Issue #1January 8, 2013
   
Greetings!

Welcome to the first issue of "Inside Prevention."

  

I'd like to thank everyone that signed up to continue receiving updates from the PRC.


We have re-imagined our newsletter to provide a more comprehensive experience for our readers.

 

Along with recent articles from our website and blog, we look to offer access to a variety of materials--fact sheet, data briefs-- discussing the connection that underage drinking, tobacco and illicit drug use has with issues of crime, poverty, unemployment and other local concerns.

 

We also encourage readers to offer your thoughts on current topics and will feature polls, editorials, and video clips.

 

Over the next few months, I look forward to sharing the many new things we have in store with you.

 

 

Yours in service,

 

Scott
 

Scott J. McLeod

Director, NYC Prevention Resource Center
In This Issue
Local Hospitals Testing New Moms for Pot & Other Drugs
NYS Ban on E-Cigs to Minors Starts Jan. 1
Will New Marijuana Laws Signal a Rise in Youth Addiction
PRC Awards iPad to Loyal Reader
NTSB Wants Use of Ignition Locks to Become Nationwide Law
Websites..The Start of a Good Social Media Strategy
TODAY'S POLL 
Do You Like Our New Layout?
  
BLOG: Notes From the Meeting Table
Local Hospitals Testing New Moms for Pot & Other Drugs
More than a dozen city hospitals have admitted to testing new mothers for drugs and contacting ACS if they are positive for smoking marijuana.

 

The New York Daily News reported that a several hospitals serving low income and minority women have adopted the practice of mandatory screening for illegal drugs in either mothers and newborns.

 

Family Court attorneys said they see scores of neglect proceedings each year originating from a positive marijuana test - almost exclusively against low-income and minority women.

 

Attorneys who fight these cases have begun citing scientific findings that pot use poses less risk to fetuses than cigarettes or alcohol. "They take a urine test and act as if it can predict parenting ability," said Emma Ketteringham of the Bronx Defenders, "It's doing more harm than good." 
READ MORE
NYS Ban on E-Cigs to Minors Starts Jan. 1
On January 1, a new state law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors goes into effect.

 

Electronic cigarettes are battery powered devices that produce vaporized liquid nicotine rather than tobacco smoke. Despite being packaged as an alternative to traditional cigarettes, they are considered by some to unfairly appeal to minors using a variety of candy flavors.  READ MORE
Will New Marijuana Laws Signal a Rise in Youth Addiction 

 With the recent decriminalization of non-medical marijuana in Colorado and Washington, the stigma of the drug has been lessened in the eyes of many people.

 

In New York State, a recent poll showed that 51 percent of residents favored legalization with only 44 percent opposing the measure. 
READ MORE
PRC Awards iPad to Loyal Reader

Fay Chiang had an extra reason to celebrate the beginning of 2013 when her name was chosen to receive a brand new Apple iPad.

 

Fay was entered into a random drawing after becoming one of the first fifty people to sign up to receive the PRC newsletter.

 

"I can't believe it. My kids thought it might be a trick and asked if I was sure it was real."

 

Fay works at Project Reach, a crisis counseling anti-discrimination youth center located in Lower East Side/Chinatown.

 

Along with the iPad, she also received with a Bluetooth keyboard and PRC carrying case.

 

"I guess I have no excuse for not learning how to work it", she joked. "This is a great way to start off the New Year."  

NTSB Wants Use of Ignition Locks to Become Nationwide Law
 Adopting a nationwide law mandating the use of ignition locks has been suggested by the National Transportation Safety Board.

 

The lock requires a breathalyzer test to start a car engine and would prevent an intoxicated driver from getting on the road if they fail the test.

 

The board suggested that all states mandate the measure for all convicted drunken drivers including any first time offenders and considered the best available solution to reducing the more than 32,000 traffic deaths a year attributed to drunk driving.

 

The NTSB also urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to speed up its research effort with automakers to develop systems that can determine a driver's blood alcohol concentration...READ MORE
Websites..The Start of a Good Social Media Strategy

 With the emphasis placed on using newer social media tools like Facebook or Twitter, it's easy to forget that a good website can provide the foundation towards giving the public useful information about your work and become the start of developing a great social media strategy.

 

"A lot of people forget that before others can "like" them on Facebook, they need to know what exactly the organization is trying to accomplish."

 

On January 17th, the PRC is offering a free workshop, "Is It Time to Rethink Your Website" to help organizations and groups address this problem.

 

This three hour training is designed to help you create an online presence for the digital age -combining the traditional tools that effectively tell the world about your organization and its goals, while utilizing current social media offerings that allow you to connect and interact with your audience.

 

"With more than 400 forms of social media tools available, it can be extremely hard for people to know where to begin....and often its starts with having a good website."

 

Regardless of the current state of your website, this workshop is a great opportunity to see what others can done to drive more people to their site and how social media can be integrated and used to get your message across.

 

Click here to register and learn more