What Everyone Should Know About Teen Smoking

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention's latest research shows the teen smoking rate held steady between 2003 and 2007, at 22%, after a decline of 14% from 1997 to 2003. Officials cite a lack of state spending on prevention as the primary culprit in this leveling-off of the 30-day past use rate. Read more at:

http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINN2633099820080626

Find Evidence-Based Strategies for Your Community!

Helping America's Youth (HAY) is First Lady Laura Bush's initiative aimed at raising awareness about the challenges facing young people, and connecting caring adults with youth in the areas of family, school, and community. The HAY website provides a program tool designed to help coalitions address the risk and protective factors in their own communities with evidence-based programs. Find your risk and protective factors at:

http://guide.helpingamericasyouth.gov/programtool.cfm

Teen Drinkers Get Alcohol From Adults

Over half of America's teens are using alcohol, and 40% of those are getting it from adults for free, according to the latest federal research:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=5256437&page=1

Grammy-Winning Singer Has Emphysema

Singer Amy Winehouse was diagnosed with severe lung damage and diminished lung capacity, says the Associated Press: 'Winehouse damaged her lungs by smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes, her father said in an interview published Sunday. The Sunday Mirror quoted Mitch Winehouse as saying that Amy has an early stage emphysema and an irregular heartbeat, and has been warned that she will have to wear an oxygen mask unless she stops smoking drugs. "The doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs, it won't just ruin her voice, it will kill her," Mitch Winehouse was quoted as saying.'

Winehouse is only 24 years old.

OTC Drug Abuse: A New Epidemic

The internet has made it easier for teens to find out how to use and get drugs. The latest group of substances in this trend are legal, cheap, and easily accessible to teens. DXM (also known as "skittles," "robo," "triple c's," and "red devils") is an ingredient in several over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. Abuse can lead to hallucinations, dizzyness and nausea, and eventually liver and brain damage or even death. Read more on OTC drug abuse:

For teens: http://www.freevibe.com/Drug_Facts/prescription_OTC_full_article.asp

For parents: http://www.teendrugabuse.us/over_the_counter_drug_abuse.html

For all: http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/drug_info_dxm.asp
http://www.drugfree.org/General/Articles/Article.aspx?id=6e2a1230-8fef-4e8d-8b1c-883589a9548f&IsPreviewMode=true&UVer=f29e4571-96d6-4528-98ff-08c58a5a98f2

THC Levels in Marijuana Reach Record Highs

A report released this month by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows the percentage of THC in marijuana has nearly doubled in the last 25 years, from less than 4% in 1983 to 9.6% today:

http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2008/06/12/41793.aspx

Where will our next president stand on prevention?

See where Obama and McCain's positions on drug policy fall, from their records in the senate to their personal histories:

http://www.jointogether.org/news/features/2008/obama-and-mccain-where-they.html

Did you know?

If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement. Many States and local jurisdictions have cellular reporting programs to aid drivers in the reporting of impaired drivers and Kansas is one of them.

When the caller dials 911, *47 (for Highway Patrol), or *KTA (KTA = Kansas Turnpike Authority), a dispatcher at the local 911 center receives the call and dispatches the information to units in the area or to the appropriate local authority that has jurisdiction.

Phone numbers to be used: In Salina, *47 is used. In Wichita, *KTA is used. 911 can be used by any caller

Don't let July 4 blow up in your face!

Alcohol is a major factor in crashes during the July 4 holiday. In 2006, 27 percent of all drivers involved in traffic crashes during this holiday time (June 30 - July 5) registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. During that same period, there were 659 traffic-related fatalities. Out of that number, 37 percent involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of .08 or higher. Don't let fun for one evening destroy the many celebrations to come. Always designate a sober driver before you decide to drink, and check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fourth of July Impaired Driving Prevention Planner @ http://www.nhtsa.gov/planners/July2008/index.cfm