Report: Treatment Admissions for Prescription Pain Killers on the Rise

Largest share of treatment admissions is still for alcohol abuse, but a significant decrease seen over the past decade

Released March 17, 2009 from SAMHSA - Treatment admissions for prescription pain killer misuse has risen dramatically over the past decade – from constituting 1 percent of all admissions in 1997 to now representing 5 percent, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2007 Highlights report also indicates that although alcohol-related admissions still account for the largest share (40 percent) of the 1.8 million treatment admissions occurring throughout the country during 2007, this reflects a reduction from 50 percent in 1997.

The TEDS 2007 Highlights report is the latest in a series of yearly reports, developed by SAMHSA, providing demographic and other information on substance abuse treatment admissions from state licensed treatment facilities (most of them publicly-funded) across the country. Although it does not include information on all treatment admissions, it is the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind and provides a vast array of specialized data on the characteristics of substance abuse treatment in the United States.

To read the complete release in the SAMHSA Newsroom click here.

Is it an epidemic? Click here to learn more about prescription drug abuse.

Study: Alcohol Images Increase Consumption

"Money, not morality, is the principle of commerce and commercial nations." -Thomas Jefferson

From Marin Institute - There have been numerous studies evaluating the media’s influence and portrayal of alcoholic beverages. But until now, there has never been research conducted on whether alcohol in commercials, television or the movies have an actual effect on drinking behavior.

A new study published in Oxford Journals: Alcohol and Alcoholism shows that alcohol images directly influence drinking. Participants of the study increased alcohol consumption when watching films and commercials featuring alcohol.

The study’s findings are timely, considering Absolut Vodka’s recent ad which ran during the Grammy Awards, reaching a primetime audience of underage youth. Paris-based, global alcohol giant Pernod Ricard was the first to disregarded the long-established voluntary liquor ad ban on U.S. TV.

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) maintains an up-to-date gallery of print and television alcohol advertising. To view the gallery click here.

To view CAMY's recent report "Youth Exposure to Alcohol Advertising on Television, 2001 to 2007" click here.

Study: Investing in Prevention Yields Big Return for Society

$1 Spent on Prevention Saves $10, Study Says

From Join Together - Investing in addiction prevention programs yields a 10-1 return for society, according to researchers from Iowa State University (ISU) who studied the Iowa Strengthening Families Program and the Life Skills Training Program.

Researchers Richard Spoth, Ph.D., and Max Guyll, Ph.D. detailed findings from the "Prevention's Cost Effectiveness: Illustrative Economic Benefits of General Population Interventions" and "Prevention of Substance-related Problems: Effectiveness of Family-focused Prevention" studies for a conference sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization.

"Effective and efficient prevention promises to save possibly billions of dollars per year, provided we can learn how to effectively implement it on a larger scale," said Spoth, director of ISU's Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute (PPSI).

What is the economic cost of methamphetamine in the United States? To find out click here.

What is the economic impact of underage drinking? The numbers may startle you! Learn more here.

Obama's New Drug Czar: Calling for a Coordinated Comprehensive Approach

The challenge requires prevention, treatment, and enforcement - and it starts with our youth.

From Join Together - Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has been officially announced as President Barack Obama's "drug czar" by the White House, but unlike his recent predecessors, he will not serve as a member of the president's Cabinet.

"With escalating violence along our Southwest border and far too many suffering from the disease of addiction here at home, never has it been more important to have a national drug control strategy guided by sound principles of public safety and public health," said Obama in a March 11 press release. "We must demonstrate to our international partners, the criminal organizations threatening to undermine stability and the rule of law in those nations, and the American people, that we take seriously our responsibility to reduce drug use in the United States. Gil Kerlikowske has the expertise, the experience, and the sound judgment to lead our national efforts against drug trafficking and use, and he will make an excellent addition to my administration."

In a White House ceremony, Vice President Joseph Biden -- who helped create the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and has been a key architect of federal drug policy for decades -- said Kerlikowske "brings a lifetime of experience working on drug-policy issues. He has worked on the issue at all levels from the Department of Justice to the front lines as a major city chief. He understands that combating drugs requires a comprehensive approach that includes enforcement, prevention and treatment."

"What I find most appealing about [Kerlikowske] is that he says we can't operate in 'silos' -- with barriers thrown up between the criminal-justice system, the prevention and treatment community, and the recovery components of this problem ... He knows we need a comprehensive answer," said Biden. "And that's exactly what the vision we had in mind when we first ... created that office ... We know we needed tough laws, and we have tough laws. But that wasn't enough. We needed a balanced approach in combating drugs -- one that included prevention, treatment and enforcement."

Click here to read the complete story in Join Together.

To read the White House's May 11 release in the President's Briefing Room click here.

Shoulder Tap Operations: Think Twice About Buying Alcohol for Minors

25 arrested in Stanislaus County on suspicion of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

From the Modesto Bee - Authorities say some adults still are buying booze for minors, so more than 50 law enforcement officials hit the streets Saturday in Stanislaus County and 11 other Northern California counties in a coordinated effort to catch these people.

The officials participated in an undercover sting called a "shoulder tap," in which underage decoys stood outside stores and randomly asked adults to buy them a six-pack.

The entire operation, coordinated by Modesto police, was the largest ever such sting in Northern California, with officials from 17 law enforcement agencies working on the same day, said Modesto police Detective James Rokaitis.

For the complete story in the Modesto Bee click here.

Why is 21 the legal drinking age? Find out more here.

What Kids Need: Thriving and Sparks

A spark is something that gives your life meaning and purpose. It's an interest, a passion, or a gift. What do you bring to the world that is good, beautiful, and useful?

