Guest Post: January 28-February 3 is National Drug Facts Week

            Tippecanoe County, we have encouraging news! Data collected by Purdue University’s Student Wellness Office and by the Drug Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County suggest that the rate of abuse for most drugs is declining. The reported abuse of non-prescription stimulant medication on Purdue’s campus in 2012 has dropped from 11.4% of all students to 2.4% of students. When it comes to cigarettes, 90.5% of students report not smoking a single cigarette within the last 30 days. Data from the Drug-Free Coalition’s most recent profile show that minor consumption, OWI, and public intoxication arrests have all decreased over the past four years. This is all encouraging!

            However, our work is not done. While these are positive results, they are in no way ideal. In 2009, 431 people were admitted to St. Elizabeth Regional Health hospitals for alcohol-related health issues, and there were 773 drug-related arrests in Tippecanoe County in 2010. Those numbers are too high. In 2012, 14% of Purdue students reported smoking marijuana, and the frequency increases as students progress through their college career. This is why we are recognizing National Drug Facts Week to counter the misinformation that youth receive from the media, the Internet, and from peers about drugs.

            This fight against the myths surrounding drug use and their consequences is challenging. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), of the most popular songs in 2005, 1 in 3 mentioned alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use, and 3 in 4 rap songs mentioned these substances. Of the top 90 movies over the last twenty years, 7 in 10 showed characters smoking, and 1 in 3 showed characters getting drunk.  These are the messages that youth are viewing and internalizing, and these different media sources are often the basis for harmful misinformation concerning drug use. Having substance abuse normalized and the harmful consequences minimalized in music and film leads to ignorance and poor decision-making. This is why National Drug Facts Week is about “working to encourage teens to get factual answers from scientific experts about drugs and drug abuse.”

            One of our biggest challenges is that we are up against billion-dollar industries that advertise tobacco, alcohol, and other drug products with glamorous and highly-technological messages. Our budgets are nowhere near as large. This makes our messages even more important, and there are many ways we can empower youth to make good decisions. We can:

·      Provide them with accurate information about the negative consequences of drug use.

·      Teach them about media advocacy and encourage them to become involved in healthy activities.

·      Work with legislators and councils to enact policies that hold people accountable for their behavior and policies that promote a safe and healthy environment for our community.

·      Support access to mental health services for those who need it.

Together, we can make a difference.  For more information about National Drug Facts Week, visit http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/

-Miriam Brown, ATOD Education Coordinator

Purdue Student Wellness Office

January is National Mentoring Month!

At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. A child is not alone in dealing with day-to-day worries.

Think back. Did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that seem easy or straightforward to you now may appear to be a complete mystery to a young person.

Mentors provide their mentees with an experienced friend who is there to help in any number of situations. Mentoring by a caring adult over a prolonged period of time has been shown in countless academic studies to be effective in combating a variety of risk factors. A number of studies have revealed a correlation between a young person’s involvement in a quality mentoring relationship and positive outcomes in the areas of school, mental health, problem behavior and health (DuBois & Karcher, 2005; Rhodes, 2002; Zimmerman, Bingenheimer & Behrendt, 2005).

Did you know that nearly 18 million young Americans need or want mentoring, but only three million are in formal, high-quality mentoring relationships? That means more than 15 million young people still need mentors. That unmet need constitutes what we call the "mentoring gap." Finding mentors for 15 million children is a tremendous challenge that we are working to close, community by community. And with each new mentoring initiative, with each new collaboration between schools and businesses, we are steadily closing the gap. Will you help?

To find out more about ways to make a difference in the lives of Tippecanoe County youth by becoming a mentor, click here.

This article is shared and adapted from mentoring.org.

10 Tips for Surviving Back-To-School and Other Life Transitions

By Olivia Chao :: The Partnership at drugfree.org

1. Start the Dialogue

“If you know a milepost is coming up, talk to them about it,” says Ron Arden, Life Navigator. Try saying:

You’re about to start a new school. How are you doing about that? I know when I was your age and I went to a new school, it was a little scary.

We’re moving out of this area, and you’ll be going to a new school. We’re going to have to make new friends. I think that’s a little scary. What are you feeling about it? What do you think it’s going to be like for you?

“Let them know that their anxieties are normal. Let them know that you understand it, and afterwards ask, ‘How was it for you? Was it as bad as you thought?’ Oftentimes, I suggest parent give their child more information than they need, so that when they come home, they can say, ‘You know, it really wasn’t as bad as you made it out to be.’”

2. Let Your Child Vent

Listen to your child. Try not to interrupt with your running commentary. If you’re thrown off guard by something your child says, tell her you’ll get back to her. Then talk it through with a spouse or friend and when the time is right readdress the topic with your child.

