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________________________________________________________
ONLINE
PREVENTION NEWS
Information from the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources
________________________________________________________
Issue #28
November 20, 2003
::::::::::::::::::::::::Table
of Contents::::::::::::::::::::::::
BREAKING
NEWS
Youth Subcultures and Violence training
RESEARCH
UPDATES
Colleges with greater cultural diversity have less binge drinking
Racial groups respond better to different interventions
More likely a person will try ecstasy than cocaine
Addressing misconceptions about college alcohol use can help reduce
drinking
School aggression higher among students who use alcohol during school
RESOURCES/MATERIALS
Alcohol Policy Information System
Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Essential Partners Kit
Federal grant searching website
When Addiction and Mental Disorders Co-Occur video
Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2003
HEADS
UP!
Alice in Sexual Assault Land play
FUNDING
ALERTS
NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Youth Venture
WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
CADCA's Forum XIV
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*BREAKING NEWS*
YOUTH
SUBCULTURES AND VIOLENCE TRAINING
The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources is sponsoring
a one-day training on youth subcultures and violence. The training
is designed for law enforcement, social work, and youth guidance
professionals, and will be held on December 11, 2003 in Stevens
Point, WI. The presentation will offer attendees an overview of
some current youth subcultures, including occult, white supremacy,
and tagger groups. Instructors Kathy Sorenson (Director, Project
Hugs) and Mike Edler (Madison Police Department) will help to demystify
these groups in an effort to make prevention a greater possibility.
Participants will gain a basic understanding of different subgroup
belief systems; learn why participants get involved in subculture
groups; and the contributing factors in our society to involvement.
The registration deadline is November 28, 2003. For more information
contact Christy at 800-248-9244 or e-mail us at wchpr@www.uhs.wisc.edu
[Note: This presentation will include graphic material. Viewer discretion
is advised]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESEARCH UPDATES*
COLLEGES
WITH GREATER CULTURAL DIVERSITY HAVE LESS BINGE DRINKING
A Harvard University study finds that colleges with greater cultural
diversity have much lower rates of binge drinking among high-risk
students. "If you have younger white males together to the
exclusion of other groups, you're going to have fewer role models
for lighter or nondrinking behavior," said Henry Wechsler,
lead author of the study. "That may explain why fraternities
have had such a high level of drinking problems." The study
analyzed the demographics of 114 predominantly white colleges and
the drinking behavior of 52,312 college students. The data was taken
from the 1993, 1997, 1999, and 2001 College Alcohol Study surveys.
The review found that the underage binge-drinking rate was 54 percent
among white students at colleges with little racial diversity. At
colleges with some racial makeup, the binge-drinking rate was 44
percent. At colleges with a greater number of older students, the
binge-drinking rate was 37 percent, compared to nearly 50 percent
at other universities. The study's findings are in line with previous
research that found that binge-drinking rates differ among student
subgroups. According to the research, African-American, Asian-American,
female, and older students have lower rates of binge drinking compared
to white, male, and younger students. The study is published in
the November 2003 issue of the American
Journal of Public Health. [Wechsler, Harry and Kuo, Meichun.
(2003) Watering Down the Drinks: The Moderating Effect of College
Demographics on Alcohol Use of High-Risk Groups. American Journal
of Public Health, 93: 1929-1933.]
RACIAL GROUPS RESPOND BETTER TO DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS
Across all racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups, developmental
interventions can help keep kids on track, and away from violence,
alcohol, and illicit drugs. But different groups respond better
to different approaches, according to this Search Institute study.
American Indian and Asian American kids who received help using
time constructively had greater school success. For African American
youth, bolstering self-esteem and encouraging reading for pleasure
contributed to overall success. American Indian youth, on the other
hand, benefited most from relationships with caring adults and engagement
in creative activities.
www.search-institute.org/research/Insights/InsightsEvidence-11-03.pdf
MORE
LIKELY A PERSON WILL TRY ECSTASY THAN COCAINE
The number of first-time cocaine users and the number of first-time
ecstasy users have both increased over the last ten years, but now
it is more likely that a person will try ecstasy than cocaine, according
to recently released data from the National Survey on Drug Use and
Health. This reversal is due, in part, to the fact that while first-time
cocaine use has nearly doubled since 1993, first-time ecstasy use
has increased ten-fold. For more detailed numbers on first-time
use, go to www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol12/12-39.PDF
ADDRESSING
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE ALCOHOL USE CAN HELP REDUCE DRINKING
New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
finds that public-education programs that address misconceptions
about college alcohol use can help reduce drinking. Dr. Robert D.
