SADD Celebrates Turning 30!
 2011-2012 represents SADD's 30th Anniversary of empowering youth to keep their peers safe, and we're celebrating for the whole year! We're hoping all chapters will celebrate our 30th birthday at 11:30 a.m. on November 30. As part of the celebration, we've kicked off a new "Friends of SADD" fundraising campaign. In honor of our 30th year of service, donate $30 to become a "friend" as a way to give back for all that SADD does for young people and for teen safety. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll receive a special SADD decal  for your car, business, or home to show your support! Want to become a friend right now? Click here to donate online.
|
| |
|
Dispose of Prescription Drugs and Support the National Take-Back Initiative
October 29, 2011
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
 Prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates throughout the United States. As part of the effort to address this problem, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to abuse of these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away-both potential safety and health hazards.
Learn more and view "Take-Back" Locations.
|
| |
Common Sense Media Resources Parents
 Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the
lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media
and technology.
The website lists numerous on-line resources for administrators, kids/teens and parents. In addition, they have a free Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum.
Common Sense Media also provides parents with reviews of movies, TV shows, books, video games, music and apps.
These reviews guide parents on age appropriateness, violence, language, sex,
consumerism, substance use and more.
Visit: www.commonsensemedia.org
|
| |
|
|
Promises to Keep
Honesty is Key to Teen Driving Safety
By Stephen Wallace, M.S. Ed.
The Chicago Tribune's report of fifteen students suspended from Naperville North High School for drinking until 5:00 am on the morning school started - some of them still intoxicated for the opening bell - paints a poignant, if problematic, picture of teens and alcohol. As one area mom asked, "I still am wondering, where were the parents? The night before the first day of school? Where did they think their kids were and what did they think they were doing? It's astonishing to me."
Astonishing, yes. Uncommon? Not so much.
Read the rest of the opinion-editorial by Stephen Wallace, Senior Advisor for Policy, Research, and Education at SADD and author of Reality Gap: Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex-What Parents Don't Know and Teens Aren't Telling, on SADD's website.
|
| |
Celebrate Family Day on September 26th!
Engaging in frequent conversations with your children is a proven defense in preventing substance abuse among youth. And when it comes to finding the perfect setting for these important talks, there is no need to go any further than the kitchen table.  However, that can present a problem. Is it difficult for you to get your children to have a meal together as a family? Are family meals sometimes unhappy occasions? In this busy world, often family members want to eat at different times because of classes or meetings. Sometimes the children won't talk to each other!  We asked our Student Leadership Council for advice and this is what they had to say.
Keep the atmosphere light and fun, and there will be a much better feeling around the table! Deanna, MA
Don't bring up anything controversial at the dinner table, like a failed test or speeding ticket. Talk about those things later, you don't want the meal to become unpleasant. Rachael, ND
Make sure everyone at the table gets a chance to voice their ups and downs of the day. This will not only help your family get closer, I'm sure it will spark a funny conversation or two. Mallory, CA
Teen surveys conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) consistently show that the more often kids eat dinner with their f amilies, the less likely they are to drink, smoke or use other drugs. Monday, September 26, 2011 has been declared our nation's official Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with your Children™. Use this day as an opportunity to either begin sharing frequent meals and conversations as a family or to celebrate the fact that you already do! For tips on having conversations with your teens, visit ParentTeenMatters.org. Click here for activities and more information on Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with your Children. Click here to go to ParentsEmpowered.org for some fun conversation starters the whole family can enjoy. Sources: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and ParentsEmpowered.org.
|
| |
|
