WCPC Receives First Ever Utah Coalition Award!

Craig PoVey, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention for the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, presented the Washington County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) with an award in excellence at the Utah Fall Substance Abuse conference in September. Director PoVey said that this is the first time the award has ever been given to a coalition, but said the decision was obvious as he praised the WCPC for all of the collaboration they have created in the community with their prevention efforts, and all of the things they have done to make their county a safer, healthier place. Logan Reid, Chair of the WCPC, who accepted the award on behalf of the coalition, said that the success of the WCPC was a result of not just one person, but of all of the coalition members who have given so much of their time and efforts to the mission of the WCPC.

Prescription drug overdose deaths in Utah are down. Officials credit local coalitions, state-wide media campaigns, and prevention specialists who have been working hard to educated communities about the prescription drug problem in Utah. The WCPC has been a big part of this endeavor. We have contributed to the media campaign and just last year the coalition conducted over 20 presentations in Washington County on prescription drugs. It's a work in progress... but we're making a difference! http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705391230/Prescription-drug-overdoses-in-Utah-are-on-the-decline.html?pg=2

13-year-old Utahn Dies from Prescription Drug Overdose

Thanks to Dan Riding for sending us this article:

A very "sobering" story was printed in the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday. Conner Watson, (13), died after returning home from a party with friends where he consumed some prescription narcotics that he found on the counter (belonging to a friends grandmother). After coming home he watched a movie with his mother before going to bed. The next morning she found him in bed, dead as a result of overdose. It's a very sad story and one that stresses the importance of treating these drugs with greater caution, locking them up, and getting rid of them once they are no longer needed. It's very topical given that our coalition is sponsoring a take-back day this week to address this very concern. Please spread the word about this event and encourage, friends, family and neighbors to clean out their medicine cabinets!

For the full article from the Tribune, click here:

For more info on disposing of medication, refer friends, family and neighbors here:

Underage Drinking Can Create Long-Lasting Brain Changes

A new report published in "Psychology & Sociology" and the journal of "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research" shows that human adolescence marks a critical period for brain development. "This is when the growth of the cortex, our gray matter, reaches a peak and is coupled with major rearrangements of neurons. Dr. Fulton Crews, PhD, professor of pharmacology and director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of N.C. Chapell Hill School of Medicine, said: "It's also a time when the brain's developing neural circuits are more sensitive to disruption. And we and others have shown that the growing adolescent frontal cortex is much more sensitive to damage than the adult frontal cortex, given the same amount of alcohol. The question is, what impact does alcohol [consumption] in the teen years have on the brain and how might that affect our lives as adults?"

Findings show that individuals who drink heavily during adolescence may be more likely to have deficits in being able to adapt successfully to changing life situations as adults. Dr. Crews said that this research shows that young drinkers "...might become a less intelligent, moody, or impulsive individual" later in life.

To read the full article, click here:

A free webinar will be held TOMORROW, March 29th, from noon to 1:30. It's titled "Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking." It's more than billboards and brochures. This program can have a meaningful impact on environmental factors which contribute to underage drinking in our community. You can login on your computer and participate in the webinar, or come to the Southwest Center and watch it with staff in the Prevention Department. To register to watch from your own computer, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/814665177 If you plan to watch it at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center please contact Sara: (634-5604) and let her know so she can arrange a room large enough for attendees.

Marijuana in Southern Utah still a big concern

State and federal law enforcement agencies expect marijuana farms in southern Utah to remain a problem during the upcoming growing season. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service and local police will highlight Thursday several cases involving thousands of marijuana plants found growing on public lands in Washington County last summer. Officers will discuss how the public can help with the investigations.

In August, Drug Enforcement Administration officials removed 450 plants in an area where about 1,000 plants had already been harvested. Washington County police officials say about 12 to 14 pot farm busts across the region last year netted about 20,000 plants. Police say the operations may be linked to widespread drug trafficking organizations.

The Intermountain Health Care Health Fair was a big success. Thanks to Kelby, Teresa, Katie, Sara and Logan for manning the booth. We were there for all four hours of the fair and we had 187 people come to the booth, where we gave pamphlets and information on Prescription Drug abuse and other prevention issues. We signed up 24 people on facebook so they get our updates.

Spice is OFFICIALLY BANNED!

Gov. Gary Herbert signed HB23 Friday morning, effectively banning the sale, possession and manufacture of several recreational drugs, most commonly known as "spice" and "Ivory Wave," in Utah. The bill features no time element and takes effect immediately.

Read more...

New Coalition Members

FYI: As per the coalition bylaws, the Chair can appoint new members, and the coalition then has a chance to vote on the appointments. The Executive Committee (Logan, Curtis & Sara) has approved Amber Spencer, Brandy Herring and Dorothy Engelman as new members of the coalition, and their appointment has been approved by a unanimous vote from coalition members. Thanks to all those who took the time to vote, and welcome Amber, Brandy and Dorothy. We're excited to have you on board!