Foss, manager of alcohol studies at the UNC Highway Safety Research
Center, and his research team recruited UNC students in 1997 to
anonymously provide breath-alcohol measurements when they returned
to their dorms on weekend and weekday evenings. The researchers
found that on Mondays through Wednesdays, 85 percent of the students
did not drink. On the weekends, two of three students had nothing
to drink, while most of the rest only had a few drinks. The study's
findings were publicized to college students through freshmen orientation
sessions, posters, and printed material distributed to every residence
hall room on campus. Following the student-education program, the
researchers once again conducted breath-analysis surveys in 1999
and 2002. "The bottom line was that on a number of different
measures, student drinking had declined. Self-reported drinking
was down, self-reported heavy drinking, which some people call 'binging,'
was down, and, most importantly, measured breath-alcohol concentrations
were down," Foss said. He added, "By 2002, the proportion
of students with any alcohol had declined by 15 percent, and the
proportion with a breath-alcohol concentration greater than 0.05
percent was down 23 percent." For more information see www.hsrc.unc.edu/pressrelease/collegealcohol.htm
SCHOOL
AGGRESSION HIGHER AMONG STUDENTS WHO USE ALCOHOL DURING SCHOOL
School-related alcohol use is a large but understudied problem in
American schools. An investigation by Kristin V. Finn and Michael
R. Frone, "Predictors of Aggression at School: The Effect of
School-Related Alcohol Use," examined factors related to aggression
at school, particularly the role of alcohol use. School aggression
was higher among students who were male, rebellious, had a weak
sense of school identification, low academic achievement, and engaged
in alcohol use during the school day. General alcohol use was not
related to school aggression beyond the effect of school-related
alcohol use. Schools that encourage school involvement and alcohol
resistance may help prevent problems of student aggression. For
the full text of the study see www.principals.org/publications/bulletin/bltn_0903_predictors_of_aggression.cfm
[Finn, Kristin V. & Frone, Michael R. (2003) Predictors of Aggression
at School: The Effect of School-Related Alcohol Use. NASSP Bulletin,
87(636): 38-54.]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESOURCES/MATERIALS*
ALCOHOL
POLICY INFORMATION SYSTEM
The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), an electronic resource
of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, provides
authoritative, detailed and comparable information on alcohol-related
policies in the United States. Designed primarily as a tool for
researchers, APIS can be used for information about the effects
and effectiveness of alcohol-related policies at federal and state
levels. The alcohol-related policies covered by APIS include: advertising,
marketing, and mass media; transportation, crime, and public safety;
health care services and financing; education; public services,
functions, and programs; and employment and the workplace. Visit
APIS at www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov
FAITH-BASED
AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: ESSENTIAL PARTNERS KIT
Research has shown that spirituality and religion can be powerful
and positive forces in substance use prevention and recovery. Find
resources, research, and step-by-step recommendations for incorporating
drug prevention activities into youth programs in the new special
feature kit, Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Essential
Partners. The kit is appropriate for community and spiritual leaders,
community activists, and anyone interested in the role that spirituality
and religion play in substance use prevention. Learn more or request
the free kit today by visiting http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/promos/theme/default.aspx.
To order by phone, call SAMHSA's NCADI at 800-729-6686 and ask for
the special feature kit, inventory number FBKIT. [Available through
December 2003 only.]
FEDERAL
GRANT SEARCHING WEBSITE
The federal government is attempting to make it easier for nonprofits
to find, apply for, and win federal grants. Grant-seekers should
now be able to find information on every grant offered by the federal
government, and also submit a single, unified application for multiple
grants, all through a new website. Visitors can search for grant
opportunities by a simple text search, specific funding opportunity,
date posted, Catalog for Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, funding
activity category, agency, funding instrument type, or grant topic.
Visitors can also register for a free e-mail service that notifies
subscribers when new grant opportunities become available. For more
information go to www.grants.gov
WHEN
ADDICTION AND MENTAL DISORDERS CO-OCCUR VIDEO
Drug and alcohol dependence and mental disorders wreak havoc on
the lives of millions. When afflicted with these diseases simultaneously,
the result can be even more debilitating. Learn more about co-occurring
substance abuse and mental disorders, as well as promising treatment
practices in the video, "When Addiction and Mental Disorders
Co-Occur." This 57-minute presentation features discussion
by a panel of experts, including SAMHSA Administrator Charles G.
Curie. This video resource is now available through November 30
for the reduced price of $10. To order, call SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol & Drug Information at 800-729-6686, and ask for
item VHS167.
