Warrick care coalition to steer students away from drugs, liquor

Warrick community groups reach out to middle school pupils

BOONVILLE, Ind. - Schools and nonprofit agencies in Warrick County are refocusing their efforts to steer young people away from alcohol and drugs.

More than two dozen organizations have formed the Warrick County Communities That Care Coalition.

The group's plan includes a drug-and-alcohol prevention program for grades 7 and 8; an after-school initiative aimed at building stronger communication among families; and interventions for families of high school students who have faced suspension or expulsion or who are considered at-risk.

Other recommendations of the coalition include school-based social workers employed by Youth First; public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging parents from serving alcohol and teen parties; and a community service directory.

Castle High School senior Gale Cross said he hopes the various efforts make a positive difference for parents, as well as for children.

"I have gone to a couple house parties where parents have supplied the alcohol. That's disheartening," Cross said. "Kids should be going to their parents for wisdom."

The Communities That Care model is being developed in 14 Indiana counties. Youth First led the formation of Warrick's program, in cooperation with other agencies.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/nov/11/care-coalition-aims-at-drugs-liquor/ 

Source: Evansville Courier & Press

A popular candy is part of a dangerous new trend at high school parties that could lead to kids getting drunk.

Alcohol counselors across Indiana are telling parents to keep an eye out for gummy bears. Soaking the gummy snacks in vodka is a trend that started on college campuses, but it recently made its way to high school students, and parents should be on alert.

Kristi Dunigan, Alcohol Counselor, Morgan Co., explains the trend, "Vodka is the most popular trend. It's because its non-smelling. You cannot detect vodka when you're sitting from here. Me to you. They're easy to make. Easy to conceal. Parents don't know what they are. So they can eat them at any time."

So what should you look out for?

Pay attention if you see your child with gummy snacks, after they've been soaked in vodka, the gummies will swell in size, so they will look larger than normal.

Source: WNDU.com/South Bend, IN

An association of 12 liquor stores has joined efforts with the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Jackson-Madison County to try to ban anyone under 21 from going inside Jackson liquor stores without a guardian.

"There's only one reason to go to a liquor store, and that's to buy liquor," said Richard Barber, chairman of the Community Anti-Drug Coalition.

The Jackson Wine and Spirits Retailers, a recently formed organization of 12 Jackson liquor store owners, will propose an amendment to the city's code of ordinances to the City Council on Tuesday. The council meets at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

The amendment would make it "unlawful for any underage or visibly intoxicated person to enter or remain in a liquor store, or to loiter in the immediate vicinity of a liquor store" without a parent, legal guardian or spouse who is over 21.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111104/NEWS01/111040316/Council-considers-amendment?odyssey=nav%7Chead 

Source: The Jackson Sun

Fraternities have made adjustments, especially in terms of serving hard liquor, after the jump in transports led to more scrutinity.

Alcohol transports at Northwestern University, especially among freshmen, are up significantly from the past two years, according to Dean of Students Burgwell Howard.

Howard says University administration knew of 21 students who were taken to the hospital due to excessive alcohol consumption by mid-October, up from 13 and 9 during the same time period in 2010 and 2009, respectively. In an email to freshmen Oct. 21, Howard wrote more than half of this year's alcohol transports were from the freshman class.

The rise in alcohol transports comes despite steps taken by administration to make drinking on campus safer, including a two-day conference Oct. 25 and 26 on evidence-based interventions to reduce binge drinking on college campuses. The conference was organized by the Dartmouth Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking, which NU joined in May.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/campus/alcohol-transports-up-as-administrators-groups-address-safety-issues-1.2666092#.TrflP3KumCg 

Source: The Daily Northwestern

For the first time, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Thursday he opposes the sale of wine in grocery stores.

State legislators are split on the controversial proposal and Cuomo previously signaled his resistance to the idea. His 2011-12 budget, adopted earlier this year, omitted it.

But the governor hadn't specifically voiced his opposition before, aides acknowledged. In fact, Cuomo dodged a question about the issue in September when he held his first online chat with New York residents.

"Nothing has changed. I'm not supporting" wine sales in grocery stores, Cuomo told reporters Thursday.

Many New York wineries have lobbied for years to repeal a law that limits wine sales to liquor stores. Expanding into grocery stores could greatly boost sales, they argue, perhaps by $70 million annually.

Some Long Islanders were taken aback by Cuomo's declaration.

Ron Goerler Jr., president of the Long Island Wine Council and owner of Jamesport Vineyards, said that while his council is neutral on the issue and his company had no plans for supermarket sales, "I'm surprised the governor would come out against it, especially in this economy.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://www.newsday.com/business/cuomo-opposes-grocery-wine-sales-1.3295455 

Source: Newsday

THERE has been a 150% jump in the number of juveniles seeking treatment for alcohol in the last six years, figures show.

It is over three times the increase among all age groups.

The Health Research Board (HRB), which published the figures, said measures to combat the problem include price increases and restrictions on alcohol sales.
The HRB report comes as other research claims that 590,000 children are exposed to hazardous drinking by their parents on a regular basis.
  Data showed over 42,000 treatment cases for problem alcohol use between 2005 and 2010.

Dr Suzi Lyons, senior HRB researcher, said this data was an "underestimate" of the true figure, as they only had data for a "fair majority", but not all, treatment centres.
 

To view the full story, click on this link: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/150-surge-in-number-of-teenagers-seeking-treatment-for-alcohol-abuse-173329.html#ixzz1dE4cRylI 

Source: Irish Examiner