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________________________________________________________
ONLINE
PREVENTION NEWS
Information from the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources
________________________________________________________
Volume 2,
Issue 8
May 6, 2004
::::::::::::::::::::::::Table
of Contents::::::::::::::::::::::::
BREAKING
NEWS
Wisconsin State Prevention Conference
RESEARCH
UPDATES
Heavy social drinkers and alcoholics have same type of brain damage
National poll shows more than 40 percent of youth admit bullying
Study warns parents to listen to teens
Young children with sleeping problems at greater risk for later
alcohol and drug use
RESOURCES/MATERIALS
Represent Magazine
Too Smart To Start initiative
Informational addiction website
HEADS
UP!
Out of Control: The Link between Alcohol and Riots
Methamphetamine teleconference
FUNDING
ALERTS
SBC Foundation
Professional Development Scholarship Program
RGK Foundation
Singing for Change Foundation
WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
Social Marketing: Persuasive Communication of Public Health
National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse conference
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*BREAKING NEWS*
WISCONSIN STATE PREVENTION CONFERENCE
* PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING INSTITUTE - August 9, 2004
* STATE PREVENTION CONFERENCE - August 10-12, 2004
REGISTER NOW! Early-bird deadline is July
16, 2004. Training Institute workshops have limited enrollment,
so don't wait to register!
The Wisconsin State Prevention Conference will be held August 10-12,
2004 at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. "Weaving a Tapestry
of Health: Collaborating Among Substance Abuse Prevention, Mental
Health Promotion, and Tobacco Control" is targeted for a wide
variety of professionals across many fields. Conference programs
being offered will be of interest to mental health and substance
abuse prevention professionals, school personnel, employee assistance
professionals, law enforcement, tobacco control advocates, youth
development workers, community coalitions, faith-based community
members and leaders, and Native American professionals. In addition,
a variety of trainings and workshops will focus on topics relevant
to State Incentive Grant and Brighter Futures Initiative communities.
** We are also thrilled that Beverly Watts Davis,
the Director for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's
(SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), will be joining
us as the keynote speaker at the conference banquet on Wednesday
evening. She will be talking about "CSAP's New Prevention Initiatives
and Funding Priorities." You won't want to miss this unique
opportunity to meet her and hear her speak!
This conference will provide professional development
opportunities in the application of research-based knowledge and
best practices, including specific training in nationally identified
model programs, several of which are culturally specific. Various
Native American workshops are being offered that will address cultural
issues and health disparities due to substance use, as well as identifying
culturally effective program strategies. An additional focus area
includes an emphasis on environmental strategies. Research has indicated
high levels of success in these types of preventive approaches.
The pre-conference Training Institute is being offered August 9,
2004 and features five model program trainings: All Stars (a full
2-day training, August 9-10); Communities Mobilizing for Change
(a 1.5-day training, August 9-10); Protecting You/Protecting Me
(a 1-day training, August 9 only); the Strengthening Families Program:
For Parents and Youth 10-14 (a 2-day training, August 9-10); and
an exciting new program, Coping With Work and Family Stress, which
is being offered as an intensive 3-day training (August 9-11) and
focuses on mental health and workplace issues. Conference registration
is $175, with an additional fee for those attending the pre-conference
and a reduced rate for full conference early-bird registration.
For immediate questions, contact the Wisconsin Clearinghouse at
800-248-9244. To register or for registration questions, contact
UWSP Extension by calling 800-898-9472 and pressing 3. Additional
conference details are posted on the Wisconsin Clearinghouse (WCH)
website at http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/.
The conference brochure is available on the UWSP Extension website
at http://www.uwsp.edu/extension/brochures/aBrochures/Prevent-Wisconsin.pdf
and online registration will be available very soon. In the
meantime, you can register by phone, fax, or mail. Details are listed
on the registration form in the conference brochure.
We hope to see you in August!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESEARCH UPDATES*
HEAVY
SOCIAL DRINKERS AND ALCOHOLICS HAVE SAME TYPE OF BRAIN DAMAGE
Brain scans of heavy social drinkers revealed the same type of brain
damage as suffered by hospitalized alcoholics. However, it is rare
for social drinkers to recognize any reduction in cognitive functioning.
