Prevention E-Brief Announcement
forwarded by the Washington State Alcohol/Drug Clearinghouse
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

1. ANTI-DRUG UPDATE - November 13, 2008

NEW OPEN LETTER WARNS PARENTS ABOUT TEEN ABUSE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES

** Exclusive Resource for Schools and Communities at the Onset of Cold and Flu Season **

** PDF File Allows You to Customize Letter and Distribute in Your Community ** Many parents have no idea that teens today need only look to their local supermarket, pharmacy, or home medicine cabinet to get high using over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold remedies. To help warn parents of this risk, ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has developed a new customizable Open Letter that you can use in your community to educate parents and encourage them to both monitor their teens and look for signs of abuse.
Although overall teen drug use has declined over the last several years, parents are often unaware of this latest threat. Many of these medications contain Dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough suppressant, which when taken in excessive amounts can cause delusions, loss of consciousness, and even death. Even more startling is that some teens consume these drugs along with alcohol, making the effects even more dangerous.
But parents can help stop the abuse by safeguarding OTC drugs (and showing extra vigilance during cold and flu season), properly concealing and disposing of old or unused medications, and setting clear rules for teens about all drug and alcohol use. This Open Letter is an exclusive resource for schools and community organizations and is now available for you to customize and use by considering these tactics:
* Add your organization's name and logo to the Open Letter;
* Recruit local signatories and insert local names and logos;
* Localize the national Campaign message on the ad; and
* Distribute throughout your community: school districts, newspaper ad buys, donated ad space, and at town hall meetings.

There are two versions of this Open Letter available on TheAntiDrug.com. Go to theantidrug to download the color version or theantidrug for the black and white version. Other Open Letter ads, as well as a host of free resources, are available at www.TheAntiDrug.com/Resources. Tips for customizing and distributing the Open Letter ads are available there as well.
Finally, if parents in your community need more information on the signs and symptoms of drug use, advice on how to bridge the teen-parent generation gap, and how best to talk to teens about drugs, they can visit the Advice section of the Media Campaign's Web site for parents, advice, to find the specific guidance they need.

2. Teens Mastering Recovery

A FREE post substance abuse treatment, recovery support group For teens ages 14-18

Light snacks and beverages will be served

Teens: Tuesdays 6:15 to 8:15 P.M. January 13th - March 24th

Parents: Tuesday, January 13h & March 24th

Seattle Children's Hospital
4800 Sandpoint Way NE
Seattle, WA

Teens should have:
* Successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program
* A parent/guardian willing to participate in 2 group sessions
* A desire to remain abstinent while continuing to grow and learn in early recovery.
* A strong desire and ability to participate in all sessions.

For information or to recommend a teen for this group contact:
Mandy Williams, MSW CDP
206.987.1359
Amanda.Williams@Seattlechildrens.org

3. Marin Institute invites you to make your own anti-beer ad for the 2009 Free the Bowl TM Video Contest.

WHY

Year after year, the Super Bowl delivers the largest youth TV audience to the country's top beer seller, Anheuser-Busch. In 2008, an estimated 30 MILLION underage youth viewed more ads for beer than any other single product during the Super Bowl. Millions more viewed beer ads online after the big game. The more youth are exposed to alcohol advertising, the more likely they are to drink, and drink to excess. 10.7 million underage youth drink; 7.2 million binge drink. Alcohol-related problems from underage drinking cost the country $60 billion annually. It's time to tell beer companies to stop exploiting youth during the Super Bowl!

PRIZES
* 1st Place 13" MacBook w/ Final Cut Express 4.0 Software
* 2nd Place iPod Touch 8GB
* 3rd Place iPod Nano 8GB

WHO

Submissions are open to all U.S. residents ages 13-20.

WHEN
Deadline for video submissions is January 25th, 2009.

Register online at: freethebowl

4. Newest arrivals at the Alcohol/Drug Clearinghouse:

2008 DASA Trends Report
RUAD Start Talking before they start drinking poster.

Please call and order or send us an e-mail. Thank you.

This announcement may not be used for lobbying.
The Washington State Alcohol/Drug Clearinghouse is funded in part
by DSHS-Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Jennifer Velotta, MNPL, CDP, CPP.
WSADClearinghouse Prevention E-Briefs Editor
RADAR Network State Center
6535 5th Place S.Seattle, WA 98108
206-725-9696
1-800-662-9111
Fax: 206-760-0589
clearinghouse@adhl.org
Website address http://clearinghouse.adhl.org