DBR-Avoding Drug Abuse

A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE DENISON BULLETIN AND DENISON REVIEW

AVOIDING DRUG ABUSE www.DBRnews.com | Friday, January 28, 2011

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JANUARY 28, 2011

D.A.R.E. marks more than two decades in Denison Program continues to foster good decision-making skills

by Gordon Wolf The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in Denison is now in its third decade of educating students. This year’s fifth-grade class was the 21st to go through the program.

D.A.R.E. was first introduced into the Denison Community School District in 1990 and was expanded in 1991 to include the Denison parochial schools.

To put that in perspective, the first Denison fifth-graders to participate in the program are now 31 and 32, based on the usual fifth-grade age of 10 and 11.

While the faces of students have changed, mission of the D.A.R.E. program has not – to provide youth with the tools to make good decisions.

But D.A.R.E. has another component. It creates a rapport between the students and the Denison police officers who have conducted the 10-week course every fall.

For the past nine years Officer Dave Frazier has been teaching D.A.R.E. He has stated that he still hears from some of the students he taught because of the rapport that was built through the D.A.R.E. program.

D.A.R.E. is more than about “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” It is really about making good decisions. The program teaches that every decision carries consequences.

Students are taught to weigh the consequences of decisions and make choices based on positive consequences.

Of course, the focus on making good choices includes drugs and alcohol. The D.A.R.E. program offers students positive alternatives to drugs and alcohol through education, sports and similar activities.

Following the completion of the 10-week D.A.R.E. course, students participate in a graduation ceremony. The students, their families and their friends hear from a guest speaker. Selected essays are read by the students who wrote them, and diplomas are awarded Besides building rapport between law enforcement and students, having a police officer teach D.A.R.E. provides a valuable resource. The officer is able to share experiences where he has observed people who have made right and wrong choices and the consequences that went along with those decisions.

Along with the instructor, credit for the success of the D.A.R.E. program is shared with the teachers, counselors and principals at the schools in Denison.

Officer Frazier stated, “Without these fine people willingly giving their valuable time to allow me an opportunity to teach, D.A.R.E. could never be the success it is.”

New D.A.R.E. challenges youth (From the D.A.R.E. America Web site, www.dare.com)

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is going high-tech, interactive, and decision-modelbased. Gleaming with the latest in prevention science and

For the past nine years Officer Dave Frazier, pictured above, has been teaching D.A.R.E.

teaching techniques, D.A.R.E. is reinventing itself as part of a major national research study that promises to help teachers and administrators cope with ever-evolving federal prevention program requirements and the thorny issues of school violence, budget cuts and terrorism.

Gone is the old-style approach to prevention in which an officer stands behind a podium and lectures students in straight rows. New D.A.R.E. officers are trained as "coaches" to support kids who are using research-based refusal strategies in high-stakes peer-pressure environments.

New D.A.R.E. students are getting to see for themselves - via stunning brain imagery -- tangible proof of how substances diminish mental activity, emotions, coordination and movement. Mock courtroom exercises are bringing home the social and legal consequences of drug use and violence.

The "New" D.A.R.E. is setting the gold standard for the future," said Charlie Parsons, President and Chief Executive Director of D.A.R.E. America.

"Prevention inside the 21st century school house will need to be effective, diverse, accountable, and mean more things to more people, particularly with the safety issues that have emerged since Columbine and terrorist alerts.

That's one reason why every New D.A.R.E. officer is also being trained as a certified School Resource Officer (SRO)."

With research showing that adolescents, in particular, need to be involved in the learning process, experts shifted the focus in the new D.A.R.E. curriculum to include officer-facilitated work, discussion groups, and role-playing sessions. New D.A.R.E. is about giving kids the skills

Photo by Gordon Wolf

and information they need to make good life choices.

• Curriculum developed by educators, taught by trained officers • Focuses on responsibility, resisting peer pressure • Implementation is community decision • Training mandatory for instructors before they enter the classroom • New science-based curricula from top researchers and curriculum writers with $14 million grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, including research and principle based content; authentic activities; active learning principles and “best teaching” practices; complex reasoning and decision-making; and officers as facilitators not lecturers.

