WTOP.COM
November 19, 2008 - 5:21pm
By MELISSA DUTTON
For The Associated Press
(AP) - If you're planning on having a few cocktails at family gatherings this holiday season, experts say you should keep in mind that children may be watching.
"The main message is, if people drink, they should drink responsibly," said Vivian B. Faden, deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Md. "It's not a one-time conversation.
While the holidays present a good opportunity, there needs to be ongoing conversation about drinking."
See the full story at: http://wtop.com/?sid=1521856&nid=773
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sacramento Emergency Rooms First to Counsel on Underage Drinking
Rocklin & Roseville Today
Saturday, November 15, 2008
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - In response to a dramatic increase in the number of underage patients who are under the influence, emergency departments in the Sacramento region, led by UC Davis Medical Center, will establish the first program in California to offer counseling aimed at curbing alcohol abuse to children, teens and their families while they're in the ER.
"They're getting drunker, they're getting younger and there are more of them," said Dana Covington, a 20-year UC Davis Medical Center emergency room nurse and project coordinator for the program, which will train dozens of nurses and social workers at four area emergency rooms to talk to young people and their families about the dangers of underage drinking.
See the full article at:
http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/uc_davis_health.asp?articleid=6781&zoneid=75
Saturday, November 15, 2008
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - In response to a dramatic increase in the number of underage patients who are under the influence, emergency departments in the Sacramento region, led by UC Davis Medical Center, will establish the first program in California to offer counseling aimed at curbing alcohol abuse to children, teens and their families while they're in the ER.
"They're getting drunker, they're getting younger and there are more of them," said Dana Covington, a 20-year UC Davis Medical Center emergency room nurse and project coordinator for the program, which will train dozens of nurses and social workers at four area emergency rooms to talk to young people and their families about the dangers of underage drinking.
See the full article at:
http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/uc_davis_health.asp?articleid=6781&zoneid=75
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mock Casualty Simulation Held in Goodhue
GOODHUE - In a coordinated effort between the Goodhue County Chemical Health Initiative, Goodhue Public Schools FCCLA, the Goodhue Police Dept, the Goodhue County Sheriff's Dept, Goodhue Fire Dept, Zumbrota Area Ambulance, Mayo One and Mahn Funeral Home, the students at Goodhue High School witnessed a mock crash simulation on Friday, October 17. 
The event was the culmination of a week-long program focusing on teenagers, chemical use and driving. 
Goodhue FCCLA members volunteered to portray casualties in a crash caused by a drunk driver.
Police and deputies appeared first on a scene of chaos. Emergency medical personal arrived minutes later to take over the care of the victims.
The simulation's impact grew as people felt the dirt that was whipped up from Mayo One's propellers
and listened to noise as one car was cut and its roof removed.
Students were visibly distressed as they watched their classmate loaded into a body bag and into the hearse from Mahn Funeral Home.
After the simulation, students returned to the gym for the end of the program where they heard from Garry and Shirley Hoyme of Zumbrota. Their daughter, Beth, was killed by a drunk driver.
The coordinated effort of many people went into this event to educate students on the consequences of drinking and driving.
The event was the culmination of a week-long program focusing on teenagers, chemical use and driving. 
Goodhue FCCLA members volunteered to portray casualties in a crash caused by a drunk driver. Police and deputies appeared first on a scene of chaos. Emergency medical personal arrived minutes later to take over the care of the victims.
The simulation's impact grew as people felt the dirt that was whipped up from Mayo One's propellers
and listened to noise as one car was cut and its roof removed.
Students were visibly distressed as they watched their classmate loaded into a body bag and into the hearse from Mahn Funeral Home. After the simulation, students returned to the gym for the end of the program where they heard from Garry and Shirley Hoyme of Zumbrota. Their daughter, Beth, was killed by a drunk driver.
The coordinated effort of many people went into this event to educate students on the consequences of drinking and driving.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Halftime Presentation Will Target Teenage Alcohol Abuse
Simi Valley Acorn, Agoura Hills, CA, October 17, 2008
Advocacy group to share stats during RHS football game
Straight-Up Ventura County, a teenage advocacy group dedicated to curbing underage drinking, will share information about teenage drinking at Royal High School's football game during the halftime intermission approximately 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. tonight, Oct. 17, at the school's football field, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley.
The Simi Coalition and Simi Valley Hospital will also participate in the event.
Joyce Norman, M.D., of the Simi Valley Hospital Emergency Department, will briefly discuss teenage drinking and its impact on the community and hospital.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs.
Physicians and nurses at the Simi Valley Hospital examined data from 2006 to the present and discovered that alcoholrelated visits to the emergency department among patients ages 12 to 20 peaked during the first quarter of 2008 (January through March).
A total of 27 alcohol-related visits were recorded during that time, compared with 11 visits recorded during the first quarter of 2006.
Sixteen-year-olds were the most prevalent age group among ages 12 to 20 to seek treatment in the emergency department, with a total of 40 alcohol-related patient visits since 2006.
Advocacy group to share stats during RHS football game
Straight-Up Ventura County, a teenage advocacy group dedicated to curbing underage drinking, will share information about teenage drinking at Royal High School's football game during the halftime intermission approximately 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. tonight, Oct. 17, at the school's football field, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley.
The Simi Coalition and Simi Valley Hospital will also participate in the event.
Joyce Norman, M.D., of the Simi Valley Hospital Emergency Department, will briefly discuss teenage drinking and its impact on the community and hospital.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs.
Physicians and nurses at the Simi Valley Hospital examined data from 2006 to the present and discovered that alcoholrelated visits to the emergency department among patients ages 12 to 20 peaked during the first quarter of 2008 (January through March).
A total of 27 alcohol-related visits were recorded during that time, compared with 11 visits recorded during the first quarter of 2006.
Sixteen-year-olds were the most prevalent age group among ages 12 to 20 to seek treatment in the emergency department, with a total of 40 alcohol-related patient visits since 2006.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Your Mom and Dad are Right: Good Health = Better Grades
By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune
Last update: October 20, 2008 - 8:56 AM
Quit smoking. Turn off the computer. Go to bed. It could improve your grades. Of course, parents have always known that. Now, in the first study of its kind, researchers at the University of Minnesota have proved it. They matched grade point averages with the typical health problems such as smoking, drinking and stress reported by nearly 10,000 Minnesota college students. They found a clear connection between student health and academic success.
"Health is important," even for young adults who seem to be in the prime of their lives, said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, director of Boynton Health Services at the University of Minnesota and a lead author of the study. Both parents and college administrators "need to make sure that students have access to health care."
