June 2010
Racine County Youth Coalition Newsletter
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Vision

Racine County is a place where youth assets are increasing and all youth are healthy, involved and successful members of the community.

Mission

The Racine County Youth Coalition engages agencies, business partners, communities, families and schools, to promote and foster positive change in community practices, public policy, and youth programming in order to build assets and reduce risk behaviors including substance abuse among all Racine County young people.


Interested in joining the RCYC? 

Contact Seth Kuranz at Focus on Community for more information.

(262) 632-6200
rcyc@focusracine.org
          
Join Our Mailing List

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In This Issue
 
Youth Engagement

NPR's Morning Edition Covers Underage Alcohol Use
 
Genes Help Determine Brain Response to Alcohol
 
Positive Health Results from AZ Smoking Ban
 
"Four Loko" Energy Drink

Search Institute Survey and Four-Core Measure Survey
youth Youth Engagement  

This past may, the CDC released a "Best Practices User Guide: Youth Engagement - State and Community Interventions."  Youth involvement in policy work can produce powerful social change as tobacco control programs have demonstrated time and again. 

This guide provides information on the best practices for engaging youth as a part of a comprehensive program. Click here to download a copy or place an order.
NPRNPR's Morning Edition

On Monday, May 31 NPR's Morning Edition covered the issue of underage alcohol use and linked parental attitudes,the potential for brain damage and the European drinking myth.

You can listen to the story by clicking here.
genes Genes Help Determine Brain Response to Alcohol
 
Alcohol consumption prompts the brain to release the pleasure chemical dopamine, but genes may influence the degree to which the brain responds to drinking and -- by extension -- how effective medications like naltrexone are in treating alcoholism.

Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) found that genetic variations in the mu-opioid receptor sites in the brain's reward system seem to influence the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine and the degree of pleasure that individuals get from drinking.

Researchers also found that naltrexone -- a drug that works to block the release of dopamine resulting from drinking -- was more effective for patients with some genetic profiles than others.

For more information, visit JoinTogether by clicking here.
 
 SmokingBanPositive Health Results Linked to AZ Smoking Ban

One year out from a statewide public-smoking ban, hospital admissions for asthma, stroke, heart attacks, and angina fell sharply in Arizona, the Arizona Daily Star reported May 20.

For more information, visit JoinTogether by clicking here.

 four"Four Loko" Energy Drink 

A new energy drink called "Four Loko" has a 12-percent alcohol content and is loaded with caffeine and sugar, WABC-TV reported May 28.

Twice the size of a regular can of soda, the 24-ounce energy drink sells for under $3 -- cheaper than a beer -- which officials in New York say makes it appealing to kids.

For more information, visit JoinTogether by clicking here.

 SearchSurveySearch Institute Survey and Four-Core Measure Survey

During the months of April and May, 14 public schools and 3 private schools in Racine County administered the Search Institute Profiles: Student Attitudes and Behaviors Survey and Four-Core Measures Survey.  The RCYC would like to thank all the schools that participated.

Results will be available in approximately six weeks.