National Take Back Day is this Saturday April 28th from 10 – 2. You can help to prevent the abuse of prescription medications, protect our youth from an epidemic of Rx abuse, and protect the environment by bringing your unused or expired prescription medications for safe disposal at the following locations: Kmart Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Save Mart Pharmacies.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
This month the Coalition teamed up with students, Nevada County Public Health, and local businesses to increase public awareness and understanding about underage drinking. Nevada Union student and peer advocate Divakar Pandit’s senior project focused on preventing underage drinking and he presented the Board of Supervisors with a proclamation declaring April Alcohol Awareness Month in Nevada County. Read Tuesday’s front page Union article.
There is no reason to accept youth alcohol use as a norm. In fact, the California Healthy Kids Survey shows that 55% of Nevada County teens have never had a drink and 72% haven’t had a drink in the last 30 days. Are you surprised by that? There is often a gap between reality and perception. The truth is that most parents don’t allow their teens to drink and most young people are making healthy choices. We as a community can empower adults and young people to continue making healthy choices by challenging the notion that “everyone drinks” or that “it’s safer if they drink at home”.
Despite the fact that many young people choose not to drink, when they do, there are serious consequence both to themselves and to society, including motor vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning, violence, and addiction. Many times, teenagers will experiment with alcohol right in your own refrigerator or wine rack. If you choose to have unsupervised alcohol in your home, be prepared for the potential consequences. Underage drinking is too often overlooked or goes unchecked by adults, parents or caregivers because of the excuse that “teenagers are just being teenagers.” Unfortunately, this thinking may lead to teenagers abusing alcohol at a much earlier age, and some are using alcohol to self-medicate because of stress or depression.
Teenagers who experiment with alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent when they become adults, in comparison to those who wait until the age of 20 to consume alcohol.
Planting the Seeds:
From tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow… When teenagers know what the family rules are (planting the seeds), they are less likely to abuse alcohol. Parents and adults should talk early and often to kids about why it’s important to not drink alcohol. Between the ages of 9 and 13, children start to think differently about alcohol. Many children begin to think underage drinking is OK and some even start to experiment. It’s never too early to talk to your children about alcohol, and encourage them to talk with you. Take the Pledge: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R9JSD96
Over 70% of children say parents are the leading influence in their decision to drink or not. Website with tips and resources: http://underagedrinking.samhsa.gov.
This month the Coalition teamed up with students, Nevada County Public Health, and local businesses to increase public awareness and understanding about underage drinking. Nevada Union student and peer advocate Divakar Pandit’s senior project focused on preventing underage drinking and he presented the Board of Supervisors with a proclamation declaring April Alcohol Awareness Month in Nevada County. Read Tuesday’s frontpage Union article.
On tuesday, April 24, 2012 the Nevada County Board of Supervisors passed a proclamation deeming the April Alcohol Awareness Month. Click here to read the full proclamation.
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Celebrating the positive in our Community!
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The Coalition would like to begin 2012 by celebrating incredible youth and the goodness and health in our community. The positive is real, exists in our community and is worth growing. At a recent training for drug free communities grantees, we learned about the “Science of the Positive” by Jeff Linkenbach, Ed.D., research scientist and director of the Montana State University Center for Health and safety. His research shows that by focusing on growing a culture of positive, healthy attitudes and behaviors, we improve health and reduce substance abuse. We didn’t have to look too far to find examples of goodness and health to share with all of you:
 Did You Know?
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Join us for a community forum with a panel of professionals providing information and resources to aid in the resolution of challenges related to marijuana in our neighborhoods, workplaces and schools.
The Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County and the Grass Valley Police Department would like to remind you to commit to keep our community safe this holiday season, don’t drink and drive. Always have a designated driver, call a friend or a cab.
The good news is that there has been a steady decline in the rate of alcohol-related deaths on the nation’s highways during the holidays. Statistics gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that in 1982, there were more than 2,600 deaths due to drinking and driving — accounting for 60 percent of all accident fatalities. Recent years, however, have witnessed about 1,200 fatalities, or roughly 40 percent.
Even with the steady decline in fatalities, the number of drivers with DWI arrests is on the rise. It is estimated that there are as many as two million drunk drivers with three or more convictions and more than 400,000 with five or more DWI convictions still behind the wheel. Here are five steps you can take to help avoid becoming a statistic:
1. If you drink, don’t drive no matter how little you think you’ve had.
2. Don’t let someone you know get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
3. Avoid driving during early and late evening hours on holidays.
4. If you must drive, be cautious and watch for the erratic movements of drunken drivers.
5. Immediately report suspected drunk drivers to the police.
Stomp Tobacco Out of Movies!
Catch a FREE showing of Home alone at the Del Oro theater this Friday, December 2nd at 3pm.
The movie is being shown in an effort to create awareness about the effects of smoking in movies. Atendees will be asked to STOMP when they see someone smoking in the film. The stompimg is a way to create awareness about how many times smoking appears in movies and to understand how influential it can be to young people.
The event is being hosted by the Nevada County Y.O.U.T.H (Youth Opposing the Use of Tobacco for Health) Coalition, The Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County & NEO.
To RSVP on Facebook click here!
Did you know?…. 
The Parent Awareness and Drug Prevention Panel …invites you to join us in a discussion about the importance of educating youth on the dangers of substance abuse, resources available in Nevada County and information on drug free recreational opportunities for youth.
Bring your questions to our community panel
When?: November 30th, 2011
Time?: 6pm-7:30pm
Where?: The Viking Center @ Pleasant Valley School: 14865 Pleasant Valley Rd. Penn Valley
For more information please call Casey at PARTNERS Family Resource Center:
432-1118 x249
Please call ahead if you will need childcare.
When: Friday, December 9th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
Outpatient Center, 2fl Conference Rooms
Facilitated By: UCLA ISAP
Thomas Freese, Ph.D, Director of Training
Continuing education credits provided.
(Morning refreshments and lunch provided)
Register Today By Contacting:
Charlotte Bullen by by phone at (310)267-5408 or email: charlottebullen@ucla.edu
Or download registration form and Fax to Charlotte Bullen at: (310)312-0538.
What is SBIRT and MI?
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a practice in use world wide as a public health approach to deliver early intervention for persons with substance use disorders as well as those who are at risk of developing these disorders. Motivational interviewing (MI)is a client-centered, guiding approach used to elicit behavior change by helping people explore and resolve their ambivalence and motivation to change. MI is the conversational technique used in SBIRT.
Who should attend (target audience)?
SBIRT /MI Training is extremely helpful for any individual who motivates people toward positive lifestyle change. Trainings are intended for anyone coming in contact with people who may have issues with substance use. This includes RN’s, LPN’s, CNA’s, FNP’s, PA’s, physicians, health educators, wellness specialists, behavioral health specialists, social workers, pastoral staff, high school and college counselors and student assistance program staff, prevention specialists or any other community members who may be involved in helping people effect positive lifestyle change, especially around substance use.
For more information visit our new website: www.drugfreenevadacounty.org/sbirt
Proposed Ordinance on Marijuana Cultivation
Today the Nevada County Board of Supervisors meet to consider an ordinance on residential marijuana Cultivation.
The meeting will be held in the main chambers, downstairs, at the Rood Center: 950 Maidu Nevada City.
