Ray Bauer was the principal of Milford High School in Ohio. He cared so deeply about students that he even worried when they sat alone during lunch. Bauer passed away suddenly last August, but not before starting the Coalition for a Drug Free Milford-Miami Township.

"Since Bauer's sudden death in August the coalition, which is composed of local officials, students and school administrators, has continued to meet and recently launched a campaign designed to show teens and pre-teens that underage drinking isnt as prevalent as they might believe," area newspaper The Community Press reported

Studies have found that 77 percent of teenagers don't drink -- and these students are the coalition's focus, the paper reported. The group has passed out flyers, is making t-shirts and wristbands to promote its message, and is developing sixth-grade-level curriculum about alcohol abuse and prevention.

Labels: prevention, community_programs, ohio, middle_school

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A four-year study conducted with support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found that specialized, community-based prevention programs work to significantly reduce instances of drug and alcohol abuse among teens.

The study, called the Community Youth Development Study, was conducted in 24 communities across the country and included over 4,000 young people. A Sept. 7 release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided the following details:

• Twelve communities were randomly assigned to undergo CTC training and implementation, and 12 served as the control communities that did not implement CTC.
  
• The coalitions chose and implemented from two to five evidence-based prevention programs tailored to their risk factors, from a menu of tested and effective prevention strategies.
  
• The strategies focused on a variety of topics depending on community need, including alcohol and drugs, violence prevention, reducing family conflict, life skills training, HIV/AIDS prevention, dating safety, tobacco, and anger management.
  
• The youth were surveyed annually for four years concerning their risky behaviors to determine the impact of delivering programs through the CTC system.

"The results of this trial confirm that tools do exist that give communities the power to reduce risk for multiple problem behaviors across a community," NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow said in the NIH release. "What makes Communities That Care unique is that it enables communities to identify their own special issues so they can hand pick the right prevention programs."

Labels: prevention, community_programs

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The Solano County teen drug prevention program got a boost this week in the form of a $625,000 grant from the federal Drug Free Communities. An initial $125,000 will be provided to further the work of Solano County's Reducing Rates Coalition.

"To qualify for the matching grants of the program, the Reducing Rates Coalition had to demonstrate the effectiveness of its long-term plan and how it works with a variety of community partners on substance abuse reduction initiatives, including having representation from 12 specific sectors of the community."

Since 2001, teen drug use in Solano County has dropped 24 percent, due in large part to the Reducing Rates Coalition and its unique strategy of developing city-based teams as opposed to a centralized county effort. Source: The Reporter (CA)

Labels: prevention, community_programs

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On Vashon Island in Washington State, a group of parents, teenagers, law enforcement officials, and others came together to discuss the dangers of adolescent drug and alcohol use. The forum was convened in response to a recent survey which revealed that rates of teen substance abuse on the island are higher than statewide averages.

"The forum on drug and alcohol use among teens was sponsored by the PTSA and spearheaded by Laura Hansen, a mother active in school issues... In an effort to counter the perception that drinking and marijuana use are tolerated by adults on the Island, Hansen handed out a 'parents' pledge'. Parents who signed it vowed to 'teach our children to view alcohol and drug use as a serious concern...'"

Among the forum's speakers was Vashon High School student Hilary Hammond, who bravely shared her story of addiction and recovery. Last June she arrived at school so drunk that she couldn't walk straight. Today, she's clean and sober and is a primary voice in Vashon's effort to reduce teen drug and alcohol use. Source: Tacoma Daily Index

Labels: support, recovery, community_programs

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Two years ago, Montana launched its Meth Project, an awareness campaign that used graphic images to show the dangers of methamphetamine use. Today, the project appears to be working.

"Teen meth use is reportedly down nearly 45 percent. The number of employees testing positive for meth has dropped nearly 72 percent. In 2005, when the Montana Meth Project began, there were over 1,200 meth-related offenses reported by the state Board of Crime Control. In 2007, just 473."

Montana has launched phase four of its Meth Project, and expects continued success. Source: KFBB.com.

Labels: awareness, community_programs, meth

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Utah substance abuse prevention advocates are asking for $71,000 in 2009 to launch a campaign against alcohol use that would focus on young, pregnant women.

"They are the most at-risk group but they aren't getting the message for some reason, agency staff members told the Legislature's Joint Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommitee&"

A proposed change in the state law (HB38) would allow the start of a public education and outreach program regarding substance and alcohol use that's especially harmful during pregnancy. Read more at DesertNews.com.

Labels: prevention, community_programs, pregnancy

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For the month of January, the Wellness Connection of Hanover, New Hampshire will focus on educating the community about substance abuse. Several events are planned throughout the month.

"Town Hall Meeting: Substance Abuse in Hanover" will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15. A panel of experts from the fields of education, medical, mental health and the legal profession, will discuss the aspects of substance abuse. An open forum will be available for those with questions and concerns."

Another forum on January 24th will cover substance abuse trends. All related events are free to the public.

Want to learn more about teen substance abuse? Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: prevention, community_programs, education

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Recent studies have indicated that one in five teenagers has abused prescription medication that they get from a parent or grandparent's medicine cabinet. To try and curb this trend in South Florida, the Drug Free Collier is holding "Operation Medicine Cabinet" on Saturday, November 17th.

"Everyone is invited to bring unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications to several locations for proper disposal during Operation Medicine Cabinet, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17th."

There will be several locations at which people can drop off medication.

Prescription drug abuse is a dangerous and serious matter. Visit DrugRehabTreatment for important information.

Labels: community_programs, prescription_drugs

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It's a common opinion, but one that can't be repeated too often. We need to keep teens and alcohol as separate from each other as possible, and everyone - from law enforcement to parents and teens themselves - share in the responsibility.

"Those who would minimize their own responsibility by assigning it to other or claiming that concern over the problem has been blown out of proportion should face facts: Approximately 20 percent of 13-year-olds admit they've used alcohol at least once, and often they're able to do it because parents not only ignore what their kids are doing but actually supply the drinks."

It's important for members of the community to work together in addressing under-age drinking.

Labels: prevention, community_programs, underage_drinking

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Five Iowa communities have been awarded federal grants for Drug Free Communities Support Programs. Rep. Dave Loebsack announced that the Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse in Iowa City received one of the grants.

"'This funding will allow these valuable programs to better protect the health and safety of our children,' said Loesback. 'The Drug Free Community Program uses a successful community wide approach to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse.'"

The grants will be used to implement drug free community coalitions. Read more at Press-Citizen.com.

Troubled teenaged girls can benefit from the structured environment of a private all girls boarding school or a girls residential treatment center. Learn more about Copper Canyon Academy.

Labels: prevention, community_programs, federal_grants

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