According to researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and
the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), damage was evident
in the brains of 46 individuals who drank more than 100 alcoholic
drinks a month for the three years prior to the study. In addition,
problems were found in reading, balance, and function tests. "[H]eavy
drinkers [were] significantly impaired on measures of working memory,
processing speed, attention, executive function, and balance,"
the researchers wrote. The amount of brain damage, they continued,
was enough to impair day-to-day functioning. The study's findings
are published in the journal Alcoholism:
Clinical & Experimental Research. [Meyerhoff, D.J.,
et al. (2004) Effects of Heavy Drinking, Binge Drinking, and Family
History of Alcoholism on Regional Brain Metabolites. Alcoholism:
Clinical & Experimental Research, 28(4): 650-661.]
NATIONAL POLL SHOWS MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF
YOUTH ADMIT BULLYING
In a national KidsHealth KidsPoll, more than 40 percent of children
between the ages of 9 and 13 admitted to bullying at least once
in a while, even though 64 percent of those surveyed said bullying
was "very uncool." Older children were more likely to
say that bullying is "cool." Children were also asked
what they thought would be the best solution to stop bullying. The
KidsPoll included more than 1,200 children at 11 member sites of
the National Association of Health Education Centers throughout
the U.S. Read the full story at www.nahec.org/KidsPoll/bullying/KidsPoll_Bulling_PressRelease.pdf
STUDY WARNS PARENTS TO LISTEN TO TEENS
A study suggests that public service ads advising parents to "just
talk to their teenagers about drugs -- they'll listen" are
potentially misleading. Researcher John Caughlin, a family communications
expert and professor of speech communication at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has found that if parents haven't
already established a pattern of listening to their teens about
less critical issues, it is likely they will not listen about drugs
and alcohol. Caughlin set out to discover if those parents and their
adolescent children who frequently engaged in the communication
pattern known as "demand/withdraw" tended to have various
negative health outcomes, such as poor self-esteem and drug use.
He found that frequent demand/withdraw in conversations, even those
on mundane topics, was indeed associated with low self-esteem and
high alcohol and drug use, for both adolescents and parents. The
results of the study are published in the Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships. Read a full report of the study at www.news.uiuc.edu/news/04/0318teens.html
[Caughlin, J.P. & Malis, R.S. (2004) Demand/Withdraw Communication
between Parents and Adolescents: Connections with Self-Esteem and
Substance Use. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(1):
125-148.]
YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SLEEPING PROBLEMS AT GREATER
RISK FOR LATER ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
A University of Michigan study concludes that children who have
trouble sleeping at ages 3 to 5 may be at a greater risk for drinking,
smoking, and using drugs as a teenager. For the study, researchers
interviewed the mothers of 257 boys between the ages of 3 and 5
about the boys' sleep habits. Follow-up interviews were conducted
with the families at three-year intervals until the children were
between the ages of 12 and 14. The older children were then asked
by researchers whether they had tried alcohol, cigarettes, or other
drugs. Researchers found that one-third of the boys had trouble
sleeping or were overtired as children. These children were twice
as likely as other boys to experiment with drugs by the time they
were 12 to 14 years old. Study author Dr. Maria Wong said the research
also showed that problem sleepers were more likely to exhibit symptoms
of anxiety or depression and have attention problems later in life.
The study's findings are published in the journal Alcoholism:
Clinical & Experimental Research. [Wong, Maria
M., et al. (2004) Sleep Problems in Early Childhood and Early Onset
of Alcohol and Other Drug Use in Adolescence. Alcoholism: Clinical
& Experimental Research, 28(4): 578-587.]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESOURCES/MATERIALS*
REPRESENT MAGAZINE
Represent, a magazine published by Youth
Communication, is written by young adults to help them develop
reading, writing, and other skills. Begun in 1993, Represent (formerly
FCYU) is a bimonthly magazine written by and for teens in foster
care. In the March/April issue, some of the young adults write about
how crack cocaine ruined their families. In one article entitled,
"They Called Me a Crack Baby," Antwaun Garcia recalled
a day in 4th grade when a classmate called him a "crack baby"
because he couldn't read aloud. Another article written by Miguel
Ayala, 21, talks about his father's death from drugs after coming
home from Vietnam. Ayala and his twin brother were 3-years-old and
put into foster care when their mother refused to take care of them.
