HELP FOR TALKING TO YOUR CHILD

Remember the fried egg? ..."This is your brain on drugs." We were young then - maybe close to the age of our children now. The organization that put that campaign together is the "Partnership for a Drugfree America". It was around before there even was a world wide web. Today, they have a web site that helps parents every day.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children. By bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts and communications professionals, we not only translate current research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand, actionable resources at drugfree.org, but we offer hope and help to the parents of the 11 million teens and young adults who need help with drugs and alcohol.

Their website allows parents to connect with each other, tap into expert advice and find support in their role as hero to their kids.

Suspect that your child is using alcohol or drugs? Check out this link and learn how to deal with it. Lots of great resources and ideas!

http://www.drugfree.org/intervene

Alcohol and Energy Drinks = A Bad Mix

Joose and Four Loko are just a couple of the names of these popular alcoholic drinks that are flying off the shelves. They are 24 ounce cans and have about 5.6 drinks in one can. These drinks have caused a huge stir due to the amount of alcohol you get at a very cheap price. The problem is they are a huge health risk because alcohol is a depressant and the energy drink is a stimulant. These two opposite beverages in the same can causes a lot of harm to the body. Some states have already banned them and now the FDA is looking into their safety. Kansas banned them and these drinks are to not be sold anymore after December 1st. For more information click on the link below:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/nov/22/statehouse-live-alcoholic-energy-drinks-banned-sta/

ALCOHOL 101 COLLEGE

Here's a great web site to send on to your college bound or current college student. Try it out yourself then, pass it on to some young people in your life. This website, created for the Century Council, features a compelling and fun Flash presentation, information to curb alcohol abuse by college students, and an extensive private section of the website that includes an online discussion board.
Colorful, student-oriented graphics and layout keep the mood light, while thoroughly documented information on how to prevent alcohol abuse aimed at first year students, student athletes, fraternity members, and those who get caught drinking while driving helps students to address an issue that affects every college campus.

http://www.alcohol101plus.org/home.html

1 866 MUST B 21 (1 866 687 8221)

Heard about any unsupervised drinking parties your underage child may end up at this weekend? Do you know where underage youth are drinking right now or later tonight? Many Junior High and High Schoolers seek out homes in Lawrence, college friends' apartments and land just outside of town to have drinking parties with no adult supervision every weekend. Unfortunately, it is far too easy to get alcohol as a minor in Lawrence so, put 2 and 2 together and a dangerous situation is created.

What should concerned parents and community members do? Call for help. The Kansas Department of Transportation offers the 1-866-MUST-B-21 hot line to help curb underage drinking. The toll-free tip line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available for citizens to anonymously report parties involving underage drinking, plans to purchase alcohol for underage persons, and retailers who sell alcohol to underage persons.
Help us all keep kids safe and use this valuable service used by communities all across Kansas.

To anonymously report underage drinking or the sale of alcohol to a minor, call:

•1-866-MUST-B-21

ALCOHOL AND THE TEENAGE BRAIN

Duke University recently announced the permanent cancellation of tail-gating at football games after a 14-year-old was found passed out drunk in a port-a-potty before the game. A study by John Hopkins University finds the average age of drinking onset for women is 17.4 and 16.5 for men. What does alcohol do to the developing teenage brain?
Read this tip sheet from the experts. When you look at National statistics, remember, Lawrence ranks at or above these numbers since we too are a 'college town'.

http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2010/516_nov17/thisweek/101117_alcohol.shtml

PARENTS-ALCOHOL EDU COURSE ONLINE

Universities across the country, including KU, require students to take an AlcoholEdu online course as freshmen. There is now a version for parents to take called AlcoholEdu for high school parents. Although it is called "for high school parents" it is a great tool for parents of younger children as well.

This is a FREE 15-minute Prevention Course designed to help parents have an effective conversation with their son or daughter about underage drinking. This is not your typical resource website.

AlcoholEdu for Parents helps parents to understand Social Host Liability, dispels common incorrect perceptions about underage drinking, assists with strategies and techniques for monitoring and setting rules, gives guidance on what to do if your teen is experimenting, and shares expert advice for dealing with common situations.

I encourage you each to experience it for yourself and share with your friends and colleagues.

Logging in is easy and it is always available!

1. Go to http://highschoolparents.alcoholedu.com
2. Under New User type: share
3. Click “Sign Up”!
Here are a few ideas to distribute to parents you know across Lawrence.

• Promote the course - more than once throughout the year – prevention is a sustained effort.
• Put these instructions on your Website/Facebook Page so it is easy for parents to find them.
• Encourage parents to share with their peers.

Pass it on to other Lawrence Parents - especially those with elementary students. It is never too early to learn how to talk to your kids about alcohol.

Fake ID 101 is a Lawrence initiative to get our under 21's reason to think twice about using a fake ID in this town. Kansas Department of Transportation has given Douglas County a grant to put more enforcement on the streets and more educational information in front of those minors who are using or thinking about using fake ID's
Heads up.
If you're under 21 years old and plan on using a fake or borrowed ID to get into a bar or buy alcohol in Lawrence, you may want to think again. Extra law enforcement will be on the lookout for individuals using fake ids this fall semester. And if you are caught, it will cost you more than just a little embarrassment. Find out about the consequences...
Check out our web site at www.newtraditioncoalition.org

ADULTS FACE CHARGES FOR HOSTING MINORS

Notice to parents: Host a party with alcoholic drinks for the under-21 crowd and an uninvited guest could be the police.



Read more about these Kansas City parents who make the wrong choice: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/01/2380637/adults-face-charges-for-hosting.html#ixzz149kvKTY0