What affects grades the most? Stress (lots of it), excessive screen time, binge drinking and gambling.
Students who reported eight or more emotional stresses -- anything from failing a class to credit card debt to a conflict with parents -- had an average GPA of 2.72. Those who said they had no significant stress reported an average GPA of 3.3.
"Stress is one of the biggest factors," said Marcus De La Garza, a senior from Duluth. A year ago, just before finals, he had to go home to take care of family members with serious health problems, and it showed in his grades, he said.
"I was out of the game," he said Friday. "Now I'm bouncing back." His GPA is up to 3.5.
The ability to handle stress was equally important, the survey found. Those who said they could effectively manage it performed much better than those who said they couldn't. That's an important finding, because it can persuade colleges to provide students with the resources they need to learn how to manage stress, Ehlinger said.
Earlier surveys showed that students who spend a lot of time on the computer, watching TV or playing video games were more likely to engage in other unhealthful habits such as eating fast food, Ehlinger said. Now it's clear that these activities cut significantly into their grades as well. Four or more hours of screen time a day resulted in an average GPA of 3.04 or less. Less than an hour a day bumped it up to 3.3 or better.
The same pattern held with binge drinking. Teetotalers reported an average GPA of 3.31, compared with 2.99 for students who drank excessively at least once in the previous two weeks.
Ben Flatum, a university senior from Stillwater, just completed what he called "the year of being healthy." He stopped the regular partying, started eating better and began training for a race in Chicago that he ran last week.
"My time and energy has been exponentially better," he said. His weight is down 25 pounds, and his GPA is up to 3.3 from the 2.5 he had as a partying freshman.
To read this article in it’s in entirety, go to
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/31261604.html?page=1&c=y .
Last update: October 20, 2008 - 8:56 AM
Quit smoking. Turn off the computer. Go to bed. It could improve your grades. Of course, parents have always known that. Now, in the first study of its kind, researchers at the University of Minnesota have proved it. They matched grade point averages with the typical health problems such as smoking, drinking and stress reported by nearly 10,000 Minnesota college students. They found a clear connection between student health and academic success.
"Health is important," even for young adults who seem to be in the prime of their lives, said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, director of Boynton Health Services at the University of Minnesota and a lead author of the study. Both parents and college administrators "need to make sure that students have access to health care."
What affects grades the most? Stress (lots of it), excessive screen time, binge drinking and gambling.
Students who reported eight or more emotional stresses -- anything from failing a class to credit card debt to a conflict with parents -- had an average GPA of 2.72. Those who said they had no significant stress reported an average GPA of 3.3.
"Stress is one of the biggest factors," said Marcus De La Garza, a senior from Duluth. A year ago, just before finals, he had to go home to take care of family members with serious health problems, and it showed in his grades, he said.
"I was out of the game," he said Friday. "Now I'm bouncing back." His GPA is up to 3.5.
The ability to handle stress was equally important, the survey found. Those who said they could effectively manage it performed much better than those who said they couldn't. That's an important finding, because it can persuade colleges to provide students with the resources they need to learn how to manage stress, Ehlinger said.
Earlier surveys showed that students who spend a lot of time on the computer, watching TV or playing video games were more likely to engage in other unhealthful habits such as eating fast food, Ehlinger said. Now it's clear that these activities cut significantly into their grades as well. Four or more hours of screen time a day resulted in an average GPA of 3.04 or less. Less than an hour a day bumped it up to 3.3 or better.
The same pattern held with binge drinking. Teetotalers reported an average GPA of 3.31, compared with 2.99 for students who drank excessively at least once in the previous two weeks.
Ben Flatum, a university senior from Stillwater, just completed what he called "the year of being healthy." He stopped the regular partying, started eating better and began training for a race in Chicago that he ran last week.
"My time and energy has been exponentially better," he said. His weight is down 25 pounds, and his GPA is up to 3.3 from the 2.5 he had as a partying freshman.
To read this article in it’s in entirety, go to
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/31261604.html?page=1&c=y .
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Parents Need to be on Offensive on Teen Drinking
By Alyssa Martina: Parent Coach
Being a parent is full of heart-stopping moments. From crossing the street to talking with strangers, our children's lives are peppered with experiences that are a heartbeat away from an accident or mishap.
As parents, our job is to worry about and forecast the "what ifs" and prevent as many calamities as possible. Being precautious is just one of the many job requirements of "Parent." Anticipating what curves lie ahead is a vital -- and possibly lifesaving -- competency with which every mom or dad wants to be imbued. Chief among these curves is the concern surrounding all-too-common and hazardous underage drinking.
It's homecoming season now and that means that your older - and younger - teens will be tempted to engage in homecoming festivities where alcohol may be a staple of the party scene. But your kids don't drink, right? Don't be so sure. The most popular time for children to try alcohol is in the eighth grade. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50 percent of eighth graders have tried alcohol and nearly 70 percent of eighth graders believe alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get.
Just as disconcerting is the fact that the younger a child is when he first tries alcohol, the more likely he is to have a serious alcohol abuse problem later in life. Therefore, it's simply too late to begin the "don't drink" conversation when your kids are already teens or when you begin to see signs of teenage drinking.
It's a tough discussion that many parents naturally want to side-step altogether. Of course, no teen -- regardless of whether he or she drinks or not - is going to encourage having this conversation either; after all, teens want to feel grown up and they believe they are mature enough to make the right decisions.
They're not. Parents need to be on the offensive when it comes to teenage drinking. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 5,000 underage drinkers die every year in accidents related to their drinking. If your own child isn't drinking, maybe he's riding in a car with a teen driver who is.
Parents must talk to their tweens and teens about alcohol, and the sooner, the better. The more willing you are to discuss this in a clear and positive way, the easier your kids will feel about coming to speak with you about it and the more likely you'll be to avoid the problem of teenage drinking before it even starts.
Other tips include providing cool alternatives for fun for your teenagers, being a good role model yourself when it comes to drinking and staying engaged with your kids even as they get older and seemingly don't need you quite as much. They do. You are the primary influencer in their lives, no matter their age.
Friends have an enormous influence over your kids as well. You need to know where your teens are and with whom they're hanging out. "Trust but check" was my friend's tried-and-true insight when it came to dealing with her own teens.
Teens often are confronted with difficult choices. Should they take part in the fun? Should they wait? It's hard to say "no" when their friends are pressuring them to say "yes." And we need to reward their good decisions.
Ultimately, it comes down to teaching our children to make sound choices that will impact their future in both small and large ways.
Alyssa Martina is founder, president and publisher of Metro Parent Magazine and one of Metro Detroit's foremost experts on parenting. You can reach her at amartina@metroparent.com.
