Prevention news from around the state

The latest edition of FOCUS, the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery's e-newsletter, is now available online.  It includes stories about:

-- Washington teenagers advocating for prevention,

-- student prevention groups and their activities,

-- 2010 Healthy Youth Survey results,

-- local campaigns to limit alcohol advertising targeting young people. 

Prevention fellowship program accepting applications

Washington State has been chosen by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to receive a two year Prevention Fellow for 2011-13. Specific recruitment information is availble online.  Applications must be in by August 31, 2011, with a start date of September 26, 2011.

The Fellow will be stationed in Olympia and work with the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery's Prevention Services Team.

The goal of the Prevention Fellowship Program is to build a workforce of substance abuse professionals. During the 2‐year fellowship program, which combines Web‐based and in-person trainings, fellows improve their skills and their knowledge of prevention practices.

The high cost of underage drinking in Washington State

The Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery recently released its 2010 Report on Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Trends in Washington State.  Included is this chart (on page 179) about the costs of underage drinking in our state.  The report states:

Underage drinking in Washington State is associated with substantial harm resulting from traffic crashes, violent crime, unintentional injury, and risky sexual behavior.

-- In 2007, it is estimated that there were 32 traffic fatalities and 2,200 nonfatal traffic injuries involving underage drinking and driving.

-- In 2006, it is estimated that there were 21 homicides, 17,700 nonfatal violent crimes such as rape, robbery, and assault and 50,200 property crimes including burglary, larceny, and car theft perpetrated by underage drinkers.

-- In 2006, it is estimated that there were 12 fatalities from burns, drowning, and suicide involving underage drinking.

-- In 2006, an estimated 2,500 teen pregnancies and 11,500 risky sexual acts by teens involved the use of alcohol.

This all from a substance that is illegal for those under the age 21 and that is regulated. 

FOCUS provides update about prevention around the state

I wish I had posted the August edition of FOCUS earlier because it contains a lot of good information about what is happening around our state. For instance:

-- The state's substance abuse and mental health services divisions are now integrated to become the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR). Behavioral health is a term being widely used in the field to identify a holistic approach to treating mental, substance abuse, and gambling disorders.

-- DBHR is developing a plan to redesign its current service delivery system to a community-base model beginning July 1, 2010. The new system will be designed to focus prevention and early intervention services to have a greater impact on reducing community-level substance abuse.

-- The new Healthy Youth Survey website -- www.AskHYS.net -- is up and running and designed to make access to data from the survey much easier.

-- Page six is dedicated to information about efforts around the state having to do with reducing underage drinking. It includes a farewell to Roger Hoen who left the Liquor Control Board this year. He was a great advocate for prevention while serving on the board.

-- Page seven contains a very informative story about Party Intervention Patrols in Pierce County. Unfortunately, funding for similar programs in Seattle and King County has gone away.