About D.A.R.E. (From the D.A.R.E. America Web site, dare.com)

• D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles • Nationally, D.A.R.E. has curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade • 220 new communities started D.A.R.E. in last three years • 75% of USA school districts and 43 countries teach D.A.R.E. • 10,000+ communities are using D.A.R.E. • 75,000+ D.A.R.E. officers trained/certified throughout USA • $12 per child from K through 12 for all educational materials (as a non-profit D.A.R.E. is the most affordable program available)

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PAGE 3

Drunk driving rates topped 20% in some states in 2009 Iowa had the lowest level of drugged driving A survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicated that on average, 13.2 percent of all persons 16 or older drove under the influence of alcohol and 4.3 percent of this age group drove under the influence of illicit drugs in 2009.

The survey’s state-by-state breakdown of drunk and drugged driving levels shows significant differences among the states. Some of the states with the highest levels of 2009 drunk driving were Wisconsin (23.7 percent) and North Dakota (22.4 percent). The highest rates of past year drugged driving were found in Rhode Island (7.8 percent) and Vermont (6.6 percent).

States with the lowest rates of past year drunk driving included Utah (7.4 percent) and Mississippi (8.7 percent).

Iowa and New Jersey had the lowest levels of 2009 drugged driving (2.9 percent and 3.2 percent respectively).

Levels of self-reported drunk and drugged driving differed dramatically among age groups. Younger drivers aged 16 to 25 had a much higher rate of drunk driving than those aged 26 or older (19.5 percent versus 11.8 percent). Similarly people aged 16 to 25 had a much higher rate of driving under the influence of illicit drugs than

those aged 26 or older (11.4 percent versus 2.8 percent).

The one bright spot in the survey is a reduction in the rate of drunk and drugged driving in the past few years.

Survey data from 2002 through 2005 combined when compared to data gathered from 2006 to 2009 combined indicate that the average yearly rate of drunk driving declined from 14.6 percent to 13.2 percent, while the average yearly rate of drugged driving has decreased from 4.8 percent to 4.3 percent.

Twelve states saw reductions in the levels of drunk driving and seven states experienced lower levels of drugged driving. However according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) census, one in three motor vehicle fatalities (33 percent) with known drug test results tested positive for drugs in 2009.

“Thousands of people die each year as a result of drunk and drugged driving, and the lives of thousands of family members and friends left behind are forever scarred,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “Some progress has been made in reducing the levels of drunk and drugged driving through education, enhanced law enforcement and public outreach efforts. However, the nation must continue to work to prevent this menace and confront these dangerous drivers in an aggressive way.”

“While we have understood for some time the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, much less is known or discussed about drivers under the influence of other drugs,” said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “This new data adds to other emerging research revealing that there is an alarmingly high percentage of Americans on our roadways with drugs in their system. At a time when drug use is on the rise, it is

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crucial that communities act today to address the threat of drugged driving as we work to employ more targeted enforcement and develop better tools to detect the presence of drugs among drivers.”

State Estimates of Drunk and Drugged Driving is based on the combined data from the 2002 to 2005 and 2006 to 2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and involves responses from more than 423,000 respondents aged 16 or older.

NSDUH is a primary source of information on national and state-level use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs (including non-medical use of prescription drugs) and mental health in the United States. The survey is part of the agency’s strategic initiative on behavioral health data, quality and outcomes.

Resources A copy of the report is accessible at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k10/205/DruggedDriving.cfm.

For the latest information about the public health risks of alcohol misuse, go to stopalcoholabuse.gov.

For comprehensive information about SAMHSA’s substance abuse prevention research, support and public outreach activities, go to http://prevention.samhsa.gov/.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site at http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/ provides detailed information about the dangers of drunk and drugged driving and what can be done to help combat the problem.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

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AVOIDING DRUG ABUSE

JANUARY 28, 2011

Emergency room visits involving pharmaceutical abuse double nationwide According to new data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), visits by individuals to hospital emergency rooms involving the misuse or abuse of pharmaceutical drugs have doubled over the past five years and, for the third year in a row, exceed the number of visits involving illicit drugs.

According to DAWN, which provides national estimates on individuals who experience drug-related medical emergencies that are severe enough to require treatment in an emergency department, approximately 1.2 million visits by individuals to hospital emergency rooms involving pharmaceutical drugs were made 2009. This compares to about 974,000 visits involving illicit drugs in 2009.

Additionally, while visits to emergency rooms involving illicit drugs have remained relatively stable at just under one million visits per year from 2004 to 2009, visits involving pharmaceutical drugs have almost doubled – increasing by 98 percent over the past five years.

The approximate 1.2 million visits to emergency rooms involving pharmaceutical drugs in 2009 is nearly double to the 627,000 visits in 2004. These visits do not include adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals taken as prescribed.