3. Ask Questions

My daughter Lauren never seems stressed about academics – it appears to come easy to her. I mentioned this once, and was surprised to hear that it was not the case. She is stressed but she doesn’t show stress like my other daughter. So, I learned the importance of checking in with my kids and probing a bit. Things are not often what they seem.

4. Eliminate Some of the Surprise

My colleague Denise Young Farrell suggests pointing out details of what’s to come. “My daughter will soon be starting at new program at our local public elementary. When we walk by the school I try to tell her something new about what it will be like. Whether it’s what entrance she’ll use or where she’ll play with her new friends. Just trying to eliminate some of the surprises, as there are sure to be some that sneak up on us!”

5. Help Them Get Organized

Michael Thompson, PhD, consultant, author, & psychologist, points out that middle school can be particularly challenging for boys. “Boys tend to be more to be more scattered. So that middle school is often a very upsetting transition for them because they can’t keep track of their stuff…Moms and dads have to move in and help them with those kinds of organizational challenges in middle school.”

6. Attend Parent Night

For parents of high school and college kids, I recommend taking advantage of the school’s parent orientations as well as any brochures, info sheets and web resources help prepare and educate parents about these transitions. Some of the information is just common sense, but you may learn something. Also, by attending, you’re sending your children a powerful message that you are engaged and that this is indeed an important time for everyone. What’s key, I think, is finding the time to share with the child what you learned. You may get the roll of the eyes and “Yea, yea,” but it’s worth the effort, and it’s easy to do.

7. Establish Guidelines

It’s important to set up rules and guidelines anytime of the year but during times of transition it’s essential. Know where they are, who they’re with and what they’re doing. If your child is heading to college, Vanessa Van Petten, author, consultant and youthologist suggests setting specific boundaries with your child around topics like money, grades and keeping in touch.

8. Make Time to Connect

Parent Partner and mom Lorraine Popper suggests being supportive of your child’s interests during times of transition. “If they’re into a certain type of music, get interested. Show that you care about their life. Spend a little more time together, do activities that they like to do.” Steve Paseirb, president and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, suggests scheduling family dinners or get-togethers every week and set it in stone just like sports practice. “Use the time to catch up on what’s going on in your kid’s life, including what’s not going well. Stressed kids may feel isolated, which can lead to experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Let them know you love them too much to see them risk getting hurt by experimenting or using.”

9. Give Them Independence

“I feel we should give our kids some autonomy so they don’t feel as if we are suffocating them,” says Tracey Jackson. “Then all they want is to get as far from us as possible.” My colleague Claire Kelly’s daughter is starting high school in Manhattan this fall. This summer Claire let her and her older sister take the subway together from Queens to Manhattan to begin getting her used to the commute. On two occasions, she took the train herself. “That was hard for me,” explains Claire. “But my daughter was so excited and proud of herself, I knew allowing her that bit of independence was worth it.”

10. Be Aware of Red Flags

Be aware of any unusual behavior. Tessa Vining suggests asking yourself, “Are they isolating themselves? Are they locking themselves in the – in their room and not letting you in? Are – has their appearance changed? Are they looking a little bit more rundown? Do they seem a little bit more erratic in their mood?” See warning signs and what you can do about it. See a list of warning signs of drug and alcohol use.

And lastly, as your kids prepare to go back to school, you can help them sail through this transition (and many others to come) by simply letting them know that you’re always there to for them.

Guest Post :: Back to School Basics

School will be starting up in the next couple of weeks. It is time as a parent to be thinking about helping your children get off on the right path this school year. The Drug-Free Coalition encourages you to BE INVOLVED and be prepared to deal with problems before they arise.

Here are some pointers to get you started this school year!

• GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILD’S FRIENDS! Studies prove that it will be a friend that influences your teen when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Know their friends and talk to your child about their friends. Consider becoming acquainted with your child’s friends and their parents. Your influence can make a difference.
• ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO BE ON A TEAM OR IN A CLUB, whether at school, in church or at the local youth center. Help them find their abilities. Studies show that children who are involved with extra-curricular activities do better all around than those who are not. Kids want and need to fit in someplace so help them fit into a place that is beneficial to them.
• SPEND TIME TOGETHER as a family. Strengthening your family bonds and allowing your child the opportunity to talk about things that are going on at school and in their life can make a difference in how they react to things.
• ENCOURAGE and believe in your child. Let them know they can do something, be someone, make a difference, and you expect them to succeed in life.
• WATCH FOR CHANGES in your child’s behavior--different friends, grades dropping, etc. These are some of the indicators for alcohol, tobacco and other drug usage.
• CLEAN OUT/LOCK-UP! Most kids get alcohol and prescription drugs from right inside their home. Clean out the old medications, and lock-up alcohol and prescription medications.

