Free lecture at UW: Understanding Risky Behavior

Adolescence is a time of change and maturation, but with that growth comes risky behaviors like alcohol and drug use and dangerous sexual behavior. What can be done to promote positive behavior among adolescents? Kevin King and Laurence Steinberg will discuss these questions as part of The New Science of Adolescence: Understanding Risky Behavior. The speakers will look at recent studies that explain unsuccessful efforts to change behavior and what can be done to curb dangerous decisions.

Kevin King is an assistant professor in the University of Washington's Department of Psychology.

Laurence Steinberg is a professor of psychology at Temple University.

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Cost: FREE

Location: Kane Hall 130, UW Seattle

Visit the event webpage for more information and to RSVP.

Young teens influenced by alcohol commercials

A recently released study published in Pediatrics provides more information about the negative affect alcohol advertising has on teenagers.  The study indicates that younger adolescents are susceptible to messages in alcohol commercials.  Exposure to the commercials influences some youth to drink more and to experience drinking-related problems later in adolescence.

KING5 covered the story and interviewed Dr. Yolanda Evans from Seattle Children's Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine.  Just in time for the Super Bowl, Dr. Evans talks about what parents can do to reduce the negative affects of alcohol advertising on their children.

Advocacy 101

Want to advocate for teen substance abuse prevention but don't know how?

In 2011, Nancy Amidei of the Civic Engagement Project conducted an "Advocacy 101" training for the Engage Seattle project.  The City of Seattle posted handouts and a video of her presentation on their website.  These resources are a great place for substance abuse and violence prevention advocates to learn more about the legislative process, the important role they play in law-making, and how easy it is to be an advocate.  Among the handouts is an advocacy guide for public employees and people who are funded by government dollars. 

Here is a video clip from the training:

Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training in April

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

Save the date!

Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training
April 1-4, 2013
Renton, WA -- specific location to be announced

Based upon a curriculum developed by the national Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the purpose of the SAPST program is to train participants in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF).  The SPF model is used by all Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalitions, including Prevention WINS, and all WA Prevention Redesign Initiative (PRI) coalitions.  

For more information about SAPST, contact the Prevention Specialist Certification Board of Washington (PSCBW).

Using the National Prevention Strategy to guide WA marijuana policy

As our state moves forward with implementing I-502, policies that prevent underage and excessive marijuana use should be part of the new legal marketplace.  Since a highly regulated marijuana marketplace has never been established before, we can look to what has worked and not worked for underage drinking and tobacco use prevention.  With alcohol and tobacco, many regulations have proven to prevent youth use. 

Links to a few public health websites are included in the WASAVP Marijuana Education Toolkit.  One of the public health resources to which we may refer is the National Prevention Strategy's priority of Preventing Drug Abuse and Excessive Alcohol Use.  Policies that are recommended include:

• Reduce days and hours of alcohol sales.
• Limit the number of places that sell alcohol.
• Enforce the legal minimum drinking age (21).
• Restrict alcohol marketing.
• Expose youth to counter-marketing messages.

All of these policies are among those recommended by WASAVP for addressing legal marijuana. 

National Drug Facts Week begins January 28

National Drug Facts Week takes place Monday, January 28^th through Sunday, February 3^rd.   The week-long health observance, organized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, celebrates the inquisitive minds of teens by giving them a space (virtual or physical) to ask questions about drugs and to get scientific answers from experts.  

Visit the Drug Facts Week website for more information and access to promotional resource like the info-graphics below.

Update: King County Secure Medicine Return

Last week, King County Board of Health members were updated about the progress of the Secure Medicine Return Subcommittee.  Following is part of the report:

Background 

On May 17, 2012 the Board of Health heard a briefing about safe disposal of unused and expired medicines as part of its ongoing interest in protecting the health and safety of King County.  The briefing, held at the request of Board Member David Baker, provided the latest information about the limited number of medicine take-back programs in the County, as well as the perspectives of several community members and stakeholders.  As a follow up, a subcommittee was convened to further study this issue.  Subcommittee members include Chair McDermott, Board Member Conlin, Board Member Baker, Board Member Nicola and Director and Health Officer of Public Health David Fleming.  The work of the Subcommittee has had two phases: (1) hearing from interested stakeholders, and (2) policy discussion and decisions.

Summary

The Board of Health Subcommittee on Secure Medicine Return has met six times since July 2012.  After examining background information and hearing stakeholder interests and concerns, the Subcommittee is now making decisions on how to structure a producer-funded secure medicine return program for King County residents.   The next Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2013.  An initial public hearing at a future Board of Health meeting will be scheduled once a draft of a Rule and Regulation is complete, potentially within the next few months.