Being a parent is full of heart-stopping moments. From crossing the street to talking with strangers, our children's lives are peppered with experiences that are a heartbeat away from an accident or mishap.
As parents, our job is to worry about and forecast the "what ifs" and prevent as many calamities as possible. Being precautious is just one of the many job requirements of "Parent." Anticipating what curves lie ahead is a vital -- and possibly lifesaving -- competency with which every mom or dad wants to be imbued. Chief among these curves is the concern surrounding all-too-common and hazardous underage drinking.
It's homecoming season now and that means that your older - and younger - teens will be tempted to engage in homecoming festivities where alcohol may be a staple of the party scene. But your kids don't drink, right? Don't be so sure. The most popular time for children to try alcohol is in the eighth grade. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50 percent of eighth graders have tried alcohol and nearly 70 percent of eighth graders believe alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get.
Just as disconcerting is the fact that the younger a child is when he first tries alcohol, the more likely he is to have a serious alcohol abuse problem later in life. Therefore, it's simply too late to begin the "don't drink" conversation when your kids are already teens or when you begin to see signs of teenage drinking.
It's a tough discussion that many parents naturally want to side-step altogether. Of course, no teen -- regardless of whether he or she drinks or not - is going to encourage having this conversation either; after all, teens want to feel grown up and they believe they are mature enough to make the right decisions.
They're not. Parents need to be on the offensive when it comes to teenage drinking. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 5,000 underage drinkers die every year in accidents related to their drinking. If your own child isn't drinking, maybe he's riding in a car with a teen driver who is.
Parents must talk to their tweens and teens about alcohol, and the sooner, the better. The more willing you are to discuss this in a clear and positive way, the easier your kids will feel about coming to speak with you about it and the more likely you'll be to avoid the problem of teenage drinking before it even starts.
Other tips include providing cool alternatives for fun for your teenagers, being a good role model yourself when it comes to drinking and staying engaged with your kids even as they get older and seemingly don't need you quite as much. They do. You are the primary influencer in their lives, no matter their age.
Friends have an enormous influence over your kids as well. You need to know where your teens are and with whom they're hanging out. "Trust but check" was my friend's tried-and-true insight when it came to dealing with her own teens.
Teens often are confronted with difficult choices. Should they take part in the fun? Should they wait? It's hard to say "no" when their friends are pressuring them to say "yes." And we need to reward their good decisions.
Ultimately, it comes down to teaching our children to make sound choices that will impact their future in both small and large ways.
Alyssa Martina is founder, president and publisher of Metro Parent Magazine and one of Metro Detroit's foremost experts on parenting. You can reach her at amartina@metroparent.com.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Zumbrota Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday evening, October 8th, 2008, Zumbrota community members met at a town hall meeting to learn about the chemical health issues facing our youth and show support for the development of the Zumbrota Chemical Health Initiative Council.
Underage drinking is a critical health and safety issue, and representatives from the entire community attended, including parents, youth, education professionals, health providers, members of the recovery community, law enforcement, members of the faith communities, civic group representatives, business owners, and concern citizens. It was encouraging to see Zumbrota community members volunteering to join the CHI Council, seeking to provide solutions for our young people, so that they don’t become the next generation of adults who need to deal with the devastating effects of chemical dependency.
Currently Goodhue County has three Local Chemical Health Initiative Councils, Zumbrota will be the fourth Council in the County. Tia Schimek, the Goodhue Council Chair and Tim Sletten, the Red Wing Council Chair shared their experiences working on chemical health issues through their local councils and offered their support to the Zumbrota community members as they begin to develop their Council.
At the meeting, attendees learned the latest information about the scope of underage drinking, and its consequences. Including that, young people who begin drinking before they're 15 are a whopping four times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life than those who wait until they're 21. The group discussed how alcohol and drug use has affected the community. They also shared ideas on how if all community sectors (parents, schools, law enforcement, faith groups, youth organizations, support groups, civic organizations, and health providers) joined in a common effort and promoted chemical health it could improve the quality of life for individuals, families and the community as a whole.
Currently nominations are begin accepted for serving on the Zumbrota Council, anyone who is interested should contact the Community Coordinator, Jean Balcome-Dicke at 507-263-4594 or via email at jean.balcomedicke@goodhue-chi.org
Underage drinking is a critical health and safety issue, and representatives from the entire community attended, including parents, youth, education professionals, health providers, members of the recovery community, law enforcement, members of the faith communities, civic group representatives, business owners, and concern citizens. It was encouraging to see Zumbrota community members volunteering to join the CHI Council, seeking to provide solutions for our young people, so that they don’t become the next generation of adults who need to deal with the devastating effects of chemical dependency.
Currently Goodhue County has three Local Chemical Health Initiative Councils, Zumbrota will be the fourth Council in the County. Tia Schimek, the Goodhue Council Chair and Tim Sletten, the Red Wing Council Chair shared their experiences working on chemical health issues through their local councils and offered their support to the Zumbrota community members as they begin to develop their Council.
At the meeting, attendees learned the latest information about the scope of underage drinking, and its consequences. Including that, young people who begin drinking before they're 15 are a whopping four times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life than those who wait until they're 21. The group discussed how alcohol and drug use has affected the community. They also shared ideas on how if all community sectors (parents, schools, law enforcement, faith groups, youth organizations, support groups, civic organizations, and health providers) joined in a common effort and promoted chemical health it could improve the quality of life for individuals, families and the community as a whole.
Currently nominations are begin accepted for serving on the Zumbrota Council, anyone who is interested should contact the Community Coordinator, Jean Balcome-Dicke at 507-263-4594 or via email at jean.balcomedicke@goodhue-chi.org
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Recovery Celebration
On Sunday September 21, the Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County (CHI) sponsored a Recovery Celebration at East Park in Zumbrota. The celebration was held to honor individuals and families who are working on recovery from addiction. The event also highlighted the many organizations and agencies that provide recovery services in Goodhue County.
The CHI Celebrate Recovery Picnic was planned as part of National Recovery Month, and to coincide with special events held throughout the month of September across the country. Working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Goodhue County Recovery Celebration event focused on the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment and promoted the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The theme of the Celebrate Recovery picnic was Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery. The program included personal stories told by three Goodhue County residents who are now in recovery from serious drug and alcohol addiction.
The celebration was planned as a family picnic and included informational booths with treatment and recovery services materials. Hot dogs, cookies and beverages were donated by ALCO and Hub Foods, Connecting Connections of Red Wing served the food at the event.
