Regional Prevention Center of SEK

Binge Drinkers Often Drive Drunk, Researchers Say

2009-09-03T11:31:00.000-05:00

A study of 14,000 binge drinkers found that 12 percent admitted driving after their most recent episode of heavy alcohol consumption, the Associated Press reported Sept. 1.
Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that about half of those who drove drunk did so within two hours of consuming seven or more drinks, and that about a quarter drove after downing 10 drinks or more.
About half of binge drinkers who drove under the influence had been drinking at a bar, restaurant, or nightclub. Researchers called for states to more rigorously enforce laws against establishments overserving their customers.
The study is scheduled to be published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.-->
This article summarizes an external report or press release on research published in a scientific journal. When available, links to the sources are provided above.

Upcoming Events

2009-07-31T09:54:00.002-05:00

National Recovery Month - September 2009
The RPC will be hosting an evening event for the public to help raise awareness by hearing from a panel of those in recovery, community resources, and professionals who can help. Check back for more specifics

Family Day- a day to eat dinner with your children
September 28, 2009
Children who eat dinner regularly with their family are at less risk of experimenting with risky behaviors. Check out www.kansasfamily.com to find out about family day events in your community.

Sobering Truth: Emerging youth drug trends in Kansas
September 29, 2009 9 am to 3 pm
Workshop for anyone who wants to know more about the drug trends in Kansas. Carol Spiker, Prevention Team Leader, with Prevention and Recovery Services in Topeka will be the workshop presenter. Cost is $45 and will include workshop materials and lunch. Pre-registration is required at www.greenbush.org or calling 620-724-6281.

The Dangers of Mixing Energy Drinks with Alcohol

2009-07-31T09:53:00.001-05:00

Mixing energy drinks with alochol has gotten a lot of media attention, leaving many to wonder if this practice is safe. But studies are revealing some very dangerous effects of mixing these cocktail drinks. www.righthub.com/health/dietnutrition.

FDA and Public Health Experts Warn About Electronic Cigarettes

2009-07-31T09:50:00.002-05:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that laboratory annalysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcigogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. For more information check out www.fda.gov/newsevents.

$1 Spent on Prevention Saves $10, Study Says

2009-03-18T15:15:00.003-05:00

Investing in addiction prevention programs yeilds a 10-1 return for society, according to researchers from Iowa State University who studied the Iowa Strengthenign Families Program and the Life Skills Training Program.

Researchers Richard Spoth, Ph.D. and Max Guyll, Ph.D., detailed findings from the "Prevention's Cose Effectiveness: Illustrative Economic Benefits of General Population Interventions" and "Prevention of Substance-related Problems: Effectivenes of Family-focused Prevention" studies for a conference sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization.

"Effective and efficient prevention promises to save possibly billions of dollars per year, provided we can learn how to effectively implement it on a larger scale," Spoth, director of ISD's Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute .

