Current News
Read these news stories bookmarked on CATS delicious. Visit the CATS website for news & events.
Making Change
Recovery Resource
A
free recovery support group for young people (14-21). St. David's Episcopal Church, 231 Main Street in Salem on Thursdays from 4:15 to 5:15 PM.
Alcoholics Anonymous www.nhaa.netOffice 603-622-6967Hotline 1-800-593-3330Al-Anon & Alateenwww.nhal-anon.orgTel. 1-877-825-2666Narcotics Anonymouswww.gsana.orgHelpline 1-888-624-35781-800-662-HELP24/7 Treatment & Referral SAMHSA Hotline 1-800-273-TALKNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline |
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COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR TEEN SAFETY
Safe Homes & Communities
January 2010
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Dear Friend of the CATS Community,
Best wishes to everyone for this new year. CATS has been busy getting the year off to a good start. Please visit the updated resource guide on our website. It is still under construction but already offers a convenient array of resources for all members of the CATS community. Production is winding down on our mock-crash driving safety video. We've been working with the NH Attorney General's Office and local stakeholders to create a final product for distribution to youth audiences. If you haven't already viewed CATS Connections on Derry CTV, now is a good time to start. This month's show provides an overview on prevention work in southern NH. We are currently selecting
topics for the remainder of the year. There are
many opportunities to work "on the ground" or in
the studio assisting with technical
production.
Please contact CATS if you are interested in participating in any activities or if you have any other ideas you'd like to share.
Best regards,
Sue Centner, Director
Contact Us
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CATS Hosts 'Sticker Shock' Campaign
'Buyer Beware' message ups awareness of alcohol consumption and the dangers of underage drinking
It seemed a daunting task, but Salem teen Maddie Smith took on the challenge. For three years Smith has helped the Community
Alliance for Teen Safety (CATS) as a youth volunteer and today she was
faced with a case of "sticker shock."
 Last week, Smith and other CATS volunteers spent a
morning at the Derry Hannaford supermarket, placing "Buyer Beware"
stickers on all the beer boxes in an effort to bring awareness to the
public about alcohol consumption and the dangers of underage drinking.To make the message more pertinent, CATS chose New Year's week to take part in the sticker effort.
Also on board that morning was longtime CATS supporter
Haley Cyr, a 2006 Pinkerton graduate that forged a strong bond with the
local group after the tragic death of her boyfriend, Carl Burke, who
sustained fatal injuries in a car accident in November of 2005. Since then, Cyr has been a staunch supporter of CATS'
work to get the message out about dangerous behaviors like drinking and
driving, and substance abuse. "I have a little brother," Cyr said. "This means a lot to me."
 CATS executive director Sue Centner said the group was
excited about partnering with the Derry Hannaford market to take part
in the Project Sticker Shock program, especially right before the new
year when parties and other celebrations are planned. Getting the word
out to youth, and also to adults about the dangers of buying alcohol
for minors was the key message. "This is a very crucial time," Centner said. Centner said CATS organized a similar campaign last
spring right before prom season and the group will continue to conduct
sticker shock efforts during 2010 and welcomed the participation of
merchants in the area.
Statistics show that 90 percent of high school seniors
say alcohol is easy to obtain, Centner said, citing details from a
recent regional youth survey. The sticker effort is a collaborative
project between CATS, local law enforcement, state liquor enforcement,
local merchants and the area's youth.
 The bright, red "Buyer Beware" stickers are placed on
the alcohol packages in a clear way for consumers to see and as a
warning about the dangers and legal ramifications if adults buy alcohol
for minors. Eddie Edwards, Director of Enforcement for the New
Hampshire Liquor Commission, stated that if adults purchase liquor for
minors it is illegal and there are "significant consequences."
Centner encouraged everyone to call authorities or
1-888-8-OVER21 if they know of any violations or any underage drinking
situations.
CATS began more than a decade ago following a long
list of teen fatalities on area roadways. The group works to bring
awareness and positive messages to youth and adults about dangerous
behaviors.
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Super Bowl Safety
Super Bowl Sunday is one of America's biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the Nation's most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving. That's why CATS is joining forces with the National Football League (NFL), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other State and local highway safety and law enforcement officials to remind everyone to act responsibly if they plan on drinking alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday.
- Alcohol and driving don't mix. Impaired driving is no accident-nor is it a victimless crime.
- In 2008, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 32 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday (February 3 to 5:59 am February 4), 49 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.
- In 2008, over 11,000 people died in highway crashes involving an alcohol impaired driver or motorcycle rider with an illegal BAC level of .08 or higher.
- Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.
- The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at potential death, disfigurement, disability, or injury. Violators who are caught will be spending their money on bail, court fees, lawyers, and towing fees.
- Plus, there is the added embarrassment, humiliation, and potential loss and consequence after informing family, friends, and employers.
- Take a few simple precautions to ensure Super Bowl is memorable in a positive way.
If you are hosting a party:
Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash. Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers. Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert. Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
If you are attending a party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
Designate your sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home. Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself-eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks. If you don't have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober. Never let a friend get behind the wheel of their vehicle if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk. Always buckle up - it's still your best defense against other impaired drivers.
For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.
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Media Literacy Monday
What messages are sent by commercial advertising during the Super Bowl and more importantly what messages do you and your family receive or perceive? These resources on media literacy offer some tips to encourage discussion and critical analysis for the home or classroom.