The children who attended the event were entertained by clowns,
face painting,
and Howie the CHI Mascot who lets kids know “It’s Fun to be Alcohol Free.”
Children’s books donated by the Goodhue County Early Childhood Family Education Program were awarded to families as door prizes during the event.
Dennis Nelson, Chemical Dependency Counselor from the Prairie Island Indian Community opened the event with the serenity Prayer. Carol Falkowski, Director of Chemical Health, Minnesota Department of Human Resources spoke about the powerful role that community leaders can play in educating the public that recovery from addiction is real and treatment truly does save lives.
CHI Super Star Awards were presented at the picnic to honor and thank individuals and organizations in Goodhue County that were demonstrating special dedication to the cause of promoting recovery for all persons suffering with substance use disorders. The Super Star Awards were given to; Linda Flanders of Taproot, Inc of Red Wing, Breanna Mundt-Devetter of Cannon Falls, the Lions Club of Goodhue, and Zumbrota Police Department. Attendees received door prizes donated by Bridget’s Café and Jimmy’s Pizza of Zumbrota, Country Station of Goodhue, Greg’s Meats and Write On of Cannon Falls. The event concluded with a performance from Andrew Hoffpauir, a Red Wing High School student, singing his own rap song about the pain and suffering of addiction and the importance of keeping our world healthy and safe for all human beings. Check out Andrew's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tU8cxX248.
The CHI Celebrate Recovery Picnic was planned as part of National Recovery Month, and to coincide with special events held throughout the month of September across the country. Working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Goodhue County Recovery Celebration event focused on the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment and promoted the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The theme of the Celebrate Recovery picnic was Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery. The program included personal stories told by three Goodhue County residents who are now in recovery from serious drug and alcohol addiction.
The celebration was planned as a family picnic and included informational booths with treatment and recovery services materials. Hot dogs, cookies and beverages were donated by ALCO and Hub Foods, Connecting Connections of Red Wing served the food at the event.
The children who attended the event were entertained by clowns,
face painting,
and Howie the CHI Mascot who lets kids know “It’s Fun to be Alcohol Free.”
Children’s books donated by the Goodhue County Early Childhood Family Education Program were awarded to families as door prizes during the event.
Dennis Nelson, Chemical Dependency Counselor from the Prairie Island Indian Community opened the event with the serenity Prayer. Carol Falkowski, Director of Chemical Health, Minnesota Department of Human Resources spoke about the powerful role that community leaders can play in educating the public that recovery from addiction is real and treatment truly does save lives.
CHI Super Star Awards were presented at the picnic to honor and thank individuals and organizations in Goodhue County that were demonstrating special dedication to the cause of promoting recovery for all persons suffering with substance use disorders. The Super Star Awards were given to; Linda Flanders of Taproot, Inc of Red Wing, Breanna Mundt-Devetter of Cannon Falls, the Lions Club of Goodhue, and Zumbrota Police Department. Attendees received door prizes donated by Bridget’s Café and Jimmy’s Pizza of Zumbrota, Country Station of Goodhue, Greg’s Meats and Write On of Cannon Falls. The event concluded with a performance from Andrew Hoffpauir, a Red Wing High School student, singing his own rap song about the pain and suffering of addiction and the importance of keeping our world healthy and safe for all human beings. Check out Andrew's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tU8cxX248.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Drug Test for Prep Athletes Considered by State Doctors Group
State doctors group debates proposal
By Katherine Wolfe kwolfe@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 11:59:06 PM CDT
Minnesota doctors are considering a proposal that would require high school athletes to take a drug test during routine physicals.
Doctors debated Thursday whether to ask for legislation during an open session at the Minnesota Medical Association's annual meeting, where about 150 state physicians met to vote on resolutions brought by members.
Dr. George Schoephoerster, a St. Cloud family physician, supports the proposal. He said urine tests done during routine physicals would be a way to monitor behavior and keep athletes, who often serve as role models for their peers, in check. If an athlete tested positive, it would give physicians a chance to pinpoint and treat the behavior usually undisclosed by the patient, Schoephoerster said.
See the full article at: http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_10503102
By Katherine Wolfe kwolfe@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 11:59:06 PM CDT
Minnesota doctors are considering a proposal that would require high school athletes to take a drug test during routine physicals.
Doctors debated Thursday whether to ask for legislation during an open session at the Minnesota Medical Association's annual meeting, where about 150 state physicians met to vote on resolutions brought by members.
Dr. George Schoephoerster, a St. Cloud family physician, supports the proposal. He said urine tests done during routine physicals would be a way to monitor behavior and keep athletes, who often serve as role models for their peers, in check. If an athlete tested positive, it would give physicians a chance to pinpoint and treat the behavior usually undisclosed by the patient, Schoephoerster said.
See the full article at: http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_10503102
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Five Ways Parents Can Help Middle School Kids Delay Their First Drink
WASHINGTON, Sept 04, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The first few weeks of middle school are a frenzy of friends, parties, and school events. It's also time for parents to start talking with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol, according to The Science Inside Alcohol Project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Twenty percent of 14 year-olds say they've been drunk at least once, according to the Surgeon General, and recent news points out dangers of alcohol use by the young:
-- The Partnership for A Drug-Free America released a study in August, 2008 of 6,500 teens in which 73% said school stress caused them to drink and take drugs.
-- A Columbia University study, also released in August found that "problem parents," those who let their kids stay out past 10:00 PM on school nights in particular, are putting them in situations where they are at risk for drinking and drug use.
-- About 100 university leaders called for a national discussion of lowering the drinking age back to 18, saying it's not clear that 21 works.
The middle school years are crucial in the battle to prevent early alcohol use. Young adolescents' bodies and friendships are changing. They start pulling away from parents; yet seek out other adults for guidance. It's the most vulnerable time, specialists say, but also one of the last times they still can be influenced by adults.
No one sets out to be a disengaged parent. But it's hard to be vigilant and talk to your kids about complicated topics when you are constantly on the go. "As parents better understand the physiological effects of alcohol on the body and the fact that their children might be starting younger, it can motivate them to have this sometimes awkward conversation," says Shirley Malcom, head of the Education & Resources Directorate at AAAS. "That's where the science can help."
Members of AAAS' The Science Inside Alcohol Project are writing a book for middle school parents and developing an interactive Web-based science and health curriculum explaining how alcohol affects adolescents' brains and bodies. Based on extensive research, the AAAS team suggests five steps parents can take to talk with their kids about alcohol.
1. Find Teachable Moments - We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school. Answer questions. Have this conversation often.
