Current
January 2009
The Red Wing Police Department conducts underage alcohol compliance checks at area businesses twice annually. The intent is to minimize youth access to alcohol in the community.
On December 15, two Red Wing officers and two underage buyers conducted 22 alcohol compliance checks. All the businesses passed the compliance checks by not selling alcohol to the underage buyers.
Police Chief Tim Sletten said, “I’m thrilled with the results of these checks. It demonstrates the success of the new training program for those who sell and serve alcohol and of the work being done by the Chemical Health Initiative. It also shows that our liquor establishments know just how important it is to not sell alcohol to underage customers. Their commitment to this is greatly appreciated. This is an exciting step toward creating a safer and healthier community for our youth.”
The Police Department will continue to conduct alcohol compliance checks periodically. If a business fails such a check, it may have its liquor license suspended or revoked. Clerks who sell to underage buyers are charged personally and face fines or possible jail time.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Incentives promote alcohol education
SCSU, business aim to prevent tragedies
By David Unze, dunze@stcloudtimes.com, January 5, 2009
The drunk who assaulted an employee caused Denise Brigham to close her store and attend court hearings for the suspect.
The drunk who knocked the electrical meter off her store wall caused the compressors to fail and the food to spoil and led to hours of work assessing damages for insurance purposes.
And then there are the times she's visited employees in detox.
Brigham, owner of two Subway stores on or near the St. Cloud State University campus, rattles off the ways that alcohol abuse has impacted her businesses. It's those experiences that prompted her to give up to $25,000 in Subway gift cards as incentives for young adults to attend a university program teaching the dangers of excessive drinking.
See the full article at: http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200901050030/NEWS01/101050046
By David Unze, dunze@stcloudtimes.com, January 5, 2009
The drunk who assaulted an employee caused Denise Brigham to close her store and attend court hearings for the suspect.
The drunk who knocked the electrical meter off her store wall caused the compressors to fail and the food to spoil and led to hours of work assessing damages for insurance purposes.
And then there are the times she's visited employees in detox.
Brigham, owner of two Subway stores on or near the St. Cloud State University campus, rattles off the ways that alcohol abuse has impacted her businesses. It's those experiences that prompted her to give up to $25,000 in Subway gift cards as incentives for young adults to attend a university program teaching the dangers of excessive drinking.
See the full article at: http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200901050030/NEWS01/101050046
Thursday, December 4, 2008
How to Imbibe When Kids are Around
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
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
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 .
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