feeling the pressure from drug and alcohol prevention advocates across the country, JV Games announced that they changed the name of its WiiWare Beer Pong game to "Pong Toss" and removed all alcohol references. Prevention advocates say that while the move is a start, ultimately the game should be removed from store shelves. In addition to changing the name, JV Games changed the sound that the balls make when hitting the cups. Rather than a splash sound, it makes a rattling sound. They also changed the throw-power meter from a glass of beer to a bullet.
In May, CADCA wrote to JV Games expressing its concern that the Beer Pong game normalized binge drinking among youth, particularly those who are underage, and urged the company to either remove it from the market or give it an appropriate rating of AO for Adults Only. The game is currently rated as "T" for teens, ages 13 and up, by the independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Despite the changes, the Nintendo Wii game still gives players the ability to practice the tossing skills required for Beer Pong, a popular drinking game on college campuses that involves throwing ping pong balls into other players’ cups of beer so that the other players are forced to drink the cup of beer.
In fact, research from the American Psychological Association has shown that video games with violence in them can increase a person’s aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and reduce pro-social thinking and behaviors. In addition, studies show that video games can be even more harmful than violent TV shows and movies, because they are interactive. “Taking action to change the name of the game and remove any alcoholic references and intent from the original game may be considered proactive, but if underage youth identify the game with beer pong, and are at risk for engaging in risky behaviors, this may influence them to experiment with the drinking strategies of the original game,” Dr. Novince said. “Of particular concern are the rewards—the points players receive for their behavior—which may also play a role in influencing individuals to engage in actual behavior.”
In May, CADCA wrote to JV Games expressing its concern that the Beer Pong game normalized binge drinking among youth, particularly those who are underage, and urged the company to either remove it from the market or give it an appropriate rating of AO for Adults Only. The game is currently rated as "T" for teens, ages 13 and up, by the independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Despite the changes, the Nintendo Wii game still gives players the ability to practice the tossing skills required for Beer Pong, a popular drinking game on college campuses that involves throwing ping pong balls into other players’ cups of beer so that the other players are forced to drink the cup of beer.
In fact, research from the American Psychological Association has shown that video games with violence in them can increase a person’s aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and reduce pro-social thinking and behaviors. In addition, studies show that video games can be even more harmful than violent TV shows and movies, because they are interactive. “Taking action to change the name of the game and remove any alcoholic references and intent from the original game may be considered proactive, but if underage youth identify the game with beer pong, and are at risk for engaging in risky behaviors, this may influence them to experiment with the drinking strategies of the original game,” Dr. Novince said. “Of particular concern are the rewards—the points players receive for their behavior—which may also play a role in influencing individuals to engage in actual behavior.”
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Decline in Traffic Deaths Credited to Drinking-Age Laws
Raising the legal drinking age to 21 resulted in an 11-percent decrease in the number of drunk teenagers involved in fatal car crashes, according to new research from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).
Reuters reported July 1 that the decline in alcohol-related deaths could be correlated to the passage of laws in the 1980s that barred those under age 21 from buying or possessing alcohol. They warned that recent proposals to lower the drinking age risked undoing that progress; such legislation has been introduced in at least eight states.
States that punish underage drinkers for using fake IDs had 14-percent fewer teen drunk-driving deaths than states without such laws, the researchers added.
The research, which was funded by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Foundation, will be published in the July 2008 issue of the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.
Reuters reported July 1 that the decline in alcohol-related deaths could be correlated to the passage of laws in the 1980s that barred those under age 21 from buying or possessing alcohol. They warned that recent proposals to lower the drinking age risked undoing that progress; such legislation has been introduced in at least eight states.
States that punish underage drinkers for using fake IDs had 14-percent fewer teen drunk-driving deaths than states without such laws, the researchers added.
The research, which was funded by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Foundation, will be published in the July 2008 issue of the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.