For more information, check out www.jointogether.org

Enough of the Puff: tax may cut smoking rates

2009-03-18T15:14:00.001-05:00

By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A big hike in the federal tax on cigarettes taking effect on April 1 may prompt 1 million U.S. smokers to quit, according to public health experts.
Expansion of a popular public health insurance program for lower income children is being financed by an increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes of about $1.01 per pack, up from the current 39 cents on a $4.35 pack.
Smoking kills about 440,000 Americans annually and costs the nation $193 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity, said Dr. Terry Pechacek of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health.
"There is almost unanimous agreement across the scientific community and policymakers that raising the price of cigarettes in whatever fashion has a consistent effect on reducing smoking rates, increasing the quit rate among adult smokers and preventing the initiation of regular smoking by children and young adults," Pechacek said in a telephone interview.
Danny McGoldrick, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids advocacy group's vice president for research, said the formula is simple: as prices rise, fewer people buy cigarettes.
McGoldrick forecast the tax hike will persuade just over 1 million current smokers to quit and prevent 2 million children from starting. These changes will avert about 905,000 smoking-related deaths and save $44.5 billion in healthcare expenses over time, McGoldrick predicted.
President Barack Obama signed the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program on February 4. President George W. Bush had twice vetoed the bill, which also raises federal taxes on cigars and other tobacco products.
The industry is unhappy. Higher prices will lead to at least a 10 percent decline in cigarette sales and could put 117,000 people out of work, said Thomas Briant, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets.
LOST JOBS
Briant, whose group represents the operators of 2,500 retail stores, tobacco wholesalers, cigarette manufacturers and others, decried "the single largest tax increase on a product in the history of the United States."
"There's going to be an immediate drop-off in sales because of that tax increase as of April 1," Briant said. "We expect the fall-out from that in terms of job losses to take about six to nine months from that date."
Retail store clerks and cashiers, truck drivers who deliver cigarettes, warehouse workers, sales representatives and others may lose jobs, Briant said.
U.S. smoking rates have been declining slowly for decades. The CDC's most recent data showed about 19.8 percent of U.S. adults -- 43.4 million people -- were smokers in 2007.
Smoking rates vary by state -- from a high of 28 percent in Kentucky to a low of 12 percent in Utah. Rates are often higher where state tobacco taxes are lower. The average state tax is $1.32 per pack, ranging from a low of 7 cents in South Carolina to a high of $2.75 in New York state.
State taxes have more than doubled in the past six years and more states and localities are banning smoking from public places like office buildings, restaurants and bars.
Daniel Smith, president of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, said the next important step is for Congress to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration power to regulate tobacco products. The FDA already oversees drugs, medical devices, most foods, cosmetics and animal drugs.
A House of Representatives panel approved the long-stalled measure on March 4. It still needs passage by the full House and Senate. "This is the year to make it happen," Smith said.

Red Ribbon Week Winners

2008-10-27T14:45:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Cassie Johanning! Her 5th grade classroom was the winner of the pizza party for the Red Ribbon Week poster contest.

Help us celebrate National Recovery Month

2008-09-15T12:22:00.004-05:00

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!

Binge Drinkers Forget Worst Aspects of Being Drunk

2008-09-15T12:22:00.001-05:00

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."

Adults Provided 40% of Alcohol to Underage Drinkers

2008-08-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

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.

JV Games Yields to Pressure on Beer Pong Wii Game

2008-07-11T08:44:00.002-05:00

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.”

Decline in Traffic Deaths Credited to Drinking-Age Laws

2008-07-09T15:14:00.001-05:00

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.

We Don't Serve Teens: A National Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking

2008-07-09T15:06:00.000-05:00

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/

Welcome Wendi O'Rand to the RPC

2008-06-05T14:36:00.002-05:00

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.

Information on Prescription Drugs

2008-03-21T13:19:00.002-05:00

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

February Resource of the Month

2008-02-01T15:15:00.000-06:00

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.

Federal school grants for alcohol abuse

2008-01-10T09:25:00.000-06:00

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)

UPDATE: Addendum to RFA now available

2007-10-15T15:35:00.000-05:00

Communities applying for Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grants need to please note the changes in the Addendum which have been posted to the Kansas SRS website. The link to the addendum is listed below.

http://www.srskansas.org/HR/spf-sig/RFA_ddendum.pdf

UPDATE: Community Readiness Online Survey

2007-10-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

Communities applying for SPF-SIG grant funds can view their survey totals as of Monday, October 15, 2007 by clicking on the link below. The grant requires 36 completed surveys (3 in each of the 12 community sectors) by 3 p.m. October 19, 2007.

http://www.srskansas.org/HR/spf-sig/Survey_Count_10-12.pdf

October Resource of the Month

2007-10-09T11:14:00.000-05:00

October is Red Ribbon Month

The October Resource of the month, Red Ribbon Week: Working Toward a Drug-Free School and Community, is the only video available for the observance of Red Ribbon Week. Showing this to students is an inspirational way to kick off the Red Ribbon celebration. This video explains the origins and meaning of Red Ribbon Week. This video is hosted by Michael Pritchard and filmed at an actual Red Ribbon rally and classroom discussion. VIDEO FORMAT ONLY -- 1998

TO UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE:
Go to http://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 http://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.