Media Literacy in Super Bowl Ads by Andrew Wesley
How Children Learn from Media Representations
Children
are constantly absorbing and learning from what they observe around
them. Unfortunately, they often take what they see to be fact. As
adults, we know this is not necessarily true. It is the repsonsibility
of the adults around them to both report cultural representations
accurately and factually. When liberties are taken by adults, in this
case within the media, children can misinterpret the information. From
newpaper reports to television commercials, students often formulate
opinions based on what they see. When they see a commercial that
encourages violent behaviors to protect properties, children may assume
that is how society handles these situations. As mentors and role
models for the youth of not just America, but the World, we must hold
people accountable for their actions and teach students what is true
and false about their observations. Read article.
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Citizen Participation & Legislative Alerts!
The following statement is from the NH General Court Website.
Citizen Participation: You have many opportunities to impact this
process, including testifying at hearings, writing letters or making
phone calls to your representatives, or working with organizations to
create awareness of the possible impact of a piece of legislation. You
should know that New Hampshire's "citizen legislature" is a great
source of state pride, and that Representatives and Senators welcome
phone calls at home since most of them don't have offices at the State
House, and have little or no staff to help them gather information. To
contact your Legislator you may call the House Clerk's office (603)
271-2548 or the Senate Clerk's office (603) 271-3420 for more
information.
CATS is pleased to help keep you informed about state legislation directly related to the CATS mission. In addition to our own tracking we also rely on the expertise of New Futures for NH and Allies in Substance Abuse Prevention. To learn more about any of these bills just follow these simple steps:
1. Go to the NH General Court homepage.2. Go to the "State Legislation Dashboard" box and enter the complete bill number (including "HB" or "SB" in the search field.3. Select "Bill Docket", "Bill Status", or "Bill Text" to learn more about the bill, get contact information for committee members, review the hearing schedules and more.4. To get contact information for committee members take note of the reviewing committee, return to the NH General Court homepage and go to either the "House of Representatives Dashboard" or the "State Senate Dashboard" boxes and select [House or Senate] Committees.
Legislative Alerts
HB410: relative to the licensing of alcohol and drug counselors.This bill authorizes qualified master
licensed alcohol and drug use counselors to practice co-occurring
disorder counseling and makes various technical changes to the
regulation of alcohol and drug counselors by the board of licensing for
alcohol and other drug use professionals.
HB1352: This bill changes reporting
requirements for direct shippers of alcoholic beverages and modifies
the limitations on the number of containers of liquor and wine a direct
shipper may ship to a customer.
HB1493: This bill establishes a committee to study comprehensive mental health parity.
HB1503: This bill establishes a liquor license review board to conduct hearings in certain cases.
HB1504: This bill establishes a liquor commission oversight committee.
HB1523: Revising the pupil safety and violence prevention act.
This bill revises the statute on
pupil safety and violence prevention to include harassment,
intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying.
HB1558: This bill prohibits the sale of certain energy drinks to minors.
HB1612: Requires the chief
law enforcement
official in each city or town to solicit assistance from the local
community in providing a secure drop box to be located at the police
station to allow for the disposal of unwanted or unused prescription
drugs.
HB1623: This bill requires a pharmacist to
request identification of a patient before dispensing an order for a
schedule II or III controlled drug.
HB1636: Establishing the real-time electronic controlled drug prescription monitoring program.The bill grants the commissioner of the
department of health and human services rule-making authority for the
purposes of the bill.
SB319: This bill authorizes on-premises alcoholic beverages licensees to purchase liquor and wine from agency stores.
SB325: This bill eliminates the prohibition against a liquor licensee allowing an intoxicated person to loiter on the premises.
SB331: This bill directs the governor's
commission on alcohol and drug abuse prevention, intervention and
treatment to establish a task force on substance use disorder treatment
for Medicaid eligible individuals.
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Get Involved with Safe Homes Network
 1. Can you spare one to two hours a month to serve as a member of an advisory committee?
2. Have you invited a friend to join Safe Homes Network?
Safe Homes Network
is a nationally recognized voluntary peer parent/guardian support
network with the goal of enhancing the safety net for youth and
reducing the toll of underage drinking and use of drugs. In signing a
voluntary pledge, participating parents elect to take an active role in
minimizing the influence of alcohol and drugs on youth in their homes
and to be available to other parents via a Safe Homes Network
directory.
In addition to enhancing youth safety CATS Safe Homes
Network is also committed to educating parents about current laws and
policy such as the State of New Hampshire's party host liability law,
RSA 644:18 Facilitating a Drug or Underage Alcohol House Party. This
law holds "hosts" of parties responsible for the actions of underage
participants and can result in fines and/or jail time. Safe Homes
Network is currently offered to residents of Chester, Derry and
Hampstead. Go to www.catsnh.org/safehomesnetwork.html for more information and the pledge!
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Join CATS on Facebook
CATS
has joined a growing number of non-profits, organizations, businesses,
and individuals by creating a page on the social networking website
Facebook. Our goals are to increase the opportunities people have to
access timely information about issues affecting families and
communities, provide a discussion forum for our members to share their
voice as well as a resource for local events.
The
CATS page on Facebook and the CATS website are intended to complement
each other as part of an overall effort to improve our communications
with members of the CATS community in an informed and manageable way.
Helpful Links to Get Started
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Community Alliance for Teen Safety is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Our
mission is to promote safe habits for all youth by increasing awareness
of high-risk behaviors, encouraging healthy choices, and fostering
community alliances in Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem
and Windham.
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