The cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States in 2006 reached $223.5 billion or about $1.90 per drink, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 79,000 deaths and 2.3 million years of potential life lost in the United States each year.

"It is striking that over three-quarters of the cost of excessive alcohol consumption is due to binge drinking, which is reported by about 15 percent of U.S. adults," said Robert Brewer, M.D., M.P.H., Alcohol Program Leader at CDC and one of the authors of the report. "Fortunately, there are a number of effective public health strategies that communities can use to reduce binge drinking and related harms, such as increasing the price of alcohol and reducing the number of places that sell and serve it."

To access the entire study, visit the American Journal of Preventive Medicine's Web site.

Free Webinar: "IMAGE Model Alcohol Prevention Program: Facilitator Training

In an effort to make evidence-based programming more accessible, the University of Houston is pleased to offer a two-part webinar on how to implement a model program on your campus; specifically, the IMAGE (Intent & Motivation: Alcohol Group Exercise) program.  IMAGE is a research-driven, theory-based program which has garnered national recognition across the past 3 years (USDE Model Program in 2008 and again in 2010; NASADAD Exemplary Program in 2009).  Results show that students who participate in IMAGE are more likely to drink less, to drink less often, and to experience fewer negative alcohol-related consequences than students who do not participate in IMAGE.
 

Gaylyn Maurer, IMAGE Program Director, will facilitate this second of the two-part series which will focus upon IMAGE session facilitation. The webinar will begin with an overview of session protocol, and then will provide in-depth training on each session component: pre-test administration; discussions about high-risk drinking and self-protective behaviors; alcohol poisoning information; processing normative feedback; and post-test administration.
Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) will be provided for LPC, LCSW, and licensed psychologists. Following the webinar, participants will receive a hard-copy of the free 100 page IMAGE Facilitator's Guide (via postal service), and the slides from the broadcast (via e-mail). This two-part webinar series will be re-broadcast in the Spring which will provide an opportunity for additional staff at your campus to participate in the training, as well.

To register for this Webinar, contact Reuben Parrish, IMAGE Project Coordinator.

Date: November 3, 2011

Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Mini-Conference Series: "Preventing Sexual Violence on College Campuses"

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), in partnership with the University of Maryland at College Park and Bowie State University, present the 2011-2012 Preventing Sexual Violence on College Campuses Mini-Conference Series. Most Mini-Conferences are free and include presentation, interactive discussion, and Q&A. The Mini-Conference Series is open to college students, staff and personnel from the DC Metro area. Topics include:

Performing a Critical Analysis of Your Campus Sexual Assault Policy

Presented by Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER)

November 2, 2011

Implementing a Sexual Violence Prevention Campaign on Campus

Presented by Green Dot

December 7, 2011

Let's Talk: A Discussion of Sexual Violence and LGBTQIA Community Issues

Presented by D. LaShay Harvey, Med.

February 2, 2012

How to Start/Implement a Successful Sexual Violence Advocacy Program

Presented by University of Maryland and Bowie State University

March 7, 2012

Taking a Stand: Sexual Violence Prevention and Greek Life

Presented by Kedrick Griffin, Men Can Stop Rape

April 5, 2012

For additional information and to register for the Mini-Conferences, visit MCASA's Web site. 

Webinar: "Evaluation 101: The Fundamentals of Coalition Evaluation"

In today's fiscal environment, coalitions must develop and implement data-driven solutions to local problems and prepare themselves to make a strong case for the community-level outcomes they achieve. This means conducting comprehensive and ongoing community assessments, utilizing logic models to guide coalition work and track progress along the way, and learning how to effectively communicate your coalition contributions to funders and other stakeholders.

This introductory webinar, presented by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), will provide coalition leaders and members with a critical framework for learning the basics of coalition evaluation and the ways in which evaluation can be used to enhance coalition effectiveness.

Date: November 17, 2011

Time: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

For more information and to register for the Webinar, visit CADCA's Web site.

Job Opportunities  

The following positions were recently posted to the Job Opportunities section of the Center's Web site:

Violence Prevention Coordinator

Gannon University

Program Director Student Health and Wellness Services

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention

Winston-Salem State University

Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator/Specialist

East Stroudsburg University

Substance Abuse Prevention Counselor

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Coordinator of Wellness Education

Emerson College

Deputy Director, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services

California Department of Health Care Services

Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Coordinator/Campus Project Coordinator

California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA)