RED RIBBON WEEK

The Traffic Safety Resource Office announces two competitions.  Pass it on and win!

Seeking Red Ribbon Week Awards Nominations: Did you or your community or school organize any kind of celebration of Red Ribbon Week?  If so, you may have the opportunity to win an award to recognize your achievements! Hurry - the deadline to submit is Friday, November 18, 2011.

To download the nomination form, go here.

Act Out Loud 2012 is Here! From October 14, 2011 - January 13, 2012, teams are invited to enter the contest to participate in three different activities that focus on stronger teen driver safety laws. Teams that complete all three activities will be eligible for the $10,000 grand prize.

For all contest details, go here.

 

LAWRENCE SERVER TRAINING FOR BARS & RESTAURANTS

On August 28th, at Lawrence Arts Center  representatives from local agencies provided training, including on how to detect fake IDs, for local alcohol servers and retailers. More than 150 staff members from 31 bars and restaurants and three liquor stores attended. Jen Jordan ofDCCCA said organizers were pleased with the turnout, even though they wished more retailers would have attended.

NEW TRADITION COALITION INITIATIVES

The New Tradition Coalition is involved im three initiatives to help stop underage drinking in Lawrence.  read the Lawrence Journal World article for more info.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/aug/29/local-efforts-will-target-underage-drinking/

DON'T BE BLIND TO THE CONSEQUENCES

Check out this You Tube clip from the Prevention and Recovery Service in Topeka.  Pass it on.

STICKER SHOCK

Dozens of area high school students visited local liquor stores last Saturday morning, but they weren’t trying to buy liquor. They had a message for of-age consumers: Don’t buy alcohol for them. Visit these articles about the New Tradition Youth Coalition and see their efforts to curb the practice of buying alcohol for minors.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/apr/14/high-schoolers-hope-sticker-shock-discourages-prov/
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/apr/16/high-school-students-take-stand-against-underage-d/

BUYERS BEWARE-SEE WHAT KIDS SAY

Watch this video and what teens and experts say about their experience when parents allow drinking in their homes. It is easy to allow underage drinking in your home and very difficult to control and monitor it the risky behavior that may follow. Should parents confer or ask if it is OK with other parents before letting their teen drink in their home? How are the teen drinking parties being monitored? Would you trust that your teen is safe? It is against the law. Is it worth it?
http://www.youtube.com/connectwithkids#p/u/2/xVemAO52BEk

LETTER TO PARENTS

Newsletter: April 2011

Teens, Parties, and Alcohol Don’t Mix

Many well-meaning parents think that it is enough to take away car keys at their teen’s parties so the teens can’t drink and drive. Parents provide the alcohol or allow alcohol to be consumed based on the false belief that it’s a rite of passage, especially at prom and graduation parties.

Parents often cite these two misguided reasons, safety and rite of passage, for hosting teen parties where alcohol is served. They believe it is “safer” for kids to drink at home, and may even think that hosting teen parties makes them appear to be a “cool” parent. When parents serve alcohol to teens in their home, in reality what they are doing is facilitating their kids’ comfort with alcohol. This practice sends a mixed message. Teens believe, “If it’s OK to drink at home, it’s OK to drink.” The reality is that the consequences can be overwhelming and in extreme cases fatal.

Parents planning to host parties for their teens should think twice before serving alcohol. Hosting a party for teenagers with alcohol can be costly. It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol.

Here are the laws in Lawrence:
• You cannot host minors consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages at your residence, land, building or rented room (ex: hotel).

• As an adult, it is unlawful to directly or indirectly sell to, buy for, give or furnish any alcoholic liquor or beer to anyone under the age of 21.

• Furnishing/purchasing alcohol can result in a minimum fine of $200 and a sentence of up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines plus, court and legal fees.

• Hosting a party carries a minimum fine of $1,000 or up to $2,500 with up to a year in county jail, plus court and legal fees.