Go to www.youthcomm.org/Publications/FCYU.htm
to read these and other stories from the current issue, as well
as previous issues dealing with mental illness, mentors, stress,
and more.
TOO
SMART TO START INITIATIVE
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
began the national rollout of its Too Smart To Start (TSTS) initiative,
which is aimed at 9- to 13-year-olds and their parents. The initiative
is designed to increase the perception of harm, parent-child communications,
and public disapproval of underage alcohol use. This program was
field-tested in nine different cities before the national launch.
TSTS is flexible for use in communities of all sizes, and provides
information about alcohol use by youth; identifies a clear, consistent
message; and provides the basic materials and evidence-based strategies
to deliver the message. To order a free Too Smart To Start Community
Action Kit, go to http://store.health.org/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=16687
or call 800-729-6686. For more information about the community test
sites, visit www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov
INFORMATIONAL ADDICTION WEBSITE
A group of medical-school students have created a website, www.hpssat.org,
to provide healthcare professionals with basic information on addiction.
Students from medical schools, nursing schools, and pharmacy and
physician assistant programs throughout the country formed Health
Professional Students for Substance Abuse Training (HPSSAT) to help
those looking for educational and advocacy information pertaining
to addiction. The website provides information on curriculum development,
state and national news developments, educational resources, training
tools, and educational opportunities in the addiction field. According
to HPSSAT, the website is designed to help students better understand
the core requirements for adequate addiction-related training and
to allow them to serve as advocates for local and national educational
reform.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*HEADS UP!*
OUT OF CONTROL: THE LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND
RIOTS
On May 18, 2004, OJJDP will host an audioconference to discuss ways
to prevent disturbances following sporting events where alcohol
was used. Law enforcement officials cite alcohol as a contributing
factor in many campus riots. "Out of Control: The Link between
Alcohol and Riots" will air from 3:00-4:15 pm EST. Find out
which interventions can be effective in preventing violent incidents
from occurring. Access information and register at http://www.udetc.org/Events-AudioConferences.htm
METHAMPHETAMINE TELECONFERENCE
On June 17, 2004 from 3-4:15pm EST, CADCA's National Coalition Institute
will host the first of four teleconferences in a series on topics
relevant to anti-drug coalitions. This teleconference will cover
methamphetamine production, distribution, and use, and discuss it
as a major cause of the rise of crime in rural America. Presenters
will provide an overview and background on the problem, describe
the unique challenges and opportunities created by clandestine drug
labs, and identify promising collaborative models being developed
across sectors not traditionally engaged in substance abuse prevention
and treatment issues. To register for any of these free electronic
seminars by phone, call 877-335-1287 extension 230. Telephone dial-in
instructions and accompanying materials will be mailed to registrants
two weeks prior to the audio conference.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*FUNDING ALERTS*
SBC FOUNDATION
The SBC Foundation will award up to $5 million in grants to nonprofits
that want to integrate technology into their operations and community-outreach
efforts. The foundation's Excelerator Grants will be awarded to
nonprofits in the areas of health and human services, community
development, education, or arts and culture. The funds must be used
to pay for data-communications hardware, software, training, personnel,
and/or application development. The application deadline is August
13, 2004. For more information, see the 2004 Request for Proposals
online
or call 800-591-9663.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), through
its Professional Development Scholarship Program, provides financial
assistance for continuing education for qualified victim service
providers. The scholarship program is designed for service providers
from small, community-based or faith-based organizations or agencies
that assist crime victims and operate with limited budgets or resources.