2. Talk to Your Kids When Everything is Fine - Middle school students are volatile, hormonal beings. They are sweet and wonderful one moment, and blow up the next. Pick a time when things are quiet and they're a captive audience such as in the backseat of your car. Don't take no for an answer.
3. Engage Your Kids in the Science of Alcohol - Adolescents are incredibly self-involved. Alcohol can cause memory loss, impair sports performance, incite embarrassing behavior and affect how they feel and look. Make them aware of these facts. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family explain about genetic predispositions towards alcohol abuse.
4. Be Vigilant - There's no alternative to monitoring your kids. Have an early curfew. Know where they are at all times. Even if you are not home on a weeknight, make sure you can reach your kids by phone. Get to know their new friends and their parents. Find out what their rules and level of engagement are.
5. Learn to Trust Your Child - Now's the time when all the work you've put into creating a value system for your child begins to pay off. Set limits and enforce rules, but remember to give your child room to make his or her decisions, within your comfort zone. Praise them when they do well. It's worth a thousand words.
The Science Inside Alcohol Project of AAAS is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
SOURCE AAAS
Twenty percent of 14 year-olds say they've been drunk at least once, according to the Surgeon General, and recent news points out dangers of alcohol use by the young:
-- The Partnership for A Drug-Free America released a study in August, 2008 of 6,500 teens in which 73% said school stress caused them to drink and take drugs.
-- A Columbia University study, also released in August found that "problem parents," those who let their kids stay out past 10:00 PM on school nights in particular, are putting them in situations where they are at risk for drinking and drug use.
-- About 100 university leaders called for a national discussion of lowering the drinking age back to 18, saying it's not clear that 21 works.
The middle school years are crucial in the battle to prevent early alcohol use. Young adolescents' bodies and friendships are changing. They start pulling away from parents; yet seek out other adults for guidance. It's the most vulnerable time, specialists say, but also one of the last times they still can be influenced by adults.
No one sets out to be a disengaged parent. But it's hard to be vigilant and talk to your kids about complicated topics when you are constantly on the go. "As parents better understand the physiological effects of alcohol on the body and the fact that their children might be starting younger, it can motivate them to have this sometimes awkward conversation," says Shirley Malcom, head of the Education & Resources Directorate at AAAS. "That's where the science can help."
Members of AAAS' The Science Inside Alcohol Project are writing a book for middle school parents and developing an interactive Web-based science and health curriculum explaining how alcohol affects adolescents' brains and bodies. Based on extensive research, the AAAS team suggests five steps parents can take to talk with their kids about alcohol.
1. Find Teachable Moments - We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school. Answer questions. Have this conversation often.
2. Talk to Your Kids When Everything is Fine - Middle school students are volatile, hormonal beings. They are sweet and wonderful one moment, and blow up the next. Pick a time when things are quiet and they're a captive audience such as in the backseat of your car. Don't take no for an answer.
3. Engage Your Kids in the Science of Alcohol - Adolescents are incredibly self-involved. Alcohol can cause memory loss, impair sports performance, incite embarrassing behavior and affect how they feel and look. Make them aware of these facts. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family explain about genetic predispositions towards alcohol abuse.
4. Be Vigilant - There's no alternative to monitoring your kids. Have an early curfew. Know where they are at all times. Even if you are not home on a weeknight, make sure you can reach your kids by phone. Get to know their new friends and their parents. Find out what their rules and level of engagement are.
5. Learn to Trust Your Child - Now's the time when all the work you've put into creating a value system for your child begins to pay off. Set limits and enforce rules, but remember to give your child room to make his or her decisions, within your comfort zone. Praise them when they do well. It's worth a thousand words.
The Science Inside Alcohol Project of AAAS is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
SOURCE AAAS
Friday, September 5, 2008
Much-Higher Age Would Help Colleges
Chris Weiss: Set legal age for drinking at 25
Lansing State Journal August 31, 2008
“I have read of the list of college and university presidents urging reconsideration of the legal drinking age.
I was an undergraduate at Michigan State University in the '80s and saw the devastation inflicted upon the student population by alcohol. I saw brilliant students who could not handle the transition from rules 24/7 to the anything goes atmosphere of college life. Many college-age students are not ready to use alcohol responsibly.
The problem is, the drinking age of 21 is actually too low.
Older undergraduates buy for younger undergraduates, effectively negating the drinking age on most campuses. I know that was how I drank at MSU.
I think the better idea would be to raise the drinking age to 25, greatly limiting the number of legal buyers on campus.
By 25, most college students would either be out in the work force or in graduate school, where people are forced to act more responsibly than they are in college.
Most alcoholics start young; many start in college. It would seem that if we could postpone drinking until most people were out of college, we would lower the rate of alcoholism. Similarly, we should do the same for tobacco use, raising the legal age for the purchase or consumption of tobacco to 25.
We already know prohibition is impossible, but raising the legal age would hopefully help most people make better decisions.”
To read comments regarding this statement go to: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION02/808310642/1087/OPINION02
Lansing State Journal August 31, 2008
“I have read of the list of college and university presidents urging reconsideration of the legal drinking age.
I was an undergraduate at Michigan State University in the '80s and saw the devastation inflicted upon the student population by alcohol. I saw brilliant students who could not handle the transition from rules 24/7 to the anything goes atmosphere of college life. Many college-age students are not ready to use alcohol responsibly.
The problem is, the drinking age of 21 is actually too low.
Older undergraduates buy for younger undergraduates, effectively negating the drinking age on most campuses. I know that was how I drank at MSU.
I think the better idea would be to raise the drinking age to 25, greatly limiting the number of legal buyers on campus.
By 25, most college students would either be out in the work force or in graduate school, where people are forced to act more responsibly than they are in college.
Most alcoholics start young; many start in college. It would seem that if we could postpone drinking until most people were out of college, we would lower the rate of alcoholism. Similarly, we should do the same for tobacco use, raising the legal age for the purchase or consumption of tobacco to 25.
We already know prohibition is impossible, but raising the legal age would hopefully help most people make better decisions.”
To read comments regarding this statement go to: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION02/808310642/1087/OPINION02
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Zumbrota National Night Out
The CHI took part in Zumbrota's Annual National Night Event held on Tuesday, August 5th. Jean Balcome-Dicke, CHI Community Coordinator, Julie Hatch, School Chemical Health Specialist, Bailey Smirnov, CHI Office Assistance and Howie, CHI Mascot were all present to help Zumbrota Celebrate this unique crime and drug prevention National event!NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:
Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods 'celebrate' NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:block parties,
cookouts,
visits from local police and sheriff departments
parades, exhibits,
flashlight walks,
contests, and
youth programs.