NIDA: Drug Abuse Alters Brain Circuitry Long-Term

NIDA: Drug Abuse Alters Brain Circuitry Long-Term

State-of-the-art brain imaging shows that changes in the brain's reward circuitry caused by substance abuse likely to remain even after drug and alcohol use stop.

Energy Drinks Associated with Heavy Drinking and Alcohol Dependence

New research suggests that consumption of highly caffeinated energy drinks is associated with risks of heavy drinking and alcohol dependence. The study is published by Dr. Amelia M. Arria, PhD, (director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Health,) in the 2010 November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

To read an article with more details from the study click here.

The research showed that users who drank energy drinks frequently were more likely to drink alcohol more frequently and in higher quantities than youth who didn't consume energy drinks regularly.

They also found that high-frequency energy drink users were at a significantly greater risk for alcohol dependence compared with nonusers.

Dr. Arria state that "Energy drinks could make alcohol more reinforcing, so that you drink more, and then you have more problems, and then you have more craving for alcohol."

"It's important for clinicians to recognize that energy drinks are now part of a mix of substances that are routinely consumed by adolescent and young adult populations, so they should have a greater awareness and vigilance that these drinks may be contributing to some symptoms, such as palpitations and anxiety, that they may be seeing in this age group."

Recovery Day was a Success!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped with the booth at recovery day. We had close to 300 people come by to receive information on substance abuse in our area, and we promoted the Drug Drop boxes as well as the website.

And Pastor Jimi had a ball launching Tees with the T-Shirt Canyon! Again, thanks to all the coalition members who manned the booth!

Awareness Parades

The coalition has participated in 4 parades already this year. Thanks to all of you who have come out and supported us in walking with the banners, handing out information to attendees, and promoting the website!

Tobacco Products Appeal to Kids...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36564107
This article on MSNBC brings attention to the new smokeless tobacco products and their appeal to kids. The article mentions that "Nicotine-laced pellets, strips and sticks that dissolve completely in the user’s mouth — dubbed 'tobacco candy' by critics — have joined chewing tobacco and snuff to become the second-most common cause of unintentional tobacco ingestion in kids younger than 6."

The article points out that "Between 2006 and 2008, nearly 1,800 U.S. youngsters — almost 600 a year —accidentally consumed smokeless tobacco products, according to an analysis of 13,705 tobacco-related reports to the nation’s poison control centers."

Click here to view the entire article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36564107

Upcoming Electronic Seminars

The UNDERAGE DRINKING ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER will be holding two webinars, one in April and one in May, on Underage Drinking. To register, go to http://www.udetc.org/ and click on "National Electronic Seminars".


Webinar will be held on April 22, 1:00pm - 2:15pm

Parties on Wheels: Responding to the Enforcement Challenges of "Booze Buses"

In some college communities "booze buses" sponsored by alcohol establishments corral underage drinkers from college dorms taking them to and from the downtown bars under the thin guise of a "safe ride" program. Elsewhere, buses, aided by viral marketing, pick up high school and college age youth in suburban parking lots to take them to certain downtown bars where they will be served. This seminar will teach how police and community coalitions are working together to enforce underage drinking laws and handle the challenges that "booze buses" pose.

Webinar will be held April 22 from 1:00 - 2:15pm

2010 ID Update: What's in Your Wallet?

Many people under the age of 21 continue to look to commercial sources of alcohol as their preferred option to acquire alcohol or as a place to socialize with over 21 friends. To get to these sources many rely on misrepresenting their actual age by the use of fraudulent identification.

So how can retailers and law enforcement keep up with this problem? Does your agency have the right tools to make evaluations of authenticity? What do community members, coalitions, and law enforcement need to know to address fraudulent identification?

Lt. Jim Wilson and Investigator Wilochoski will demonstrate some of the changes and additions adopted by many states and governmental entities as they produce these documents, and discuss some of the tools available and needed to properly recognize many of the new security features.

To register, go to http://www.udetc.org/ and click on "National Electronic Seminars".

The awnings are here!

We used some of the Capacity Building monies, as well as the community donations, to purchase these. Now we can really stand out at the community events, and continue promoting the coalition and the website.

Rx Drug Abuse Puts Many Utahn's in a Deadly Spiral.

Coalition Members,

Click HERE for Rx Drug Article

Dan Riding forwarded this article from KSL, posted yesterday, March 22nd. I encourage all to read through it. (Thanks Dan!) The key points of the article include:

• Of the 278 Utahns who died of Rx Drug Overdose from Oct. 2008 to Oct. 2009, 83% suffered from chronic or ongoing pain, 78% were between the ages of 25 and 54, and 49% had received treatment for prescription drug abuse.
• His sister Samantha stated, "...We didn't want to accept the fact that he was doing drugs. We were enabling him... I think if we had recognized it earlier..."
• His mother said, "It can happen to anybody in any family. It's better to go overboard a little in saying 'You get in and get help.' You just don't stop. You have to keep after them."

Click HERE to read the article

Thanks to Marybeth for creating this logo, and all those who voted on it. It's official... this is the Coalitions Logo!