CADCA news from June 2003
Chamber Coalition for a Better Community in Lufkin, Texas
Restaurant Project
The County All Stars, a group of students who have adopted a drug-free lifestyle, received the participation of seven local restaurants to display their drug free message in the form of tabletop fliers to make patrons aware of the consequences of drinking and how to be positive influences in the lives youth.
Parent University
This one-day conference featured keynote addresses, breakout sessions on a wide variety of topics related to parenting and exhibits displaying resources to over 150 parents, caregivers, youth workers and professionals in the community.
Shattered Dreams Project
This program involved a "real life" dramatization of an alcohol-related crash complete with police and EMS response, ER treatment, family notifications and the arrest and booking of the driver to emphasize the importance of not drinking and driving to high school students.
For more information on the Chamber Coalition for a Better Community's programs and activities, visit their web site at www.go-lufkin.com/bdrugfree4life/.
The Safe Community Coalition, McLean and Langley in Northern Virginia
Project Hospitality
This community effort to reduce the number of parties in homes and hotels where underage youth consume alcoholic beverages received news coverage in the Washington Post. Due to the success of this program, it has expanded to other coalitions in Fairfax County.
Happy Hats
Sponsored through an after-school program, students make vibrant hats for deliver to chronically ill children to let them know that children their age care about them. The Happy Hats project also received news coverage in the Washington Post and in the local news. Happy Hats has now secured a commitment to provide 12,000 hats for distribution in area hospitals.
For more information on the Safe Community Coalition programs and activities, visit http://www.crosslink.net/~scc/.
3. COURT TV TO AIR "STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT MARIJUANA," JUNE 6
As part of Choices & Consequences public affairs initiative, Court TV's will televise highlights of a teen summit that addresses marijuana issues on June 6 at 8 a.m. EDT/7 a.m. CDT. Oklahoma City teens along with more than 140 youth and local experts discuss personal experiences with marijuana and how other drugs affect their daily lives.
Local coalitions are encouraged to tape this hour-long program and present it at local gatherings and meetings. It may be used to show parents and other adult influencers how teens really feel about marijuana and to demonstrate to teens that not every young person thinks that smoking pot is harmless.
4. SAMHSA ISSUES NEW PROGRAM KIT FOR CHILDREN PROGRAMS
To help substance abuse treatment professionals design programs to help children of addicted parents cope with the effects of their parents' addiction, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed a new Children's Program Kit.
The toolkit is designed to provide materials for substance abuse programs to initiate educational support programs for the children of clients in substance abuse treatment. The curricula will teach children skills such as solving problems, coping, social competence, autonomy and a sense of purpose and future.
The kit was developed by SAMHSA childhood mental health professionals and covers a wide variety of topics and practical teaching strategies for elementary, middle and upper school children, including stories and videos. The kit also contains information for therapists to distribute to their clients to help parents understand the needs of their children, as well as training materials for substance abuse treatment staff who plan to offer support groups for children.
Toolkits can be ordered by calling 1-800-729-6686 or by faxing a request to 301-468-6433.
5. "SCHOOL'S OUT" EDUCATION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED
To help parents keep teens marijuana-free during the summer months, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and other organizations launched "School's Out," a new education initiative for the summer.
According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, more teens smoke marijuana for the first time in June and July than any other time of the year. Every summer day, more than 5,800 teens try marijuana for the first time. To help bring these summer prevention messages to your community, the Campaign has made a number of resources available online at www.mediacampaign.org.
- Summer fact sheet on teen marijuana use
- Tips every parent should know to help keep kids drug-free this summer
- Article for general market audiences
- Article for Asian American and Hispanic audiences
- Teen post cards debunking marijuana myths
- Teen posters with the facts on marijuana
- Anti-drug mural guide
The Campaign is also featuring an interactive self-rating tool (Does Your Summer Plan Stand the Heat?) to help parents determine if their summer plan will keep their teens safe. The tool can be found at www.theantidrug.com. Information and tips for employers of parents and teens are also available at: www.theantidrug.com//atwork and www.freevibe.com. If you have comments, thoughts or ideas about Media Campaign resources, please contact the Campaign at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
6. RESEARCHERS TO RELEASE NEW FINDINGS ABOUT AT-RISK YOUTH
Leading researchers in prevention science will meet on June 12-14, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C. to release new research on curbing anti-social and destructive behavior among adults and youth.
The 2003 annual meeting, "Research to Policy," spearheaded by the Washington, D.C.-based Society for Prevention Research will present innovative ways that prevention programs can be implemented by schools; local, state and federal agencies; community organizations, advocacy groups, physicians and counselors.
Speakers include: CADCA's CEO, Arthur Dean; Mary Ann Solberg, Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Mary Dufour, Deputy Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Richard Nakamura, Deputy Director, National Institute of Mental Health; Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Society for Prevention Research is an international organization focused on the advancement of science-based prevention programs and policies through empirical research. The membership of the organization includes scientists, practitioners, advocates, administrators and policymakers who are concerned with the prevention of social, physical and mental health problems and the promotion of health, safety and well being. Visit www.preventionresearch.org for more information.
7. CDC SAYS OCCASIONAL SMOKING ON THE RISE
Although the percentage of U.S. adults who smoke has remained constant, government researchers say that part-time smokers are on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently said that while the percentage of American adults who smoke remains about the same -- 23 percent -- more smokers identify themselves as part-timers.
Observers are uncertain if the part-time smoking trend is good news or bad news because it is uncertain if heavy smokers are cutting back or if this is a new kind of smoker. CDC experts note that smoking occasionally may not be much healthier than smoking regularly. For more information on this trend, visit www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/05/28/parttime.smokers.ap/l.
8. NEW GRANT UP TO $500 NOW AVAILABLE FROM RADIOSHACK
RadioShack Corporation is now accepting applications for Neighborhood Answers grant program up to $500. The deadline for the application is open and will be accepted year-round. Grants will be awarded in August and November. Local RadioShack review councils will evaluate applications.
To be considered for a Neighborhood Answers Grant, an organization must be a tax-exempt nonprofit designated as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS, offer solutions to help prevent family violence, abuse or child abduction and directly impact or benefit a RadioShack community through programs or services.
The program, which began this year, is designed to fund worthy causes that help families protect children from abduction, violence, and abuse. Applications for the Neighborhood Answers Grant are available in stores and at the Web site http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/cc/contributions.html.