We hope you will partner with the New Tradition Coalition and the City of Lawrence as we launch the “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most” public awareness campaign to help parents think about the dangers of teenage drinking parties. The campaign stresses to parents that hosting teen drinking parties should not be regarded as a “rite of passage” but as a health and safety problem with legal ramifications. Don’t be a party to teenage drinking. Refuse to supply alcohol to children in your home or on your property; be at home when your teenager has a party; make sure your teenager’s friends do not bring alcohol into your home (even if that means checking backpacks and purses); talk to other parents about providing alcohol-free beverages at youth events; provide teenagers with opportunities for alcohol-free events and activities, and report underage drinking. Call 1-866-MUST-BE-21, or your local police to report violations. Together, we can make the difference.

FAKE ID 101 CAMPAIGN

February 26, 2011 Excerpt from Lawrence Journal World article
No Faking: Lawrence police cracking down on bogus IDs
Archive for Saturday, February 26, 2011
Coalition uses KDOT grant to fight underage drinking

The Facebook ad targeted Lawrence area youths who might be looking for a fake ID.
Apparently, the power of advertising works.

A total of 5,247 people between the ages of 16 and 20 clicked on the ad that featured a fake ID using the character “McLovin’” from the movie “Superbad” during a 60-day period last semester.

But instead of getting a chance to obtain a fake ID that could be used to try to buy booze at Lawrence liquor stores and bars, people who clicked on the ad were directed to a website: the New Tradition Coalition of Lawrence, which combats alcohol abuse and underage drinking.

Coalition members said interest in the Facebook ad clearly illustrates the demand for fake IDs and the prevalence of underage drinking in Lawrence, particularly among Kansas University students.

“That bothered me because that many kids actually clicked on it because they were thinking they were going to get a fake ID,” said Jen Jordan, director of prevention for DCCCA. “We know that underage drinking is an issue in Lawrence and at KU and other colleges. We’re just trying to address it.”

Among the efforts is a project dubbed Fake ID 101.
See more at:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/feb/26/no-faking-lawrence-police-cracking-down-bogus-ids/

MYTHS ABOUT KIDS & DRINKING

Young people drink to have a good time.
A RECENT NATIONAL SURVEY OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TELLS A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. MORE THAN 30% OF TEENAGERS DRINK ALONE; BOREDOM AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS ARE AMONG THE REASONS WHY THEY SAY THEY DRINK.

Alcohol is less dangerous than other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or LSD.
CAR CRASHES, SUICIDES. HOMICIDES AND DROWNING ARE ALL ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL USE AND MAKE IT THE NUMBER–ONE DRUG PROBLEM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. IN FACT, THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF DEATH FOR A 16-YEAR OLD IS ALCOHOL-RELATED.

If I let my child drink at home, he or she will be less likely to get into trouble with alcohol outside the home.
RESEARCH SHOWS TEENAGERS WHOSE PARENTS ALLOW THEM TO DRINK AT HOME ARE MORE LIKELY TO DRINK OUTSIDE THE HOME AND TO USE OTHER DRUGS. THEY ALSO HAVE A MUCH GREATER CHANCE OF DEVELOPING A SERIOUS PROBLEM.


So long as my child doesn’t drive, it’s okay for him or her to drink.
TEENS DON’T DRINK THE SAME WAY ADULTS DO. MANY TEENS ENGAGE IN “BINGE DRINKING” AND DOWN THEIR DRINKS QUICKLY SO THAT THEY WILL GET DRUNK. WHEN THEY ARE DRUNK THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DRINK AND DRIVE, OR TO RIDE WITH ANOTHER TEEN WHO HAS BEEN DRINKING.