National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Plus, the benefits your community will derive from National Night Out will most certainly extend well beyond the one night.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Quicker Liquor
QUICKER LIQUOR
Should we lower the legal drinking age?
By Darshak Sanghavi
Posted Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at 6:58 AM ET
Last week, a coalition of presidents from more than 100 colleges and universities called on authorities to consider lowering the legal drinking age. The so-called Amethyst Initiative, founded by a fed-up former president of Middlebury College, asserts that "twenty-one is not working" because the current drinking age has led to a "culture of dangerous, clandestine binge-drinking" on college campuses. "How many times," they rhetorically ask, "must we relearn the lessons of prohibition?"
These academic heavyweights—who include the presidents of institutions like Duke, Spelman, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins—believe that lowering the legal drinking age can promote more responsible alcohol use. The familiar argument is that singling out alcohol to make it off-limits is odd, since 18-year-olds may legally join the military, vote, buy cigarettes, and watch porn.
Meanwhile over the past decades, binge-drinking has soared among young people. The 1984 federal law that helps determine the legal drinking age is up for renewal next year, and the college presidents believe this law "stifles meaningful debate" and discourages "new ideas" to stop binge-drinking, like allowing kids over 18 to buy alcohol after a course on its "history, culture, law, chemistry, biology, neuroscience as well as exposure to accident victims and individuals in recovery."
It's a nice to think that simply lowering the drinking age would make college students behave better (as well as cheer loudly). But the Amethyst Initiative—named for the gemstone believed by ancient Greeks to stave off drunkenness—has naively exaggerated the benefits of a lower legal drinking age. They ignore some of the implications of their recommendations, fail to acknowledge their own complicity in the campus drinking problem, and ultimately gloss over better solutions to bingeing. Kind of like addicts might.
In truth, the higher drinking age saves lives and has little relation to college bingeing. Some history: After her daughter was killed by an intoxicated driver, Candy Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving and successfully lobbied for the 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act (the law that's up for reauthorization in 2009), which gave full federal highway funds only to states that set the minimum age to purchase or consu me alcohol at 21 years. Most states immediately complied, setting the stage for a national experiment.
According to the federal study Monitoring the Future, underage drinking dropped instantly. From 1977 to 2007, the percentage of 12th graders drinking at least monthly fell from 70 percent to 45 percent—almost immediately after the law was enacted, and lastingly. Fatal car crashes involving drunk young adults dipped 32 percent, resulting in 1,000 fewer lives lost per year. Impressively, this decrease occurred despite minimal efforts at enforcement; the mere presence of the law was protective. The relationship is likely causal. In 1999, by comparison, New Zealand lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18, and fatal crashes soared.* Today, all major public health authorities, including the American Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control, National Highway Traffic Safety Board, and surgeon general, support the higher drinking age.
To read the entire contents of this article please go to: http://www.slate.com/id/2198522/
Should we lower the legal drinking age?
By Darshak Sanghavi
Posted Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at 6:58 AM ET
Last week, a coalition of presidents from more than 100 colleges and universities called on authorities to consider lowering the legal drinking age. The so-called Amethyst Initiative, founded by a fed-up former president of Middlebury College, asserts that "twenty-one is not working" because the current drinking age has led to a "culture of dangerous, clandestine binge-drinking" on college campuses. "How many times," they rhetorically ask, "must we relearn the lessons of prohibition?"
These academic heavyweights—who include the presidents of institutions like Duke, Spelman, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins—believe that lowering the legal drinking age can promote more responsible alcohol use. The familiar argument is that singling out alcohol to make it off-limits is odd, since 18-year-olds may legally join the military, vote, buy cigarettes, and watch porn.
Meanwhile over the past decades, binge-drinking has soared among young people. The 1984 federal law that helps determine the legal drinking age is up for renewal next year, and the college presidents believe this law "stifles meaningful debate" and discourages "new ideas" to stop binge-drinking, like allowing kids over 18 to buy alcohol after a course on its "history, culture, law, chemistry, biology, neuroscience as well as exposure to accident victims and individuals in recovery."
It's a nice to think that simply lowering the drinking age would make college students behave better (as well as cheer loudly). But the Amethyst Initiative—named for the gemstone believed by ancient Greeks to stave off drunkenness—has naively exaggerated the benefits of a lower legal drinking age. They ignore some of the implications of their recommendations, fail to acknowledge their own complicity in the campus drinking problem, and ultimately gloss over better solutions to bingeing. Kind of like addicts might.
In truth, the higher drinking age saves lives and has little relation to college bingeing. Some history: After her daughter was killed by an intoxicated driver, Candy Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving and successfully lobbied for the 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act (the law that's up for reauthorization in 2009), which gave full federal highway funds only to states that set the minimum age to purchase or consu me alcohol at 21 years. Most states immediately complied, setting the stage for a national experiment.
According to the federal study Monitoring the Future, underage drinking dropped instantly. From 1977 to 2007, the percentage of 12th graders drinking at least monthly fell from 70 percent to 45 percent—almost immediately after the law was enacted, and lastingly. Fatal car crashes involving drunk young adults dipped 32 percent, resulting in 1,000 fewer lives lost per year. Impressively, this decrease occurred despite minimal efforts at enforcement; the mere presence of the law was protective. The relationship is likely causal. In 1999, by comparison, New Zealand lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18, and fatal crashes soared.* Today, all major public health authorities, including the American Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control, National Highway Traffic Safety Board, and surgeon general, support the higher drinking age.
To read the entire contents of this article please go to: http://www.slate.com/id/2198522/
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
CHI Resolution on Drinking Age Law
Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County
Steering Committee Resolution
Whereas, the National Traffic Highway Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the 21minimum drinking age law has saved approximately 900 lives per year since President Reagan signed into law the Uniform Drinking Age Act mandating all states adopt 21 as the legal drinking age and all states came into compliance in 1988; and
Whereas, the NHTSA estimates that more than 17,000 people are alive today since all states came into compliance in 1988; and
Whereas, the drinking age law is one of the nation’s most examined laws with countless studies that have been conducted to measure the law’s effectiveness-all of which have come to the same conclusion: the law saves lives; and
Whereas, the leading cause of death among population ages 16-24 is injury death and 40% of the injury related deaths ages 16-24 involve alcohol; and
Whereas, brain development research has established that the introduction of alcohol upon the young and developing brain carries substantial risk of impairment of normal brain development; and
Whereas, the several states that lowered their minimum drinking age law in the 1970s saw a corresponding increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities; that a return to the 21 minimum drinking age laws in those states saw in a decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities;
NOW THEREFORE, the CHI Advisory Board hereby iterates its unqualified support of the existing 21 year old minimum drinking age law, and establishes for the public record its opposition to any political movement or legislative initiative that would lower the legal drinking age in the State of Minnesota.