From Search Institute - Thriving highlights the unique gifts and capacities of each young person. A thriving life involves discovering and nurturing one’s own “spark” and being supported and guided by a family and community that celebrate that spark.

What Are “Sparks”?

SPARKS are…the hidden flames in kids that excite them and tap into their true passions.
SPARKS come from…the gut. They motivate and inspire. They’re authentic passions, talents, assets, skills, and dreams.
SPARKS can…be musical, athletic, intellectual, academic, relational—from playing the violin to enjoying working with kids or senior citizens.
SPARKS can…ignite a lifelong vocation or career, or balance other activities to create an emotionally satisfying, enriched life.
SPARKS get…kids going on a positive path, away from the conflicts and negative issues—violence, promiscuity, drugs and alcohol—that give teens a bad name and attract so much negative energy.
And SPARKS give you the five steps for igniting sparks in your teens.

To learn more about Sparks and to access valuable downloads and resources click here.

To read about the current research on thriving and sparks click here.

Absolut Responsibility: Vodka Company Promoting Moderation

Just weeks after debuting television advertising during the Grammy Awards, Absolout Vodka is unveiling their "Recognize the Moment" campaign to promote responsible drinking.

From the New York Times - Advertising about drinking responsibly has been appearing for decades. One notable effort — “Know when to say when” — was introduced by Anheuser-Busch in 1982, when the economy was mired in recession.

Responsibility campaigns are considered an effective counterweight to activists who seek to limit or ban advertising for beer, wine and liquor. Now, a best-selling vodka brand is significantly increasing the digital presence of its moderation messages by devoting a section of its Web site to helping drinkers “enjoy with Absolut responsibility.” The moderation messages for Absolut are expected to go live Monday.

For the complete story in the New York Times click here.

To learn more about Absolut's responsibility campaign "Recognizing the Moment" visit their website here.

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week: March 15 - 21, 2009

One in five students in America has used an inhalant to get high by the time he or she reaches the eighth grade.

From the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition - Parents don't know that inhalants, cheap, legal and accessible products, are as popular among middle school students as marijuana. Even fewer know the deadly effects the poisons in these products have on the brain and body when they are inhaled or "huffed." It's like playing Russian Roulette. The user can die the 1st, 10th or 100th time a product is misused as an inhalant.

Prevention through education has proven to work against this popular form of substance abuse. This is why the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition has developed National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW), an annual media-based, community-level program that takes place the third week in March. NIPAW is designed to increase understanding about the use and risks of inhalant involvement.

To learn more about NIPAW click here.

To learn more about inhalants and access other valuable resources visit Parents. The Anti-Drug , The Partnership for A Drug-Free America, or SAMHSA's A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy & Drug Free .

Drug-Related Crime Prevention: Seizure Money to Help Addicted Homeless

Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin says it costs less to help the homeless than to book them on misdemeanor drug violations.

From the Turlock Journal - A faith-based group dedicated to helping homeless drug addicts is receiving some help from the Merced County Sheriff's Department in the form of $30,000 in cash. The $30,000 donation is from asset seizure money the sheriff's department has collected. The money will be given to the United Way Foundation and earmarked to benefit the Merced County Rescue Mission.

The Merced County Rescue Mission plans to use the money to run a one-month long pilot program that will provide food, clothing, shelter, and counseling to homeless drug addicts.

The hope is that the work the mission does with the homeless addicts will result in a decrease in drug-related offenses. Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin said it costs less to help the homeless than to book them into jail for misdemeanor drug violations."The idea is to keep the mission providing a service so desperately needed as funds are being cut and as the number of homeless are on the rise," MacKenzie said.

Read the complete story here in the Turlock Journal .

Campus Crime Stoppers Hits the Modesto Area

From The Modesto Bee - As of Feb. 1, students at junior high and high schools in Modesto and Ceres are now part of Campus Crime Stoppers. The Crime Stoppers program, which lets tipsters share information anonymously and gives them a chance to claim rewards, has been in the county since 2005. It has led to more than 136 arrests, including several related to homicide investigations.

Authorities said they hope that encouraging students and their families to get involved will make campuses safer and potentially tap into a gold mine of clues. Now that Crime Stoppers accepts tips via the Web and text messaging, officials say, the program should be easy for students to access.

To read the complete story in The Modesto Bee click here.

To learn more about Campus Crime Stoppers visit the official website here.

What Kids Need: Developmental Assets

“If you breathe, you’re on the team!” - Peter L. Benson

From the Search Institute - Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets® are common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. Grounded in extensive research in youth development, resiliency, and prevention, the Developmental Assets represent the relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities that young people need to avoid risks and to thrive.

What is an asset builder? Are you one and don't even know it? Do you want to become one? It's easy! Find out more here.

Already on the team? We want to hear your asset-building success stories! Share them below or email them to your BHRS Education and Prevention Team.

"Support 21 Act of 2009" (H.R. 1028)

From Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) - On February 12, 2009 Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) and Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) introduced the "Support 21 Act of 2009" (H.R. 1028), legislation to advance the nation’s efforts to prevent and reduce underage alcohol use and its devastating consequences. Representatives DeLauro (CT-3) and Wamp (TN-3) are also original co-sponsors. We congratulate the sponsors for their efforts to address this important youth health and safety concern, and urge support for the bill.

Alcohol is the nation’s number one youth drug problem, causing 5,000 deaths per year among persons under 21. Confronting alcohol problems requires a commitment to a comprehensive national prevention strategy. The "Support 21 Act of 2009" will build on the success of the "Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act," enacted in 2006, to strengthen the ability of government and communities around the nation to help construct and implement that needed national strategy.

For the complete story and video of the bill being introduced on the house floor visit CSPI here.

To view the document in The Library of Congress click here.