Please let us know how we can make the Milwaukee Prevention Journal most valuable to you. Email us with any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Yours in prevention,
Kari Lerch
Prevention Services Manager
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New campaign "Drugs Over Dinner" seeks to reinvent conversation about addiction |
The Huffington Post recently highlighted the campaign "Drugs Over Dinner," an organization that seeks to change the way that drug addiction is talked about by removing the negative stigma that currently exists and by getting people from all generations to have a conversation about drug addiction. Jamison Monroe, co-founder of the organization, thinks that "the mix of differing opinions creates for dynamic and productive conversation." Read the article and check out the "Drugs Over Dinner" website. |
Use the strengths of our youth to fight gun violence
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There's no magic wand that can be waved to end - or even reduce - the epidemic of deaths and mayhem coming from the reckless or criminal use of guns. The Journal Sentinel called for a Summit to begin a dialogue in the Crossroads section (April 26), focusing mainly upon our political and community leaders.
As commendable as that may be, we feel that our most affected neighborhoods can't wait for another summit to put into effect strategies that would end their continuing exposure to death and injury by gunfire.
Read more from the "Coming Together" Initiative
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New suggested language for substance use disorders
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U.S. drug czar Michael Boticelli spoke about the negative effects that stigmatizing language can have on people with substance abuse disorders in a recent Huffington Post article. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has drafted a new glossary of suggested language.
Dr. John F. Kelly, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, believes that the "use of terms more in keeping with this medical malfunction, such as describing an affected person as an individual with, or suffering from, a 'substance use disorder' -- as opposed to a 'substance abuser' -- may decrease stigma and increase perceptions of a need for treatment." The drafted glossary can be found here.
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New SAMHSA report on current and long-term heroin trends released |
A recent report was released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that tracks heroin use in the United States over the span of 11 years, from 2002-2013.
Results showed that the use of heroin has risen significantly over the past 11 years. In the year 2013 alone, 681,000 Americans aged 12 and older used heroin in the past year, and 169,000 Americans age 12 and older used heroin for the first time in 2013.
The greatest amount of users came from the young adult population, comprised of ages 18-25, with 66,000 users in that age group alone.
Heroin use has not only risen, but perception regarding the ease of obtaining heroin has increased as well.
See more trends of heroin use from 2002-2013 here. |
WHO revising their guidelines for giving antibiotics to newborns
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Three large studies were published in The Lancet and Lancet Global Health last week, and the W.H.O. has responded by saying there will soon be a revision of its guidelines.
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Marijuana remains on the list of Schedule I drugs
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A federal judge declined on April to order the removal of marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Administration's Schedule I List. The Schedule I List includes drugs that are classified as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. This list includes drugs such as heroin and LSD alongside marijuana.
23 states currently allow the use of medical marijuana, and this reinforcement of marijuana's place on the Schedule I List will prove an interesting battle between federal and state law. See the article here.
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Elementary-age suicide rates rising among black children
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Since the 1990s, suicide rates among elementary-age black children have nearly doubled, while suicide rates among white children have fallen, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
The study examined statistics for children between the ages of 5 and 11 from 1993 to 2012, and found that while the overall suicide rate among this age group remained stable, the rate increased significantly among black children (from 1.36 to 2.54 per 1 million children), and decreased significantly among white children (from 1.14 to 0.77 per 1 million children), during the same period. While the suicide rates among elementary-age children in general are relatively low compared to the number of suicides committed by adolescents and adults, these statistics are significant because they explore a little-studied demographic and because they show the reversal of a trend.
Read more from the Huffington Post
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Event Announcements
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FATHERHOOD SUMMIT
May 30
Milwaukee, WI
Fatherhood Summit held at Community Advocates offering a variety of services and programs for fathers.
BIKING TOUR OF MURALS IN HURAMBEE AND RIVERWEST
May 30, 11:00 a.m.
Milwaukee, WI
A free 2-hour bike ride hosted by Connect 53212. For more information and to register, contact info@connect53212.org or call (414) 255-0373.
SUMMER BASKETBALL AND KICKBALL LEAGUES
Milwaukee, WI
More information available online.
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Job Opportunities | |
MURAL & SCULPTURE GARDEN INTERN
ArtWorks for Milwaukee is seeking an intern for the Sharing Our Vibrant Lives Community Mural and Sculpture Garden. Applications due June 1. More information available online.
ARTWORKS FOR YOU INTERN
Applications due June 1. More information available online.
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
The ACLU of Wisconsin is seeking an experienced Development Coordinator. More information available online.
OYS YOUTH SERVICES POLICY COORDINATOR
More information available here.
NPC CEO POSITION
The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee is seeking a CEO. Please submit a cover letter including salary expectations and a resume to npcmceosearch@gmail.com by May 27. |
Funding Opportunities | |
CAMPS FOR KIDS SCHOLARSHIP
For scholarship inquiries, visit this page, select a camp, and call for details.
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