INDICATORS
OF SCHOOL CRIME AND SAFETY 2003
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released,
"Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2003." This report
presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students,
teachers, principals, and the general population from an array of
sources. These include the National Crime Victimization Survey (1992-2001);
the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization
Survey (1995, 1999, 2001); the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1993,
1995, 1997, 1999, 2001); the School Survey on Crime and Safety (2000);
and the School and Staffing Survey (1993-94, 1999-2000). This report
examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and
from school. Data on crime away from school are also presented to
place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society.
To see the full report go to http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2004004
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*HEADS UP!*
ALICE
IN SEXUAL ASSAULT LAND PLAY
The Contemporary Issues Organization (CIO) at Stevens Point Area
Senior High School performs an original play entitled "Alice
in Sexual Assault Land." The 55-minute play addresses harassment,
sexual harassment, bullying, cliques, hazing, dating violence, sexual
assault, and dating safety. "Alice in Sexual Assault Land"
was started in 1992 by concerned CIO members who wanted to educate
other students on the topics of sexual assault, date rape, and harassment.
The play is designed for students in grades 6-12. Alice and the
Rabbit take the audience through Sexual Assault Land where they
meet characters from many children's fairy tales, including Little
Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White,
Cinderella, and others. The play's message about personal safety
and prevention techniques will help students understand the seriousness
of sexual harassment and assault. The 18 student cast members travel
around Wisconsin performing once per month, and giving two performances
in each area. The cost for each performance is $350, plus expenses,
food, transportation, and housing. For more information see www.freewebs.com/cio-alice/index.htm
(a form is available through the website to request an "Alice"
performance). Or contact Laurel Hoeth, CIO Advisor, at 715-341-2616
or lhoeth@g2a.net
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*FUNDING ALERTS*
NEA
FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION
The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation for the Improvement
of Education (NFIE) funds hundreds of grants each year, up to $5,000
per project, to public educators. All practicing U.S. public school
teachers in grades K-12, education support professionals, and higher
education faculty and staff at public colleges and universities
are encouraged to apply. Innovation Grants fund break-the-mold innovations
that significantly improve achievement for underserved learners.
The application deadline is February 1, 2004. For more information
see www.nfie.org/programs/howtoapply.htm
YOUTH
VENTURE
Youth Venture is giving young people (ages 12-20) the opportunity
to do something about an issue that is important to them. The national
nonprofit provides the tools necessary for youth to start clubs,
organizations or businesses that allow them to give back to their
communities. Grant awardees will receive a seed grant of up to $1,000
to start a venture and will be given access to scholarships, awards,
special conference invitations, media opportunities, and a national
network of active young people. Applicants must submit an application,
present a plan, and meet specific Youth Venture requirements. There
is no deadline for applications. For additional information on how
to become a Venturer go to www.youthventure.org
or e-mail info@youthventure.org.
To go directly to the online application see www.youthventure.org/eapp/e-app1.asp
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES*
CADCA'S
FORUM XIV
Network with coalition leaders, interact with federal leaders, meet
your Congressional delegation, and receive valuable training at
CADCA's Forum XIV, "Community Coalitions: Local Actions=A World
of Results," on January 20-23, 2004 in Washington, D.C. Community
Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's National Leadership Forum is the
largest gathering of substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals
in the country, and will equip you with the tools you need to effect
a positive change in your community. Conference tracks include:
Program Needs and Assets; Organizational Capacity; Innovative and
Research-based Programs; Program Implementation; Evaluation and
Achieving Results; and Youth Leaders. The Forum will also feature
invited guests President George W. Bush, Former New York City Mayor
Rudy Giuliani, ONDCP Director John Walters, and SAMHSA Administrator
Charles Curie. Register online at www.cadca.org/Events/Forum/Forum14/register.asp.
For more information about the Forum and conference tracks, visit
www.cadca.org/Events/Forum/Forum14/default.asp
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This
update has been brought to you by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for
Prevention Resources.
Online
Prevention News welcomes potential submissions of information, but
the list owners reserve the right to make decisions regarding the
information that is chosen. Submissions that are judged to fall
outside the mission and scope of this update may be refused or edited
based on content, relevance, and/or clarity.
Online
Prevention News may direct users to resources and websites maintained
by institutions over which the Wisconsin Clearinghouse has no control.
WCH makes no representation that the information contained on such
sites is accurate or current. Information provided on third-party
web sites does not reflect any official policy or position of WCH.
Web site links are provided as a convenience, and not as an endorsement
by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse.
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