Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 6-25-13: Will I See You in September?

With summer in and school out, unsupervised youth may be in danger of accessing and/or consuming alcohol in their homes and in the homes of their friends.  These dangers are real and possibly deadly.
Through the 2012 Ulster County Youth Development Survey, we asked youth in grades 7-12 how they obtained alcohol and where they drank it. While 56.8% reported not drinking at all in the past year, 25.4% reported drinking in their own home, and 26.1%  reported drinking in the home of a friend.  
In almost every case involving underage drinking, somewhere along the way an adult broke the law. 35% of Ulster County youth reported obtaining alcohol with the aid of an adult. The Ulster County Social Host law holds parents accountable for drinking parties involving under-age participants in their home.  However, many adults still believe that allowing youth to drink in the home is "safer" and that they can teach youth to drink "responsibly". 10.3% of Ulster County youth reported drinking with parental permission.
Although many still view underage drinking as a rite of passage, it is a dangerous practice that should be discouraged. Every three minutes someone under the legal drinking age in the US has to go to the emergency room because they drank underage.
Youth ages 15 and younger who drink alcohol are 4 times more likely to become dependent on alcohol and 5 times more likely to abuse alcohol later in life than those who wait until they are 21 or older. Alcohol use can interfere with adolescent brain development. Adolescent brains do not discriminate between alcohol used without permission and alcohol used with permission.
In addition, adolescents may make the poor choice of getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking. It is no coincidence that during June, July and August the greatest number of teenagers perish in car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This summer and all year, adults should monitor and secure alcohol at home in order to help prevent underage drinking. Parents are urged to have a frank discussion with teens about the dangers of underage drinking and set rules, including not getting into a car with someone who has been drinking.
If you have had the talk with your teen about drugs, but not alcohol, now’s the time to have it. 

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 6-4-13: Ulster youth produce award winning messages

At our annual Ulster Prevention Council Conference last week we recognized outstanding Ulster County youth who participated in our 2013 Media Contest and received Innovations in Substance Abuse Prevention Awards.

These awards honor the memory of Phil Terpening, former chairman of the Ulster Prevention Council Board.  Prizes were awarded for poster, radio and video projects that communicated messages regarding the risks associated with the misuse of prescription medications; alternatives to drug use; awareness of the harmful effects of marijuana on youth brain development; and our Be Aware, Don’t Share and Lock Your Meds campaigns.

 Over 40 poster submissions were received. Ellenville High School students Willie Bruce and Logan Rotolo tied for first place in the poster contest, and Hunter Odell received an honorable mention.

 Tessa Albert from Ellenville High School submitted the winning radio PSA, and Paris Smith from Saugerties High School submitted the winning video PSA. Nick Natale from Saugerties High School received an honorable mention for his video PSA.

 Under the guidance of teachers Scott Wickham at Saugerties High School and Tim Lukaszewski and Alan Buckler and Ellenville High Schools, the students were able to produce original, creative and powerful media messages that UPC will use to provide education and awareness throughout Ulster County and beyond.

 All of our PSA's are available for distribution to schools, waiting rooms, public access stations and other community venues to get the word out regarding these priority topics. Please contact UPC at 458-7406 for information.

 To view some of our winners, please visit our Facebook page and remember to like Ulster Prevention Council us while you are there!

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 5-21-13: Letter from D.A. D. Holley Carnwright

This week I'd like to share with you this letter from Ulster County District Attorney D. Holley Carnwright regarding prom and graduation safety and the Ulster County Social Host Law.                                      
                                                    BE SMART BE SAFE
April 16, 2013
Greetings:
 It is that time of year when students in our county will be taking part in proms and graduations.  Although it is justifiably a time of joy and celebration, it is equally one for caution and restraint.  I am writing to enlist your assistance in helping to prevent the potentially tragic consequences of drinking and driving.
Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug among our youth and is directly associated with risk-taking behavior and other disinhibiting effects that increase the chance of unsafe conduct on their part.  Unfortunately, in recent years, our county has experienced its tragic results.
On February 19, 2008, in an effort to combat drunk driving Ulster County passed “Local Law Number 2 of 2008,” *which, in pertinent part, provides that “no person having any control of any premises shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if such person knows or has reason to know that any alcoholic beverage or drug is being unlawfully possessed, served to or consumed by a minor (under 21) at said residence.”  It defines “open house party” as “a social gathering at a residence or other private property with minors present.”
In addition, the Social Host Liability Act of the State of New York imposes civil liability upon any individual who knowingly serves or permits alcohol to be served to a minor if that minor causes injury to another as a result of his or her intoxication.
Furthermore, Section 260.20 of the Penal Law of the State of New York authorizes the prosecution of any individual who gives or sells or causes to be given or sold any alcoholic beverage to a person less than 21 years old.
I ask that if you permit the use of your home for a prom pr graduation event, you monitor the situation carefully to insure that minors in attendance do not imbibe alcoholic beverages.
Please help to make this graduation season a time of celebration.  Help keep our children, our loved ones, and our county safe.
Sincerely,
D. Holley Carnright
District Attorney

