1.)
NOMINATE YOUTH TO JOIN CADCA’S COALITION ADVISORY COUNCIL
As
part of CADCA's Youth Outreach efforts, we are adding two youth leaders
to our Coalition Advisory Committee (CAC). Do you have an outstanding
teen in your coalition who you believe would not only be an important
addition to our CAC, but could also be a future coalition leader?
Send
us a paragraph expressing why this young person is an exemplary leader
within your coalition and/or his or her school. Please be sure to include
the student's name, age, address, phone number, email, coalition and
high school. Although only two students will be selected to join the
CAC, we will use all nominations to compile a database of youth contacts
for future use. Due to requests, the deadline for nominations has been
extended to April 28. Send nominations to Natalie Embrey, CADCA’s
development and youth outreach Associate, at nembrey@cadca.org.
2.)
SEND IN QUESTIONS NOW FOR
EXPERTS ON YOUTH LEADERSHIP BROADCAST MAY 29
On May 29, 2003, watch CADCA’s next broadcast
focusing on youth leadership from 1:00-2:30 p.m., EST. The program features
Julie Laipply (Miss Virginia, USA, 2002) Role Models and Mentors for
Youth Foundation, and Ty Sells, Youth to Youth International. The broadcast
focuses on youth leaders within the substance abuse prevention field
and the skills necessary to become an effective leader. The broadcast
will feature adults who were youth leaders and now are dedicated to
working with youth and also young adults who have assumed leadership
roles in their communities. Tune in to learn leadership training and
skill building strategies to be a better youth leader in your community.
If you have any questions or burning issues you would like addressed
on the broadcast related to Youth Leaders, please email them to Tanyanic
Brown at tbrown@cadca.org before
May 29. To register for the broadcast, Contact Ed Kronholm, downlink
coordinator, by calling 877-820-0305; or by sending an email to dlnets@aol.com.
3.)
NEW GUIDE HELPS ID RISKY DRINKERS
The American Medical Association (AMA) and National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are collaborating
on the distribution of a newly revised guide for primary healthcare
practitioners to identify and help risky drinkers.
The guide is being mailed by the NIAAA to 40,000 primary care physician
members of the AMA this week. The guide is also available for free on
the NIAAA's Web site at:
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/HelpingPatients.htm
4.)
SAMHSA UNVEILS NEW GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS
The
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) has released Science-Based
Prevention Programs and Principles 2002, which was developed to answer
many of the questions most often asked by those working or interested
in the prevention field, or by those seeking or providing prevention
program funding. In addition, this report contains complete summaries
of 34 effective programs certified as SAMHSA Model Programs through
2002, and brief descriptions of a dozen other science-based effective
programs.
Should you desire a copy of this report, please contact the National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information (NCADI) at 1-800-729-6686
or through NCADI’s Web site, www.health.org.
Electronic copies of the report can be obtained at www.modelprograms.samhsa.gov.
5.)
STUDY OF TWINS REVEALS CHANGES PERSIST AFTER HEAVY STIMULANT ABUSE
In
a study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), researchers
found that heavy stimulant abuse can result in changes in attention
and motor skills that can persist for at least a year. The investigators
studied 50 pairs of twins; in each pair, one twin had a history of abusing
cocaine and/or methamphetamine and the other had no history of drug
abuse. The researchers found that the twin with a history of stimulant
abuse performed significantly worse on several tests of attention and
motor skills than did the sibling who had never used drugs.
This
study provides evidence that stimulant abuse can result in long-term
residual neuropsychological effects. The study was published in the
March 2003 issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. Subscribers
can view the study at http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/60/3/303.
6.)
ENVIRONMENTAL CUES ASSOCIATED WITH HEROIN USE MAY DECREASE IMMUNE FUNCTION
Scientists have long known that some drugs,
such as heroin and morphine, can cause changes in the immune systems
of drug abusers that make them more susceptible to infection. However,
researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found
that in rats, the environmental cues associated with drug use also may
induce alterations in immunity. Their study is the first to demonstrate
that cues associated with heroin use cause a reduction in the enzyme
that affects nitric oxide production by cells of the immune system.