In collaboration with other organizations that are part of the King County Take Back Your Meds Coalition, Prevention WINS is monitoring the progress of the Secure Medicine Return Subcommittee.  Prescription drug abuse among teens is increasingly a problem in our communities.  While youth substance abuse prevention coalitions, schools, and other community groups continue to conduct educational campaigns among teens and their families about prescription drug abuse and how to prevent it, a producer-funded medicine take-back program is needed to enhance a comprehensive prevention strategy.  

Start Talking Now: free parent education presentations available for parent groups

Conversations between parents and their children about drugs and alcohol should start early but parents sometimes don’t know what to say.  Prevention WINS now offers free 30-minute presentations for parents of elementary school students to help them learn how to get started. 

Start Talking Now: Preventing Teen Alcohol & Drug Use

Did you know: high school students who smoke marijuana report that they started between the ages of 13 -14?

Marijuana business will open within the next year.  Grocery stores now sell spirits.  What can parents say to their children as alcohol and marijuana become more available?

To prevent teen drug use, parents should start talking to their children before they enter middle school.  Parents of 5th grade students can learn how to start the conversation through a free 30-minute presentation provided by trained facilitators. 

During this training, parents will learn:

1. The problem of underage drinking and drug use.
2. How the perception of risk plays into underage use.
3. The powerful role of peers.
4. The importance of parental influence and how parents can prevent underage drug use.

All participants will receive a copy of “Navigating theTeen Years: A Parent’s Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens”. 

For information about hosting a presentation at your school or parent group, contact Prevention WINS.  

Teens, Marijuana & Alcohol: Setting the Framework for Healthy Communication

Marijuana businesses will open within the next year.  Grocery stores now sell spirits.

In 2010, 68% of Seattle 10^th graders reported that they had never tried marijuana and 78% reported that they do not currently use marijuana.

What can parents do to support most Seattle students who do not use drugs but live in communities where alcohol and marijuana are more available?

Teens, Marijuana & Alcohol: Setting the Framework for Healthy Communication

Tuesday, January 15, 7-8:30p.m.

Nathan Hale High School Commons

Hosted by Raiders Against Destructive Decisions (RADD)

Thursday, January 17, 7-8:30p.m.

Roosevelt High School Library

Hosted by the Roosevelt High School PTSA

Please use the south entrance along NE 66^th Street.

Both of these events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Prevention WINS coordinator.

Update: King County Take Back Your Meds Coalition

In 2012, the King County Board of Health formed a Secure Medicine Return Subcommittee to determine how they could support a permanent, secure, easily accessible medicine take back program locally.  To advocate for a medicine return program that would be part of a comprehensive youth medicine abuse prevention strategy, a King County Take Back Your Meds Coalition was formed.  The Coalition met last week and discussed several items including:

-- During the next Board of Health meeting, an update about the Subcommittee's progress will be provided.  It takes place January 17, 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

-- On February 1, at 9:00 a.m. the Subcommittee will meet to discuss specific policy options including possible requirements for education and promotion of a medicine return program.  These meetings are also open to the public though no public comments may be made.

-- The King County Take Back Your Meds Coalition is reviewing the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) newly proposed rules governing the disposal of controlled substances.  Right now, only law enforcement agencies can take back unused narcotic medications, making the development of convenient take back programs that include drugs like Oxycontin difficult to establish.  New rules would allow other organizations to accept unused narcotics.  The DEA is currently accepting public comments about the proposed rules.

-- In 2012, Alameda County, California, passed a secure medicine return program to be funded by the producers of medicines.  In response, large pharmaceutical organizations are now suing the county.  How this lawsuit plays out may impact King County's efforts.

The next King County Take Back Your Meds Coalition meeting will take place February 4, 9:00 a.m. at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Free online training: Preventing Underage Drinking

The federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) is hosting free online webinars about how to prevent underage drinking.  

Webinar # 1: 
Preventing Underage Drinking: Introduction and Series Overview
January 30, 2013, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

To register click here.

The following experts will kick off the series:

• Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., Surgeon General of the United States;
• Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and ICCPUD Chair;
• Frances M. Harding, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SAMHSA; and
• Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., Acting Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

This first webinar in the series will provide an overview of the issue and of the series. It will provide an overview of the nature and extent of the problem and the “shape of the solution.” Director Harding and Acting Director Warren will engage with participants in a live question-and-answer period.

Free online training: Alcohol & the Adolescent Brain

Alcohol & the Adolescent Brain
Thursday, January 17, 2013
1:15 p.m.

Click here to register.

Aaron White, PHD (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) will update the audience on the most recent and compelling research concerning the effect of alcohol on the developing brain. He brings together a sophisticated developmental understanding of the adolescent and the structural changes that the brain undergoes during that period of growth that affects behavioral choices.

In this webinar, registrants will learn how research further informs how early alcohol use can be particularly damaging to the critical developmental process occurring in the brain and the urgency of deterring underage drinking and postponing the onset of alcohol use in young people.