Steering Committee Resolution
Whereas, the National Traffic Highway Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the 21minimum drinking age law has saved approximately 900 lives per year since President Reagan signed into law the Uniform Drinking Age Act mandating all states adopt 21 as the legal drinking age and all states came into compliance in 1988; and
Whereas, the NHTSA estimates that more than 17,000 people are alive today since all states came into compliance in 1988; and
Whereas, the drinking age law is one of the nation’s most examined laws with countless studies that have been conducted to measure the law’s effectiveness-all of which have come to the same conclusion: the law saves lives; and
Whereas, the leading cause of death among population ages 16-24 is injury death and 40% of the injury related deaths ages 16-24 involve alcohol; and
Whereas, brain development research has established that the introduction of alcohol upon the young and developing brain carries substantial risk of impairment of normal brain development; and
Whereas, the several states that lowered their minimum drinking age law in the 1970s saw a corresponding increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities; that a return to the 21 minimum drinking age laws in those states saw in a decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities;
NOW THEREFORE, the CHI Advisory Board hereby iterates its unqualified support of the existing 21 year old minimum drinking age law, and establishes for the public record its opposition to any political movement or legislative initiative that would lower the legal drinking age in the State of Minnesota.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Breaking News
- The Goodhue Council is sponsoring a parent program called "Walking the Talk" on Wednesday September 17th at the Goodhue School 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The program is designed to help parents learn to talk with their children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Call the Goodhue School to register. There is a $5.00 fee. Registration deadline is September 12th.
- A special thank you to PHanson Marketing for placing CHI advertisements in several local publications over the past weeks. The CHI is very grateful for these in-kind contributions to our cause. A strong and supportive public media sector is critical to the success of our CHI coalition efforts. Thank you PHMarketing!
- SAVE the DATE: The CHI Recovery Community Recognition Picnic is being planned for Sunday September 21, 2008 at the Crossing Park in Zumbrota. This event is being sponsored by several local businesses who are teaming up with the CHI and our Community Councils to show support and appreciation for the important prevention work that is being done by our recovery communities across Goodhue County. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the wonderful people and organizations that are working to create healthy families and healthy communities! More details on this event will follow.
- The CHI participated in the Goodhue County Fair activities on Family Day August 7th! It was a family centered event with informational handouts for parents and treats and stickers for the kids. Howie added to the fun with the kids and posed for photographs!
- Everyone is invited to participate in an exciting video filming event taking place in Red Wing on Tuesday August 19th! Bluff Street, between 4th and 6th Streets will be closed off to traffic from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for the actual filming which will begin at 6:45 pm. The filmed scene is simply people dancing in the street behind Andrew as he performs his rap song, Content of Character. Andrew won one of the top prizes in the essay contest at RWHS, sponsored by the Red Wing Chemical Health Council. His rap song was professionally recorded at Mothlab Studios in Minneapolis. Taproot, Inc will be filming the video which will be entered into film festivals!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Community Drug Prevention Project - PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL TEEN RAPPER TO FILM MUSIC VIDEO
Streets Will Be Closed for Dancing and Filming
August 13, 2008: Red Wing, MN-A music video scene of parents and kids dancing in the street will be filmed in the East end of town on Tuesday, August 19th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Red Wing High School student, Andrew Hoffpauir, will be performing a rap song he recorded called: Content of Character. The public is invited.
Earlier this spring, Andrew wrote a rap song about drug prevention for an essay contest at Red Wing High School. The Red Wing Chemical Health Initiative sponsored the contest in which Andrew won one of the top prizes. His health teacher, Lisa Hanson, referred him to Taproot, Inc. in Bay City, which was searching for a local rapper. The song, Content of Character urges everyone to become the best he or she can be and to shine their own light within their own community and the world at large, “There’s only one world and it’s yours and mine.” The song was professionally recorded at Mothlab Studios in Minneapolis. This was Andrew’s first experience in a professional studio. “I was pretty nervous, my legs got shaky”, he says.
The finished video will be entered into film festivals, specifically the “Filmanthropist” contest; a Minnesota film festival that supports the use of film for community activism. “The use of music, movies and music videos is a great way to educate a community and involve kids in community activism. It is hard work, but it’s also fun and appeals to the kids’ interests”, says Dorothy Halla-Poe, Vice President of Taproot.
Bluff Street, between 4th and 6th Streets will be closed off to traffic from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Practice begins at 5:30 and actual filming will begin at 6:45. The filmed scene is simply people dancing in the street behind Andrew as he performs. Parents are invited to bring their children and join the filming. The music video will be made available to Red Wing’s local Cable Access Channel for viewing and Andrew’s song, Content of Character will be available for download on iTunes as of August 25th.
Taproot, Inc. is located in Bay City, WI. They specialize in designing educational prevention programs using the media arts. Taproot will be offering a movie making after school program through Red Wing Community Education in the fall for middle school students.
For further information, please call Linda Flanders at 715-594-3880 or Email taproot@redwing.net or check their website: www.taprootinc.com
LOCAL TEEN RAPPER TO FILM MUSIC VIDEO
Streets Will Be Closed for Dancing and Filming
August 13, 2008: Red Wing, MN-A music video scene of parents and kids dancing in the street will be filmed in the East end of town on Tuesday, August 19th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Red Wing High School student, Andrew Hoffpauir, will be performing a rap song he recorded called: Content of Character. The public is invited.
Earlier this spring, Andrew wrote a rap song about drug prevention for an essay contest at Red Wing High School. The Red Wing Chemical Health Initiative sponsored the contest in which Andrew won one of the top prizes. His health teacher, Lisa Hanson, referred him to Taproot, Inc. in Bay City, which was searching for a local rapper. The song, Content of Character urges everyone to become the best he or she can be and to shine their own light within their own community and the world at large, “There’s only one world and it’s yours and mine.” The song was professionally recorded at Mothlab Studios in Minneapolis. This was Andrew’s first experience in a professional studio. “I was pretty nervous, my legs got shaky”, he says.
The finished video will be entered into film festivals, specifically the “Filmanthropist” contest; a Minnesota film festival that supports the use of film for community activism. “The use of music, movies and music videos is a great way to educate a community and involve kids in community activism. It is hard work, but it’s also fun and appeals to the kids’ interests”, says Dorothy Halla-Poe, Vice President of Taproot.