"Prescription drug abuse is our nation's fastest-growing drug problem, with shocking consequences measured by overdose deaths, emergency room visits, treatment

admissions, and increases in youth drug use,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy.

"The Obama Administration is mounting an unprecedented effort to address this public health epidemic, and as we coordinate a national response to reduce drug use and its consequences, we need communities to be our partners in this effort. Parents should act today to protect young people by talking to their kids about the consequences of drug use, even legal drugs such as prescription drugs, and by properly disposing of unused, expired, or unneeded medications found at home."

Efforts in the government-wide effort to combat prescription drug abuse include: • Increasing prescription drug return, take-back, and disposal programs across the nation. Prescription drugs that are commonly abused are often found in the family medicine cabinet. In October 2010, President Obama signed into law the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, which will support local efforts to curb prescription drug abuse by providing Americans with safe, environmentally sound ways to dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs found at home.

• Expanding state-based prescription drug monitoring programs. Currently, monitoring programs are operating in 34 states. The Administration supports expanding these programs in every state, and is seeking to ensure new and existing monitoring programs effective-

ly use the data they acquire and share information across state lines.

• Educating prescribers about opiate painkiller prescribing. The Administration's Fiscal Year 2011 budget request asks Congress for funding to train prescribers on how to instruct patients in the use and proper disposal of painkillers, to observe signs of dependence, and to use state-based prescription drug monitoring programs to detect when an individual is going from doctor to doctor in search of prescriptions (also called "doctor shopping").

• Assisting states in cracking down on doctor shopping and so-called "pill mills." Criminal organizations have established thriving businesses of transporting people to states with little regulation to obtain prescription drugs from multiple doctors or from "pill mills," which distribute drugs indiscriminately. ONDCP is working closely with federal, state, local and tribal authorities to address this problem.

DAWN data are based on a national sample of general, non-federal hospitals operating 24-hour emergency departments. In each participating hospital, emergency department medical records are reviewed retrospectively to determine visits that involved recent drug use. All types of drugs - illegal drugs, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and non-pharmaceutical inhalants are included.

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Drug and Alcohol Facts Provided by The Partnership at Drugfree.org Adolescent abuse of drugs and alcohol is a preventable behavior, and the disease of drug and alcohol addiction is a treatable disease. Parents are the most effective resource, and leverage point, in preventing and reducing adolescent and young adult drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

11 million American adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 29 need help with drug and alcohol problems; 9 million of these are between the ages of 12 and 25.

(2009 National Study on Drugs and Health) 90% of the nearly 2 million adolescents who need help with drug and alcohol problems are not getting the help they need. (2008 National Study on Drugs and Health) The related public health, social services, public safety and lost productivity costs of drug and alcohol abuse to society is $465 billion a year. ($280 billion drugs, $185 billion alcohol; Harwood 2004, 2000) Parents consider drugs and alcohol as one of the most important issues facing teens, young adults and parents today. (Horowitz Associates 2010) Kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use drugs, yet only 37% report getting that benefit. (Partnership Attitude Tracking Study 2008) Parents who intervene early with their child’s drug or alcohol use can help significantly reduce the likelihood that they will become addicted or suffer long-term negative consequences. (Dennis 2008) 90% of all adults with drug or alcohol problems started using before the age of 18 and half before 15. (Dennis 2007) There is a clear association between adolescent drug and alcohol use and unhealthy, risky behavior, including: unprotected, unplanned, unwanted sexual activity; impaired motor vehicle driving/passenger; involvement with juvenile justice system; poor academic performance and dropping out. (numerous sources) Some adolescents and young adults have special vulnerability to drug and alcohol problems, including: drug or alcohol use at an early age; family history of drug or alcohol problems; existing mental health problems; having friends who use drugs and alcohol. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) African American adolescents have consistently shown lower drug and alcohol usage rates than Caucasian adolescents. (Johnson/Monitoring the Future 2008) Coerced (non voluntary) treatment for adolescent drug and alcohol problems can be just as effective as treatment after “hitting bottom.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) The adolescent brain is not fully developed until ages 22 to 24 and can be more vulnerable to the effects of drugs and alcohol; the part of the brain to develop last is the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision making and moderating social behavior (Winters 2008) Effective treatment for adolescent drug and alcohol problems has been shown to be different that treatment for adults (National Institute on Drug Abuse) On an average day, 7,540 adolescents ages 12 to 17 drank alcohol for the first time, 4,365 used an illicit drug, 2,466 abused a prescription pain medication (without a prescription) and 263 were admitted to treatment for marijuana dependence, more than any other drug. (2008 OAS/SAMHSA)

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What is binge drinking?

by Amy Kennedy You may wonder what binge drinking is and what the dangers are.