Fall Newsletter Now Available!

2007-09-25T08:26:00.000-05:00

The view the Fall 2007 Edition of the Prevention Newsletter please click on the link below.

http://regionalpreventioncenter.pbwiki.com/f/RPC+Fall+2007+Newsletter.pdf

RFA released for Planning Grant Funds

2007-09-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

Kansas Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Grant to Reduce Underage Drinking

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), Division of Strategic Development, announces the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) to develop community level strategic plans for the prevention and reduction of underage drinking through the Kansas Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Grant to Reduce Underage Drinking. Community partnerships are invited to compete for one of six to ten Planning Grants which will be awarded to communities which meet criteria based on high prevalence of underage drinking and contribution to statewide prevalence. Community partners must demonstrate capacity to engage in a comprehensive planning process to then implement identified strategies proven to impact underage drinking.

A two-phase application process will be used to determine grant awards. The first phase involves a Pre-application Packet through which prospective community partnerships will be screened based upon two factors: 1) underage drinking prevalence data as measured by use of alcohol in the past 30 days and binge drinking as both relate to the defined community’s overall population of youth in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12; and 2) the community’s readiness and capacity to commit to a comprehensive strategic planning process. After reviewing the Pre-application Packets, SRS will invite select community partnerships to participate in the second phase of the application process by submitting a full application.

Eligible applicants and fiscal agents represent community partnerships and may include eithr local units of government or not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations based in the targeted community. Regional Prevention Centers, their parent organizations, and state agencies are not eligible to serve as applicants or to act as fiscal agents. Community partnerships are considered for the purpose of this grant program as multi-disciplinary representatives of communities. Communities shall be defined locally and may be viewed as a community of place or geographically bound locations (e.g. neighborhoods, small towns or subdivisions), communities of administrative or geographic locations as defined by political or administrative factors (e.g., counties or school district boundaries), or multiple communities that are most effectively impacted if they work together (e.g., a rural multi-county partnership).

To view more information on the grant and the RFA, please go to the Kansas SRS website at

http://www.srskansas.org/HR/spf-sig/

September Resource of the Month

2007-09-10T11:18:00.000-05:00

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

The September Resource of the month, Conducting Support Groups: For Students Affected by Chemical Dependence, can assist schools in addressing addiction. Schools can’t solve the many complex problems associated with the disease of chemical dependence, but they can do a great deal. This book, written by Martin Fleming, proposes just one kind of practical, effective way in which educators can tackle the problem and start support groups for students struggling with chemical dependence.

Book – 1990

TO UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE:
Go to http://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 http://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.

August Resource of the Month

2007-08-07T09:34:00.000-05:00

Back to School

Bullying and Violence Prevention

The August Resource of the month, My Secret Bully, is an inspirational story targeted for 5 to 11 year olds that draw young readers into Monica's world, where she is bullied by a friend. Relational aggression is an act of emotional bullying hidden among a tight network of friends. Author: Trudy Ludwig Books: 2003

TO UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE:
Go to http://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 http://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.

Register Now

2007-07-24T09:02:00.001-05:00

4th Annual Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference

The focus of this conference is on the formation of community-based partnerships by encouraging agency personnel to coordinate their mutual interests, resources and responsibilities to meet the needs of our children.

The National Alliance for DEC represents multiple disciplines with a common vision: a future where children whose caregivers abuse substances are provided opportunities to live in safe and nurturing environments free from abuse and neglect. Effectively addressing the issue of Drug Endangered Children requires a multi-faceted strategy that includes prevention, law enforcement, courts, probation, social services, treatment, mental health, medical, child welfare, education, public health, federal agencies, tribal nations, non-profit organizations, and the community.

October 10-12, 2007

Hyatt Regency Crown Center

Kansas City, Missouri

Space is limited -- Register today!

Registration Cost: $200. Deadline to register is September 28, 2007. More information on the conference, hotels, parking, etc. can be found at www.nationaldec.org

Questions?
Contact Loretta Wyrick Severin at lwyrick@parstopeka.com

or (785)266-8666.