We Don't Serve Teens: A National Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking
We Don't Serve Teens, a new national campaign to reduce underage drinking, is focusing on the social sources that may provide teens with access to alcohol. This website provides parents and others with information on stopping teens' easy access to alcohol, practical tips on talking to kids about alcohol and alcohol advertising, and what to say to friends and neighbors about serving alcohol to teens.
http://www.dontserveteens.gov/
http://www.dontserveteens.gov/
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Welcome Wendi O'Rand to the RPC
The Regional Prevention Center is pleased to announce that Wendi O'Rand is the new Prevention Specialist. She began working in the Regional Prevention Center in June 2008 and will working with communities to move through the strategic prevention framework.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Information on Prescription Drugs
With the recent rise in prescription drug abuse by teens, it is important to be informed on the dangers of prescription drugs. This is a link to an article I found on www.kidshealth.org. It has some great information on the rising issue and tips for parents, etc.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/prescription_drug_abuse.html
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/prescription_drug_abuse.html
Friday, February 1, 2008
February Resource of the Month
February is National Children of Alcoholics Month
Alcohol is a debilitating disease, not only for those who have it, but their families also.
The February resource is: Alcohol & It’s Effects (Video – 60 mins.)
This video shows the effects of alcohol, addiction, treatment and other issues around alcohol abuse.
TO ACCESS RPC RESOURCE LIBRARY
Go to www.greenbush.org
Click on Technology Media Center and click on Online Booking
To Browse:
Login as a guest by entering your first and last name
Enter as a guest to browse only
Type in keyword or subjects
A listing will come up – items listed as DAXXXX are part of the library and available for checkout
To Book:
Call Greenbush TMC and receive a login and password
Go to www.greenbush.org
Click TMC and online booking
Login using the given login # and password
i. Start webmax
ii. Search by title, subject, or keyword or click on look-up by title #
iii. View selections by clicking on today’s basket
iv. Finish checking out selections – they will be shipped to you
Selections are checked out for one week to 10 days.
The return postage is the responsibility of the person checking items out.
Alcohol is a debilitating disease, not only for those who have it, but their families also.
The February resource is: Alcohol & It’s Effects (Video – 60 mins.)
This video shows the effects of alcohol, addiction, treatment and other issues around alcohol abuse.
TO ACCESS RPC RESOURCE LIBRARY
Go to www.greenbush.org
Click on Technology Media Center and click on Online Booking
To Browse:
Login as a guest by entering your first and last name
Enter as a guest to browse only
Type in keyword or subjects
A listing will come up – items listed as DAXXXX are part of the library and available for checkout
To Book:
Call Greenbush TMC and receive a login and password
Go to www.greenbush.org
Click TMC and online booking
Login using the given login # and password
i. Start webmax
ii. Search by title, subject, or keyword or click on look-up by title #
iii. View selections by clicking on today’s basket
iv. Finish checking out selections – they will be shipped to you
Selections are checked out for one week to 10 days.
The return postage is the responsibility of the person checking items out.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Federal school grants for alcohol abuse
FUNDING opportunity for local school districts through USED/Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools for comprehensive prevention in secondary schools to reduce and prevent alcohol abuse. Applications are due on February 19, 2008. We have $24,500M to award to approximately to 70 districts around the country and the territories. The average awards for this 3 year effort is around $400,000 per year.
The Notice Inviting Applications for the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse (84.184A) was published in the Federal Register on 1-3-08. It is currently posted on grants.gov at: http://apply.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=11200
The application is available on the USED web page at:(http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpalcoholabuse/applicant.html).
These are the names of the required forms for this grant competition:1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) 2. Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 3. Department of Education Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524) 4. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) 5. Certification Regarding Lobbying 6. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)
The Notice Inviting Applications for the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse (84.184A) was published in the Federal Register on 1-3-08. It is currently posted on grants.gov at: http://apply.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=11200
The application is available on the USED web page at:(http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpalcoholabuse/applicant.html).
These are the names of the required forms for this grant competition:1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) 2. Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 3. Department of Education Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524) 4. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) 5. Certification Regarding Lobbying 6. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)
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