Bluff Street, between 4th and 6th Streets will be closed off to traffic from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Practice begins at 5:30 and actual filming will begin at 6:45. The filmed scene is simply people dancing in the street behind Andrew as he performs. Parents are invited to bring their children and join the filming. The music video will be made available to Red Wing’s local Cable Access Channel for viewing and Andrew’s song, Content of Character will be available for download on iTunes as of August 25th.
Taproot, Inc. is located in Bay City, WI. They specialize in designing educational prevention programs using the media arts. Taproot will be offering a movie making after school program through Red Wing Community Education in the fall for middle school students.
For further information, please call Linda Flanders at 715-594-3880 or Email taproot@redwing.net or check their website: www.taprootinc.com
Illegal Liquor Sales
A WCCO news report identified the liquor store clerk from Inver Grove Heights who was sentenced to jail for selling alcohol to a teen-ager without checking for identification. That teenager later got into a car, ran a red light, and killed a University of Minnesota student when she was only blocks away from her home in Apple Valley. The 19 year old driving the car was tested at a .20 BAC; she was eventually given a four-year prison sentence. Vue, the person who illegally sold the teenage driver the alcohol, was sentenced to three months in jail by a Dakota County Judge on August 11th. To learn more about this tragic incident click on http://wcco.com/crime/clerk.convicted.crash.2.793008.html.
Red Wing and Wanamingo City Councils have passed city ordinances requiring all sellers and servers of liquor to complete a responsible beverage service training course and to pass a test that checks their knowledge of Minnesota laws pertaining to alcohol. (The course also provides tips to sellers and servers about detecting underage drinkers who attempting to obtain liquor.) These training ordinances have been proven to reduce the availability of liquor to underage drinkers in communities. When liquor is sold illegally, community residents are placed at risk. The tragedy experienced by the families involved in the drunken teen crash is what the CHI is working to eliminate in Goodhue County. Liquor licensees in Goodhue County do not want to sell liquor illegally. Requiring training courses helps licensees hire and retain employees who are professional and diligent about keeping children and families safe from alcohol-related tragedies.
Red Wing and Wanamingo City Councils have passed city ordinances requiring all sellers and servers of liquor to complete a responsible beverage service training course and to pass a test that checks their knowledge of Minnesota laws pertaining to alcohol. (The course also provides tips to sellers and servers about detecting underage drinkers who attempting to obtain liquor.) These training ordinances have been proven to reduce the availability of liquor to underage drinkers in communities. When liquor is sold illegally, community residents are placed at risk. The tragedy experienced by the families involved in the drunken teen crash is what the CHI is working to eliminate in Goodhue County. Liquor licensees in Goodhue County do not want to sell liquor illegally. Requiring training courses helps licensees hire and retain employees who are professional and diligent about keeping children and families safe from alcohol-related tragedies.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Alcohol-Driven Offenses Rise Sharply Under 24-hour Licensing in U.K.
An August 10 2008 article in the UK Sunday Telegraph reported a substantial increase in crime has been the result of a new law that extended alcohol serving hours in England and Wales. Police report that "offenses ranging from excessive intoxication to violent behavior are on the rise in nearly every police jurisdiction since new laws allow pubs and clubs to maintain long serving hours." Specifically, public order offenses are up 136% since the longer serving hours went into effect.
This article is particularly interesting in light of the Minnesota legislature's recent decision to allow alcohol serving hours to be extended to 4:00 am in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention. It's difficult to understand whose interests are being promoted by allowing the extended serving of alcohol during the Convention. However, it will be important for Minnesota officials to track levels of criminal activity and public disorder problems experienced by law enforcement in the metro area during the period of time of extended hours. Hopefully, we will see signs of the emerging trend toward healthy lifestyles, and longer serving hours in St. Paul will not reflect the experience of London.
This article is particularly interesting in light of the Minnesota legislature's recent decision to allow alcohol serving hours to be extended to 4:00 am in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention. It's difficult to understand whose interests are being promoted by allowing the extended serving of alcohol during the Convention. However, it will be important for Minnesota officials to track levels of criminal activity and public disorder problems experienced by law enforcement in the metro area during the period of time of extended hours. Hopefully, we will see signs of the emerging trend toward healthy lifestyles, and longer serving hours in St. Paul will not reflect the experience of London.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Breaking News
- The CHI received confirmation that the FY 2009 Drug Free Communities grant has been approved! This means that the CHI will again receive $100,000 from the federal government to fund prevention programming in Goodhue County Minnesota. These federal dollars cannot be used to pay for direct services to individuals. The DFC grant will only pay for the administrative infrastructure that supports the planning and implementation of environmental prevention strategies at the population level. The CHI uses its federal dollars to support the salary of the School-Based Prevention Specialist, Julie Hatch, and the CHI Community Council Coordinator and Project Manager, Jean Balcome Dicke. The CHI has received the DFC grant award every year since September 2005. The FY 2009 DFC Award Notice means that the CHI prevention work will go on for another year!
- The CHI participated in Zumbrota's National Night Out on Tuesday August 5th! Julie Hatch and Jean Balcome Dicke distributed prevention brochures and informational handouts to parents and the CHI mascot Howie handed out stickers and treats to the kids! CHI sends thanks to the Zumbrota Police Department for sponsoring the National Night Out event and for inviting the CHI to participate!
- The local Community Chemical Health Councils in Red Wing, Cannon Falls and Goodhue have been participating in Sports Registration events at local schools. The local Councils are utilizing these school events to highlight the importance of parent involvement in children's lives. The CHI works to build healthy families and healthy communities by supporting programs and activities are proven to help our children make healthy choices!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Splish Splash Party
The Splish Splash Party at the Goodhue Pool was a big success last week. Although Howie was unable to attend, CHI volunteers served up delicious rootbeer floats for all!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
CHI Breaking News
- The Goodhue Chemical Health Council is having a “Splish Splash” party at the Goodhue Pool on July 31 from 6-7 p.m. Howie will be handing out balloons and root beer floats will be served.
- CHI Special Events Coordinator Jodie Schmidt is working with CHI Coordinator Jean Balcome-Dicke to plan a county-wide Recovery Celebration picnic in Zumbrota for a Sunday in September. More details to follow!
- The CHI will be having special event booth at the Goodhue County Fair on Family Day at the Fair, Thursday August 7th! Howie will be a special guest, handing out balloons and prizes to kids. "It's fun to be alcohol free!" Stop by and say hello!
- The CHI will be participating in the Red Wing River City Days parade this Sunday August 3rd. Our float will be pulled by an antique tractor owned by Mr. Neil Stemmann and volunteers will be handing out Howie stickers and candy to kids along the parade route.
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