I hope these tips will help you get you and your family off to a good start this school year! For more information visit “The Partnership at Drug Free.com”.

Jane Haddock, BSW, CPP
Community Consultant, ICJI
Serving Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Tippecanoe,
Parke, Vermillion, Warren, and White Counties

Rural Teens More Likely to Abuse Prescription Drugs

A study of national data suggests that teens in rural areas abuse prescription drugs at significantly higher rates than their urban and suburban counterparts, MedPage Today reported Nov. 1.

Researchers led by Jennifer Havens, Ph.D., of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., analyzed self-report data on 17,872 teens aged 12-17, collected in the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

They reported that teens in rural areas were 26 percent more likely than urban adolescents to have abused prescription drugs at some point in their lives: 10.3 percent of urban teens reported lifetime misuse of prescription drugs, compared with 11.5 percent in suburban or small metropolitan-area counties, and 13.0 percent of rural teens.

The study’s authors noted several strategies for reducing youth misuse of prescription drugs: keeping youth in school, increasing parental involvement, and linking youth to mental health, general health, and substance abuse treatment.

Rural youth who used prescription drugs non-medically were more likely to have dropped out of school, have a history of depression, or live in a single-parent household.

"While we were able to identify potential targets for intervention such as increased access to health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment, this may be difficult for rural areas where such resources are in short supply or nonexistent," wrote Havens and her colleagues.

No significant differences were found between the rural, urban, and suburban groups in their use of alcohol or illicit drugs; perhaps surprisingly, methamphetamine was among the least popular of drugs. While 40 percent of all teens had drunk alcohol, 10 percent had abused prescription drugs or tried inhalants, and 4 percent had tried hallucinogens, only 1 percent reported using meth.

The study was published online Nov. 1, 2010, in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Lafayette agency earmarks $100K for youth

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette is setting aside $100,000 for up to two grants that will benefit local youths.

Representatives of nonprofit agencies across Tippecanoe County gathered at the foundation's Lafayette headquarters this afternoon for the announcement, which came in conjunction with National Community Foundation Week.

Cheryl Ubelhor, foundation program director, said the group is requesting grant proposals that address such youth issues as alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse, teen pregnancy and gangs.

The idea for the granting opportunity came out of a spring and summer series of community needs surveys and meetings with community stakeholders, Ubelhor said.

Grant proposals are due by May 2, she said. A series of upcoming information sessions will allow grant seekers to get more details.

For more information, read Thursday's Journal & Courier.

Behavior: Too Much Texting Is Linked to Other Problems

By Roni Caryn Rabin :: New York Times

A new study suggests that the high school students who spend the most time texting or on social network sites (or both) are at risk for a host of worrisome behaviors, including smoking, risky sex, depression, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and absenteeism.

The study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University, presented Tuesday at a meeting of the American Public Health Association in Denver, is based on data from questions posed last year to more than 4,000 students at 20 urban high schools in Ohio. About one-fifth sent at least 120 text messages a day, one-tenth were on social networks for three hours or more, and 4 percent did both.

That 4 percent were at twice the risk of nonusers for fighting, smoking, binge drinking, becoming cyber victims, thinking about suicide, missing school and dozing off in class.

The researchers emphasized that texting and social networking did not necessarily cause the other problems. But the lead author, Dr. Scott Frank, a family physician who is director of the public-health master’s program at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, said:

“It does make sense that these technologies make it easier for kids to fall into a trap of working too hard to fit in. If they’re working that hard to fit in through their social networks, they’re also trying to fit in through other behaviors they perceive as popular, like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, having sex and getting involved in higher-risk adolescent behaviors.”

Girls, members of minorities, and teenagers from low-income backgrounds or female-headed households were at greater risk, but the pattern persisted even after researchers controlled for those factors. (One in five teenagers reported no texting and no online social networking at all.)

Dr. Frank noted that the most avid texters and social networkers also rated their parents as more permissive. “This is a red flag for parents — a red flag for their parenting,” he said, “because they need to be monitoring and taking charge of the choices their kids are making. We want parents to set more restrictive rules for their kids regarding texting and networking, just as they would set rules about whether their child can go out on a school night and socialize for three hours.”

Red Ribbon Week Kick-Off a Huge Success

Over 300 Tippecanoe County community members, and elementary, middle and high school students came together this morning to kick start Red Ribbon Week 2010. Red Ribbon week is an awareness week celebrated across the United States to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Each year the coalition holds a Red Ribbon Breakfast to kick off the week's activities. Prior to that students in elementary and middle schools across Tippecanoe County participate in a bookmark contest. Students create bookmarks with messages about staying drug-free. One bookmark winner is chosen from each school. This year we had 26 bookmark contest winners.