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 5/13/13: Upcoming Events

It's a busy time of year, and I thought I'd share with you about some upcoming meetings and events.
This Wednesday, the Ellenville Wawarsing Prevention Coalition meets at the Ellenville Middle School at 8:30 AM. This group is working at a fast pace to address the needs of local youth and families.
On Thursday, the Prescription Drug Task Force of Ulster County will meet at the Ulster County Department of Mental Health at 10:30. This is a time change, and we'll also be in a different room - Room 138. New attendees are always welcome as it will take every sector of the community working together to decrease prescription drug misuse.
On Friday, the Ulster County Prevention Providers meeting will take place at the New Paltz Village Hall at 9:30 AM. Phoenix Kawamoto will provide an overview of Community Partnership activities in New Paltz, Jessie Moore will discuss teen pregnancy prevention issues, and a Media Literacy Training will be provided by the Prevention Resource Center. Breakfast will be served.
Last but definitely not least, please save the date for the annual UPC Conference: Emerging Issues, Community Solutions to be held on Wednesday May 29 at SUNY Ulster. We will dig deep into the 2012 Ulster County Youth Development Survey data, learn about addressing the prescription drug epidemic, and showcase youth media projects from throughout the county.

--
Cheryl DePaolo
Director, Ulster Prevention Council
85 Grand St.
Kingston, NY 12401
Voice: 845-458-7406
Fax: 845-458-7407
Cell: 845-392-4714
Email: cdepaolo@familyservicesny.org

UPC Weekly Blog 5-3-13:Stop Urban Outfitters From Selling Products that Promote Prescription Drug Abuse

From: The Partnership at Drugfree.org

By Candice Besson | May 1, 2013

Urban Outfitters, the national retail store popular with teens, is currently selling pint glasses, flasks and shot glasses made to look like prescription pill bottles. These products make light of prescription drug misuse and abuse, a dangerous behavior that is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than heroin and cocaine combined.

Medicine abuse has increased 33 percent over the past five years with one in four teens having misused or abused a prescription drug in their lifetime. Combined with alcohol, the misuse and abuse of prescription medications can be especially dangerous, making the Urban Outfitter Rx pint and shot glasses and flasks even more disturbing.

As recent research from The Partnership at Drugfree.org shows, teens and parents alike do not understand the health risks associated with the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. In fact, more than a quarter of teens mistakenly believe that misusing and abusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.

Tongue-in-cheek products that normalize and promote prescription drug abuse only serve to reinforce the misperception about the dangers associated with abusing medicine and put more teens at risk.

Ask Urban Outfitters to remove these products from their stores and website immediately. Feel free to use the information above to help make your point.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR Urban Outfitters:

Send an e-mail to:

Richard A. Hayne; CEO & Chairman
richard.hayne@urbanout.com

Write a letter:

Urban Outfitters, Inc.

5000 South Broad St

Philadelphia, PA 19112-1495

Sign this Facebook Causes petition:

http://www.causes.com/actions/1749784-stop-urban-outfitters-from-selling-products-that-promote-prescription-drug-abuse

Join us and make your voice heard!

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 4/26/13 : Free Training for School Personnel

On Wednesday, May 1, the Ulster Prevention Council is offering a training for school personnel:

Current Drug Trends Among Youth in Your Community

Providing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

Wednesday, May 1

8:30am--12:30pm

Free Brunch Provided

Ellenville Public Library

Community Room

40 Center St.

Ellenville, NY

Learn about current drug trends and the signs and symptoms of substance abuse. The SBIRT tool helps school counselors, health and school personnel and mental health professionals learn how to ask the right questions to engage youth in an open conversation about drug and alcohol use and abuse.

Motivational interviewing techniques, active listening and non-confrontational questions will be learned through experiential role-play scenarios.

This brief questioning tool provides a way not only to screen for problem alcohol/drug use, but also to learn how to initiate a brief intervention and possible referral when indicated.

RSVP:

lrotolo@familyservicesny.org

(845)458-7408 ext. 231

Cheryl DePaolo

Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 4/23/13: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, April 27

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for those who have accumulated unwanted, unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs to safely dispose of those medications.
In the five previous Take-Back events, the DEA in conjunction with state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications that were removed from circulation.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications.
Drug Take-Back Day is also an effort to keep trace drugs out of our lakes and streams (waste water treatment plants cannot remove many compounds found in medications; so when flushed or put in a landfill, drugs are discharged into our surface and ground water and consumed by fish and wildlife). 
Visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ for take-back locations in New Paltz and Kingston. There is also a permanent 24 hour MedReturn drop off box in the lobby at the Saugerties Police Department.