Prevention Specialist Training to be offered in Renton

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST): a comprehensive training on the science and application of prevention

February 29, March 1, 7 & 8 (4-day training)
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Blackriver Training & Conference Center
800 Oakesdale Ave, SW in Renton

Training topics:

• The history of prevention
• Research and planning
• Evaluation
• Media
• Human development/culture
• Prevention ethics

Cost: $25

More information is available on the Prevention Specialists Certification Board's website. 

2012 general coalition meeting dates

Prevention WINS 2012 General Coalition Meetings

Thursday, March 15, 2012
8-9:30 a.m.
Seattle Children's, G-1026
4800 Sand Point Way NE

Friday, June 22, 2012
8-9:30 a.m.
Seattle Children's, SDR-3
4800 Sand Point Way NE

Thursday, September 20, 2012
8-9:30 a.m.
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75th Street

Thursday, December 20, 2012
8-9:30 a.m.
Seattle Children's, G-1026
4800 Sand Point Way NE

All coalition meetings are open to the public.  Everyone who is interested in preventing youth substance abuse in NE Seattle is welcome! 

Transitioning to private liquor sales in WA

The Liquor Control Board's (LCB) website now contains information about the work being done in response to the passage of Initiative 1183.  The LCB will cease state liquor store and liquor distribution operations by June 1, 2012. The Seattle Distribution Center - which supplies state and contract liquor stores with liquor - and its assets will be sold.  The private sector will be allowed to sell and distribute liquor with the proper liquor licenses.

Several laws related to the three-tier system will also change, including:

• Uniform pricing is repealed for liquor and wine.
• Ban on quantity discounts is repealed for liquor and wine.

Repealing these policies will enable retailers to sell liquor and wine at lower prices.  These are of particular concern to underage drinking prevention advocates because lower alcohol prices are associated with higher alcohol consumption among teenagers.

Learn about substance abuse prevention online for free

During tomorrow's general coalition meeting, Prevention WINS members will discuss how to educate the community about public policy related to preventing youth substance abuse.  Working on public policy issues is one example of an "environmental" prevention strategy.

As part of their Pathways to Prevention program, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) has a good, free online course that provides an overview of environmental prevention strategies.  According to CSAP, types of environmental strategies include:

• Policy
• Enforcement
• Education
• Communication
• Collaboration

Why prevent youth substance use?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy statement regarding the role of primary care providers in screening for drug use, brief intervention and referral to treatment.  The introduction provides a good summary of why those of us working to prevent youth substance abuse do what we do.

Although it is common for adolescents and young adults to try mood-altering chemicals, including nicotine, it is important that this experimentation not be condoned, facilitated, or trivialized by adults including parents, teachers, and health care providers.  Use of alcohol and other drugs remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (disease/injury and death) for young people in the United States.  Even the first use of alcohol or another drug can result in tragic consequences such as unintentional injury or death.  All substance use involves health risks that can occur long before there is drug addiction, and teenagers seem to be particularly susceptible to health risk-taking behaviors and injuries related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.  In addition, research has established that adolescence is a period of neurodevelopmental vulnerability for developing addictions; age of first use is inversely correlated with lifetime incidence of developing a substance use disorder. 

I-1183: How NE Seattle voted

The Seattle Times posted maps that show precinct by precinct election results for I-1183, the initiative for privatizing liquor sales and further deregulating alcohol in general.  Below is a snapshot of how NE Seattle voted. 

Mercer Island passes state's first social host law

From the Mercer Island Patch:

Mercer Island City Council approved an ordinance Monday night intended to prevent underage drinking by fining local homeowners — with few exceptions — where teens 18 and younger were found drinking alcohol. The civil ordinance is the first of its kind in the state.

The council voted 6-1 to hold persons responsible by having to pay a fine for failing to prevent underage drinking at gatherings on property they own or otherwise control. The civil fines of $250 per infraction would be levied if police find evidence of drinking by minors 18 years old and under — even if the drinking occurred without their knowledge.

In some places, social host laws include criminal penalties.  NBC's Today Show recently covered a story about a California father who may face jail time for underage drinking that occurred in his home. 

General coalition meeting on December 15

Prevention Works in Seattle General Coalition Meeting
Thursday, December 15, 2011
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Seattle Children's Hospital
4800 Sand Point Way NE

All coalition meetings are open to anyone interested in preventing youth substance abuse in NE Seattle.  For more information please contact the coalition coordinator.   

Town hall meeting on youth substance abuse in NE Seattle

Save the date!

Town Hall Meeting
Topic: youth substance abuse & what parents can do to prevent it

January 31, 2012
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Eckstein Middle School

Free pizza!
Free childcare! 

More information will soon be posted on the Prevention WINS website.

WASAVP 2012 legislative priorities

After surveying members, the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (WASAVP) Board of Directors identified the following issues as top priorities for their work during the 2012 state legislative session.

1. Prevent liquor privatization and further deregulation.

2. Support designation of all ATOD (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) fees and taxes to go toward enforcement, prevention and treatment in communities, not the general fund. 

3. Reclassify medical marijuana so that it may be regulated and sold in pharmacies like other prescription medications.

4. Oppose state and federal budget cuts to community and school-based prevention programs.

The Board also identified several issues that will be monitored.