The bookmarks will be available at the Tippecanoe County Public Library's Main Campus and Ivy Tech Campus throughout the week.

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh and Purdue University Vice President of Student Affairs Melissa Exum read the this years "Red Ribbon Week Proclamation" encouraging all community members to continue to take part in making Tippecanoe County a safe and health place to live, work and learn!
Purdue woman's basketball, assistant coach, Nadine Morgan encouraged the students to remain drug-free with the ABC's. One student from each table stood and read a reason to stay drug-free. In the end we had 26 reasons, one for every letter of the alphabet!

For a list of activities going on this week click here.

Red Ribbon Week :: October 25th - 31st

Don't forget to keep your Red Ribbon Week gear! Free and discounted events require that you wear your Red Ribbon week t-shirts, bracelets, ribbons, etc. in order to receive incentives. If your school does not have Red Ribbon gear, make your own red ribbon out of red paper! Below you will find a list of activities occuring throughout the week in Tippecanoe County

Red Ribbon Kick-Off Breakfast

Monday, October 25th
The Trails Banquet Facility, 325 Burnett Road, West Lafayette.
Doors open at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30, and speakers will begin at 8 a.m.

Tickets are required. Please contact kate@dftipp.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have questions.

Payment for the breakfast is not necessary, but donations are welcome. Please make checks payable to Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County and mail to 100 Saw Mill Road, Suite 2204, Lafayette, IN.

Thank you to our breakfast sponsors Vicki Burch (West Lafayette City Council, District 4), Fraternal Order of Police, NeoVision, PEFCU and Turning Point Counseling.

Red Ribbon Week Events

Sunday, October 24

Decorate the Tippecanoe County Courthouse with red ribbons at 2 p.m. to raise Red Ribbon Week awareness

Monday through Friday, October 25-29

$5 admission to Monkey Joe's for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Tuesday, October 26

Free game of golf (18 holes) at Monster Mini-Golf from 5-8 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear, plus a $25 off party coupon and free admission coupon upon leaving

Wednesday, October 27

Free admission to Snapperz from 5-8 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Thursday, October 28

One free game of bowling at Star Lanes from 4-6 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Friday, October 29

One free game of bowling, shoes included, at Mike Aulby's Arrowhead Bowl from 8-1 for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Saturday, October 30

Free admission to Great Skates of Lafayette from 2:30-5 (does not include skate rental) for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Saturday and Sunday, October 30-31

Free showing of The Last Airbender at Eastside 9 and Wabash Landing theatres at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Classic Kids Pack concession discounted from $3 to $2 for any student wearing Red Ribbon gear.

Keep your Red Ribbon Week gear! Free and discounted events require that you wear your Red Ribbon week t-shirts, bracelets, ribbons, etc. in order to receive incentives. If your school does not have Red Ribbon gear, make your own red ribbon out of red paper!

A special THANKS to our 2010 activity sponsors:

The European Model

The "European Model" of alcohol use in the home is a frequently debated topic among parents and prevention educators. Many parents struggle with the issue of whether to let their adolescents drink at home. This model is also used as an argument in the debate on lowering the drinking age to 19 here in the United States.

For those who choose to follow the "European model", despite the legal ramifications,
it often boils down to the perception that European countries, like France, have everything figured out. The argument goes like this:

• Their teens can drink— ours cannot.
• Their teens exercise moderation —ours drink to get drunk.

Ergo, if we let our teens drink — at least at home — they will learn to drink in moderation like the European kids.

Even if the logic works in a weird way, the basic premise is flawed. The perception that European cultures, in general, have this problem under control is simply inaccurate.

The European Union (EU) recently commissioned a report on alcohol use among its 25 member states. The report was released last month — June, 2006.*

Among EU members as a collective, the average age of first drink was 12.5 and the average age of first drunkenness was 14.

In Denmark, 70% of 15 year olds were drunk at least twice in the year before the data were collected.

Our kids look like teetotalers by comparison. In the 2005 Monitoring the Future Study, 34% of 10th graders in America reported being drunk at least once in the previous year.

Ultimately, each parent or guardian must decide whether they will allow their kids to drink at home. Correcting the misperception that the Europeans have figured out how to do things better might help in the decision making process.

Jointogether.org published a research article in their newsletter earlier this week, titled: "Rise in Drunkenness Among Eastern European Teens" You can read the full article here.

*To download the .pdf version of "Should Parents Follow the European Model" click here.