Nitric oxide plays a key role in the ability of immune cells to fight
and kill microorganisms and tumor cells. This study, funded by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, was published in the December 2002 issue of
Psychopharmacology.
7.)
PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO METHAMPHETAMINE RESTRICTS INFANT GROWTH
Scientists identified neonates whose mothers used
methamphetamine during pregnancy and matched them to unexposed newborns.
The scientists found that methamphetamine exposure throughout gestation
was associated with decreased growth relative to infants exposed only
for the first two trimesters. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms requiring
pharmacologic intervention were observed in 4 percent of methamphetamine-exposed
infants. These preliminary findings indicate that methamphetamine use
is associated with growth restriction in infants born at term.
The
study “Effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on fetal growth
and drug withdrawal symptoms in infants born at term” appears
in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 2003;24(1):17-23).
8.)
RECOMMENDATIONS TO END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL AND
DRUG PROBLEMS
Join Together convened a diverse panel to identify
and address discriminatory policies and offer recommendations to end
discrimination against people with alcohol and drug problems. The panel
released recommendations to change private and public policies.
The recommendations include offering insurance coverage at parity with
that for other illnesses; providing treatment based on the best scientific
protocols and standards of care; supporting, rather than firing employees
who voluntarily seek treatment; and giving people with alcohol and drug
problems the opportunity to receive public benefits, including federal
financial aid and housing.
The report also includes recommendations for community members who want
to address discrimination against people seeking or in treatment or
recovery from alcohol or other drug disease such as talking to local
business owners and HR professionals; talking to elected and appointed
officials; giving presentations to local groups, among a few.
The
report can be downloaded from http://www.jointogether.org/discrimination
or e-mail publications@jointogether.org
for copies. The first printed copy of the report is free. For more information,
contact Anara Guard, 617-437-1500.
9.)
IMPACTEEN STUDY SHOWS ALCOHOL MARKETING IS PERVASIVE IN RETAIL STORES
Point-of-purchase (on-site) alcohol marketing
is pervasive in store types frequented by teenagers and young adults.
The study observed nearly 4,000 alcohol retailers throughout the United
States during 2000 and 2001. Researchers found that almost all stores
(94 percent) had some form of alcohol marketing both in and outside
of the establishment. Almost half (44 percent) had interior advertising
at low heights, clearly visible to adolescents and children. More than
a third advertised alcohol at a "high intensity" level either
inside or on the exterior of the store (37 percent interior, and 39
percent exterior).
The
study was published by the ImpacTeen Project and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR).
The full report is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/.
10.)
URGE PROCLAMATIONS TO SUPPORT NATIONAL DAY TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
CADCA is an official partner of National Day to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy. Last year a number of Governors signed proclamations
recognizing the importance of teen pregnancy prevention and the National
Day, and urging their constituents to take the National Day Quiz.
To help in this effort, National Teen Pregnancy Day organizers collected
examples of proclamations signed last year and a copy of the letter
written by former Governor Engler (R-MI) asking all governors to support
the National Day in their states. This letter is an excellent model
for any advocate to use to garner support of elected officials. The
following associations have already signed on as National Day partners:
National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures,
U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and the National
Association of Counties.
For sample proclamations, visit http://www.teenpregnancy.org/national/proclaimtheday.asp.
Also, the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy materials are now on
sale at 50 percent off. Quantities are limited, so order soon online
at: https://www.teenpregnancy.org/store/Category.asp?categoryId=31
11.)
NEW REPORT ADDRESSES CHALLENGES FOR ADOPTION AND SAFE FAMILIES ACT
The Legal Action Center published a new report, “Safe
& Sound: Models for Collaboration Between the Child Welfare &
Addiction Treatment Systems,” with funding from the Annie E. Casey
Foundation.
The report discusses
The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) and its implications for families
at risk for involvement or involved in the child welfare system because
of parental addiction; presents case studies of how two localities (Cook
County, IL, and Cuyahoga County, OH) are addressing addiction in their
child welfare systems; and presents a model for addressing addiction
among families involved in the child welfare system based on case study
findings.
To receive this
report, please contact Willieree Murray at (202) 544-5478 or wmurray@lac-dc.org.
Community
Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and CADCA are registered trademarks.
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