Binge drinking is defined as drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, usually five drinks for men and four drinks for women in the space of an hour.

However, that’s not a hard and fast rule. To put it simply, if a person has several drinks in a row, it can be considered binge drinking.

When a person is drinking, remember the following: one drink is a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 10ounce wine cooler, or a 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor. Mixed drinks may contain more than one serving of alcohol.

A person’s body can metabolize, or process, one drink per hour. That means it takes one hour for each drink consumed to get sober. If a person engages in binge drinking, her or she will remain intoxicated for several hours.

Some people believe that drinking black coffee, eating a meal or taking a cold shower will help them sober up faster. Those things don’t really work; only time can eliminate the alcohol from your system.

You often hear about college students binge drinking, and it’s true that binge drinking peaks between the ages of 18 and 22. However, 70 percent of all binge drinking episodes involve adults over the age of 25.

Binge drinking involves numerous risks. The greatest

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is alcohol poisoning, a serious condition that can result in death. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the blood alcohol concentration rises too high. Since the body can only metabolize about one drink per hour, when a person binge drinks, the body can become overwhelmed and alcohol poisoning can result.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion, low body temperature, vomiting, unconsciousness, slow or irregular breathing and seizures. It impairs the gag reflex, so a person can choke on their vomit. A person with symptoms of alcohol poisoning needs immediate medical attention. Untreated, the condition can result in death.

Alcohol poisoning is not the only danger of binge drinking. The dangers of binge drinking include longterm health risks, such as stomach ulcers, liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and neurological damage.

And health risks are not the only dangers of binge drinking. Those who have been drinking excessively are prone to accidents such as falls. It is extremely dangerous if they attempt to drive. Alcohol-related violence is a serious concern. Increased rates of both homicides and suicides have been linked to binge drinking.

There is no way to safely become intoxicated. You cannot binge drink safely. You will put yourself at risk for all of the dangers of binge drinking.

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JANUARY 28, 2011

How serious is the drinking problem?

by Charles Johnson Alcohol abusers, or problem drinkers, are people who drink too much on a regular basis. The alcohol use is selfdestructive or can present a danger to others, but they still demonstrate some ability to set limits and establish some measure of control over their drinking.

While some people are able to maintain this pattern for a long amount of time, alcohol abusers are at risk for progressing to alcoholism. This might happen in response to a large stressful event or it might gradually progress as tolerance to alcohol increases.

When alcohol abuse progresses to alcoholism, also called alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, alcohol becomes essential to function.

Alcoholic symptoms include a physical dependence on alcohol, and inability to stop despite severe physical and psychological consequences. Some alcoholics can hold down a job or appear to be functioning on the surface, but the drinking inevitably leads to impaired job performance and troubled relationships.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provides a screening questionnaire for assessing the differences between alcohol abuse and alcoholic dependence.

Remember, though, the bottom line is how alcohol affects you. If it is affecting your relationships, job, or health, yet you can’t seem to stop yourself, than the problem is serious.

Physical signs of alcohol abuse and alcoholism: • While intoxicated: slurred speech, dizziness, clumsiness or unsteadiness • Blackouts, when you drink so much you pass out • Weight loss • Unexplained sore or upset stomach • Redness in the face or cheeks • Numbness or tingling in hands and feet Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms The more alcohol you drink, the more your body depends on it. You need more and more alcohol to have the same effect, called tolerance. If you drink heavily, you will have withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking. Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning?

You’ve built up a tolerance for alcohol. Other withdrawal symptoms include sweating, shaking, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases seizures and hallucinations. These symptoms can be medically dangerous.

Talk to a medical professional if you are a heavy drinker and want to quit.

Mental signs of alcohol abuse and alcoholism • Unable to control drinking: “just one drink” rapidly leads to more • Drinking leads to dangerous situations like driving drunk, walking in an unsafe area • Increased irritability, agitation and anger, lowered

threshold for violence • Avoiding activities that do not involve the opportunity to drink • Excessive weeping and emotional displays • Unexplained absences and sick days from work, or difficulty making commitments • Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping Alcohol abuse in special populations Teenagers notoriously like their privacy, are often irritable and cranky, and like to sleep in. How can you tell if your teen has an alcohol problem? Look for marked changes in behavior, appearance and health. Is your teen suddenly having trouble in school? Does he or she seem more and more isolated, or have a new group of friends?