Individuals can receive up to $1,000; groups will receive up to
$5,000 in assistance. In addition to victim-service providers, providers
of addiction and mental health services who work with crime victims
may apply for funding. The completed application form must be received
by OVC TTAC at least 45 days prior to the start of the requested
event. For more information or an application see www.ovcttac.org/scholarship.cfm
or call 866-682-8822.
RGK FOUNDATION
RGK Foundation awards grants in the broad areas of education, community,
and medicine/health. The foundation's primary interests within education
include programs that focus on formal K-12 education, integrating
technology into the curriculum, teacher development, literacy, and
higher education. Within community, the foundation supports a broad
range of human services, youth development, and community improvement
programs. Human service programs of particular interest include
early childhood development, parenting education, and domestic violence
and abuse prevention services. Youth development programs typically
include after-school programs that supplement and enhance the formal
education system. The foundation supports a variety of community
improvement programs including those that enhance nonprofit management
and promote philanthropy and volunteerism. The foundation's current
interests in the area of medicine/health include programs that promote
the health and well being of children, promote access to health
services, and foundation-initiated programs focusing on ALS. While
the foundation does award some grants of more than $25,000, it anticipates
that most grants awarded during 2004 will be under $25,000. The
foundation reviews electronic letters of inquiry on an ongoing basis.
For more information see www.rgkfoundation.org/guidelines.php
SINGING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION
The Singing for Change Foundation (SFC) aims to improve quality
of life and enable individuals to make positive change in their
communities. The Foundation offers competitive grants to progressive,
community-based, nonprofit organizations that address the root causes
of social and environmental problems. Grants are awarded to programs
that are concerned with the health, education, and protection of
children and their families. Projects that foster self-esteem and
self-sufficiency, and teach nonviolence and creative problem solving
are most likely to be considered. Other areas of interest include
projects which help people overcome social or economic barriers
to education or employment; promote the empowerment of individuals
toward self-sufficiency, and provide opportunities for personal
growth; and demonstrate human equality and encourage people to cross
boundary lines to help others. Grants range in size from $500 to
$10,000. Letters of interest are accepted on an ongoing basis. See
http://margaritaville.com/sfc/index.htm
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES*
SOCIAL MARKETING: PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION
OF PUBLIC HEALTH
"How to Use Marketing Skills to Affect Social Change"
is being offered on May 20, 2004, from 8am to noon at University
of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Sponsored by the Addiction Resource Council,
Inc., Program Steering Committee: Waukesha County Prevention Network,
the $20 registration fee includes continental breakfast and materials.
The registration deadline is May 15. To register or to get more
information on this training, contact Carol Hanneman-Garuz at the
Addiction Resource Council, Inc. at 262-524-7921, ext.106; 262-524-7932
(fax); or cgaruz@arcouncil.net
DON'T FORGET - NATIONAL RURAL INSTITUTE ON
ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
The 20th Annual National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
conference, is being held on June 13-17, 2004 at University of Wisconsin-Stout
in Menomonie, WI. The training includes mini-workshops, special
topic sessions, and 18 in-depth workshop tracks. The program provides
rural specific training, and an opportunity to network with other
rural alcohol and drug abuse professionals, federal agency representatives,
and nationally known institute faculty and resource persons. Detailed
program information is available at www.uwstout.edu/solutions/ces/ruralaoda.
To register contact Deanna Applehans at 715-232-2693 or conference-solutions@uwstout.edu
NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN FAMILIES AGAINST
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse
(NAPAFASA) annual conference will be held in Washington, DC on June
28-29, 2004. Titled "Substance Abuse: Making Research Work
for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community," this
conference will present the most current Asian American and Pacific
Island substance abuse research pertinent to improving prevention
and treatment services to these populations. Youth, parents, community
leaders, and service providers will share their programs in a dialogue
regarding best practices. This will be a great opportunity for coalitions
to learn more about research specific to the Asian American and
Pacific Islander populations and to network with other communities
and researchers focused on AAPI substance abuse issues. For further
information, contact the NAPAFASA Los Angeles office at 213-625-5795,
visit the website at www.napafasa.org
or e-mail inquiries to Ford Kuramoto, National Director,
at fhkuramoto@napafasa.org.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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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