A FEW UNDERAGE DRINKING FACTS

Every day, 5,400 young people under 16 have their first drink of alcohol. (Source: Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth with calculations from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)

Studies reveal that alcohol consumption by adolescents results in brain damage - possibly permanent -and impairs intellectual development. (Source: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (Volume 24, Number 2 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Adolescents drink less and have fewer alcohol-related problems when their parents discipline them consistently and set clear expectations. (Source: Hawkins JD, Graham JW, Maguin E, et al. 1997 Exploring the effects of age of alcohol use initiation and psychosocial risk factors on subsequent alcohol misuse. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 58(3): 280-290)

When drinking is delayed until age 21, a child’s risk of serious alcohol problems is decreased by 70 percent. (Source: Calculated from information contained in: Grant BF, Dawson DA. 1997, Age at onset of alcohol use and its association with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence. Results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. Journal of Substance Abuse 9:103-110.)

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

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

CDC SURVEY LOOKS AT GRADES

Check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention survey of our nation's youth.

What is the relationship between alcohol and other drug use and academic achievement?
Data presented below from the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show a negative association between alcohol and other drug use and academic achievement after controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade level. This means that students with higher grades are less likely to engage in alcohol and other drug use behaviors than their classmates with lower grades, and students who do not engage in alcohol and other drug use behaviors receive higher grades than their classmates who do engage in alcohol and other drug use behaviors.

Not surprising to adults but, something to share with Lawrence Youth who may not see the correlation.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/alcohol_other_drug.pdf

PRINCETON REVIEW OF PARTY SCHOOL RANKINGS OUT

The Princeton Review just released its ranking of the nation's biggest party schools – billed as the list of colleges where students really know how to have a good time. KU did not make the top ten list. For some kids, those times are starting way before college. CDC research reports that 72 percent of high school students have used alcohol. How can parents recognize warning signs that their teen may have a drinking problem?
Read more...

http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2010/505_sep1/thisweek/100901_drinking.shtml

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW TRADITION COALITION

The New Tradition Coalition has been operating for three years and has already made an impact in our community. Here are some of the things we have been involved in:
Lawrence Social Hosting Laws
Fake ID 101 initiative
S.A.F.E. Homes directory of like minded Lawrence families
Parent Network group with monthly meetings to discuss teen issues.
Web site with parent resources
This Blog site that keeps the community current on underage drinking and substance abuse issues
School, government, health and law enforcement agencies network
And... up to now, we have been unfunded and worked strictly with volunteers.

Because of the hard work of all of our volunteers, we have been awarded a federal "Drug Free Community Grant" that will enable us to move forward on bigger and better programs for Lawrence. Proudly, we are one of 176 recipients and the only one in Kansas. Originally funded by Congress in 1997 with the understanding that local problems need local solutions, the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program now supports over 700 drug-free community coalitions across the United States. As a cornerstone of ONDCP's National Drug Control Strategy, DFC provides the funding necessary for communities to identify and respond to local substance use problems.

Congratulations to all who worked on the grant, who are on the coalition and to the City of Lawrence who will reap the rewards.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/sep/02/coalition-receives-grant-combat-teen-drug-use-drin/#comments

HELPING STUDENTS WHO ARE AWAY FROM HOME

As a parent of a college student there are things that you should know and actions you can take to help your child make responsible decisions and avoid many of the problems associated with drinking while they're away at school. Check the local web sites about school alcohol policies and city social hosting laws. KU and the city of Lawrence have instituted many new policies and laws just this year. Send your student off prepared with the facts. Set up open communication about alcohol and drugs so if your child gets in over their head, either by drinking too much or being around it when it is out of control, they can call you for help and advice. Make sure your college student knows the signs of alcohol poisoning and what they must do to help their friends in need. Have them designate two or three friends they can call if they find themselves in trouble and need help themselves. Talk about the dangers of doing 21 shots on their 21st birthday. (Ever heard of a "Shot Book"- a scrap book documenting the progression of the birthday girl doing 21 shots throughout the night?) Below are some good conversation starters for you and your college bound student.

http://cocktails.about.com/od/healthsafety/a/college_drinkin.htm

http://www.haverford.edu/firstyear/files/parentsbrochure.pdf

http://www.brad21.org/pdf/Alcohol%20Poisoning_8.05.pdf