Your teen might have an unusually hard time getting up or appear sick regularly in the morning. If you have alcohol in the home, do the levels decrease faster than they should? Is the alcohol watered down?

Alcohol abuse is challenging to detect in older adults.

Increased alcohol use might happen as an older adult retires, loses a loved one or has to move. Older adults are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol as their metabolism changes. Since older adults often do much of their drinking at home, problems functioning often go undetected. Clumsiness, unsteadiness or confusion might be attributed to the natural aging process.

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PAGE 7

Group support programs offer help for abuse

by Charles Hansen An addict trying to get sober is not a task to attempt on your own. Support programs are a vital part of the recovery process. The physical and mental strain of making this change in your life is more likely to be successful with the support of other people who have been there.

12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, are the most common type of group support programs for drug abuse. These free programs, facilitated by peers, use group support and a set of guided principles, the 12 steps, to obtain and maintain sobriety. The treatment recovery steps include admitting powerlessness over the addiction and surrendering to a “higher power,” which you can interpret according to your own beliefs.

A key part of a 12-step program is choosing a sponsor. A sponsor is a former addict who has time and experience remaining sober, and can provide guidance and assistance to you. A good sponsor helps you understand and work the 12 steps and is available to provide support if you are craving drugs.

Some people have a strong philosophical objection to relying on a higher power. You do not have to believe in an organized religion to benefit from 12-step programs.

Some people even interpret the higher power as the support of others who have been there.

Remember, peer support is critical in maintaining recovery. If you are strongly opposed to the philosophy or are looking for different support, you can try peer support groups without this component. They are not as numerous as traditional 12-step programs. Groups include SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety) and SMART Recovery.

If you have a dual diagnosis and are taking medication for your psychological issues, make sure you find a group where you feel supported in taking care of your psychological issues, including medication.

The road to recovery is not easy and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Drug use affects your brain chemistry, and once the drugs have been cleansed from your system, it takes time for your body to readjust. Relapse prevention includes identifying triggers to using drugs, learning more adaptive coping skills, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges.

Stay involved in a support group. Your chances of staying sober improve if you are participating in a social support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, have a sponsor, or are involved in an Intensive Outpatient Program or individual therapy.

Start or maintain healthy lifestyle practices. Basic selfcare practices are essential to good mental and physical health. Eating right gives you plenty of energy and helps prevent mood swings. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. It is recommended to get 7½ to 8 hours a night for most people. Exercise releases endorphins and improves your mood.

Identify people, places or things that are triggers for you. While it is good to practice what you may do if pressured to do drugs just once more, building healthier associations is critical in the long run. Surround

yourself with positive influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. A good support network can help you in this as well.

Continue to work on healthy coping skills. When life stresses occur, having healthy coping skills helps prevent turning to alcohol. Stress management skills go a long way towards preventing relapse. Skills to build healthier emotional awareness help keep you in balance and cope with adversity.

Get adequate treatment for medical or psychological issues. If you have underlying chronic pain or were selfmedicating to avoid the pain of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, make sure that you get the treatment you need. If the underlying issue is not treated, you may turn to drugs again to get relief.

Be up front about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be up front about your history and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. You should never feel shamed or humiliated about previous drug use or denied medication for pain; if this is the case, find another provider.

Feelings that may have been masked by the drugs will resurface, and when they do, you will need to do something different because you won’t have the drugs to fall back on. Building stress management and emotional awareness skills will help you manage these intense times. Although peer groups can provide emotional support, therapy can also provide a solid base to build on if you find the feelings overwhelming.

You might be heaving a sigh of relief if a family member or friend has agreed to drug treatment. However, drug treatment is just the first part to staying sober. You and your family might still be coping with the financial and legal ramifications of the drug abuse. Your loved one might feel overwhelmed with dealing with the day-

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to-day aspects of life that were overshadowed with all the energy it took to obtain and do drugs. Feelings of depression and hopelessness are not uncommon as the brain readjusts itself. The best way to help is to educate yourself on the process of recovery, and make sure you get the support you need for yourself as well.

Free family peer groups can provide support through all parts of the recovery process, including if there is a painful relapse. Al-Anon may be a place to begin as these groups are the most numerous, and frequently alcohol is abused with other drugs as well. Similar to AlAnon, there are many support groups for families coping with specific drug abuse as well. These include Naranon, for families coping with narcotic abuse, and Coanon, for families coping with cocaine abuse. Listening to others with the same challenges can be a tremendous source of comfort and support.

You might be used to being the sounding board for your loved one’s problems. However, the stronger the network of support your loved one has, the greater the chance for recovery. Some treatment programs even severely limit contact with family for the first part of the program, so that the person can focus on what recovery means to them and what they will have to do. Even after the initial period of obtaining sobriety, encourage your family member to continue attending meetings and working with a sponsor if they have one.

As your loved one adjusts to sobriety, you are also adjusting as well. Change can be unsettling, even if it is a positive change. You might end up taking a look at patterns in your life and what you want to change. Don’t be surprised if feelings of resentment or anger bubble up if you have been suppressing them while dealing with your loved one’s drug abuse. Reach out for support in working through this process.

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JANUARY 28, 2011

Dr AlTo says, “Healthy Choices Make Healthy Kids” Crawford County’s Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Dr AlTo) Coalition was established in 2005 after a community survey showed drug, alcohol and tobacco use and abuse to be the second highest concern for those that responded to the survey.

Child abuse and domestic violence ranked first in the survey, which could also be a result of drug and alcohol use and abuse.

Dr AlTo’s mission is to help reduce the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco through public education and awareness initiatives. Situations involving child abuse and domestic violence often have drug and alcohol abuse associated with it. In 2008, 41 percent of the founded cases for “denial of critical care to a child” involved the use of methamphetamines in Crawford County.

Grant dollars were used to obtain videos/DVD’s on prevention and abuse topics such as marijuana, methamphetamines, over-the-counter drugs, abuse, prescription drugs, stimulants, alcohol, tobacco, smokeless tobacco, inhalants, steroids, child abuse, gangs, violence and staying safe in cyberspace.

Dr AlTo provides information for health fairs and other community events in efforts to help with public education and awareness regarding drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence and gangs. Providing regular press releases on these topics is another way the Coalition is attempting to provide this education and awareness to the community.

Dr AlTo has also participated in Crawford County Ag Days event. This is where seventh grade students from across the county are at the Crawford County Fairgrounds receiving education from the Farm Bureau and ISU Extension.

Dr AlTo provides informational tables at schools throughout the county during parent-teacher conferences.

Previously, grants have been obtained for a community education speaker, to sponsor a health fair, and to sponsor a middle school dance and education night. These three grants were funded through the Crawford County Decategorization/Community Partners for Protecting Children (CPPC).

Applications have just been submitted for two additional grants for activities this spring. Due to the recent death of a high school student from alcohol poisoning, the Dr AlTo Coalition and the Denison Community School are collaborating to bring in a speaker to present to the students.

This speaker will also present an evening session for anyone in the community to attend. The speaker will also pro-

Life

Dr AlTo provides information for health fairs and other community events in efforts to help with public education and awareness regarding drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence and gangs. Photo by Gordon Wolf

vide presentations to other Crawford County school students, and a follow-up evening presentation by different speakers will occur a month or so after the first presentation. Funding for the grants will be announced at the beginning of February for one grant and the end of February for the other grant.

Dr AlTo’s goal is to coordinate and collaborate with community partners to educate the youth in Crawford County. Dr AlTo hopes to bring people and resources together to better serve the community. Helping to create awareness

We

Can Change. Can Help.

We provide: • Outpatient Services for Adults, Adolescents & Families • Assessments • Education & Prevention Programs • Drug, Alcohol, & Gambling Treatment • DUI Classes

Offices in Denison and Ida Grove – 712-263-5065 • www.jacksonrecovery.com

Talk to your children today about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

DENISON COMMUNITY SCHOOL 819 North 16th Street Denison, IA 51442 712-263-3101

of the problems associated with the use and/or abuse of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, as well as issues leading to child abuse and/or domestic violence, can have the power to help our youth lead a healthier, safer and more productive life.

For more information on using any of the resources available or to become a member of Dr AlTo Coalition, please call Crawford County Home Health, Hospice & Public Health at 712-263-3303, or stop by the office at 105 North Main Street in Denison.

WEST IOWA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER Caring people helping others help themselves.

• Individual, Couple & Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation • Medication Management

712-263-3172

Serving Our Community!

Dr AlTo Coalition Crawford County Druug, Alccohol and Tobbacco Coalition Healthy Choices Make Healthy Kids!

Stay Away From Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco!

Dr AlTo...Contact Public Health at 712-263-3303 for more information