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The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities is proud to bring you our May 2008 Newsletter. We continue to promote healthy communities through the prevention of substance abuse, violence and other high risk behaviors.
Our previous newsletters are available on the ACHC website.
What's Happening Now
Teen Life on the Internet
A Frontline documentary entitled, Frontline: Growing Up Online, investigates the radical effects, including the risks, realities and misconceptions, the internet is having on the lives of children and teens. Our local Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard along with Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel and Wayne County SheriffWarren Evans are encouraging concerned parents to the watch the engaging program. The documentary airs on Tuesday May 20th on WTVE Channel 16 at 10p.m. Read More
Opportunities to Create Change Together
As citizens, we can engage conversation about issues that are important. When that conversation provides information about pending legislation, it can be advocacy to improve the health of our communities. Currently there are several bills pending in the Michigan legislature that will impact public health.
First, The House is now considering changes in the Senate approved HB4163 that would assure smoke-free workplaces in Michigan. However, any changes in the Senate approved bill would seriously reduce the probability that the bill will become law. Please contact your Representative and voice your concern for smoke-free workplaces.
- The American Cancer Society has provided the following facts about the Smoke-Free Workplace Legislation.
- Bar and restaurant workers are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer due to their prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke on the job.
- A study released last month by Public Sector Consultants proves that smoke free laws have no negative impact on the bar and restaurant industry.
Second, the Judiciary Committee in the Michigan Senate has control over legislation passed by the House, HB4289, HB4920, HB4021 to increase the consequences for drunk driving when the blood alcohol content is 0.15 or greater.
- MADD of Michigan has provided the following facts about the "Extreme Drunk Driving" legislation:
- Extreme drunk driving would have increased consequences. "Extreme" is defined as having a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or greater. Drunk driving is defined as 0.08 or greater. To have a BAC of 0.15, a 200 pound man would have had 7 drinks in an hour; a 160 pound woman would have had 5 drinks in an hour.
- Persons convicted of "Extreme" drunk driving would be required to have an ignition interlock system which won't let the car start when drivers have alcohol detected in their breath.
- Repeated drunk driving convictions or a conviction of a blood alcohol content of 0.15 would require an alcohol abuse assessment and treatment when indicated.
Please contact your Senator and ask that this bill be brought to a vote.
Personal communication is always the best way to advocate change. For that reason, if you are interested in contributing to the issues pending in your community feel free to contact your local Oakland County Senators listed below.
Senators from Oakland County are:
-Senator Mike Bishop at phone: 517-373-2417, send a fax to: (517) 373-2694 or e-mail: senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov.
-Senator Nancy Cassis, Phone 888-386-2629, or send a fax to 517-373-0938 or
e-mail senncassis@senate.michigan.gov
-Senator Gilda Jacobs, Phone 517-373-7888, Or fax 517-373-2983 or
e-mail sengjacobs@senate.michigan.gov.
Representatives of Oakland County Districts are:
-Representative Marie Donigan, 517-373-3818, mariedonigan@house.mi.gov
-Representative Andy Meisner, 517-373-0478, andymeisner@house.mi.gov
-Representative Tim Melton, 517-373-0475, timmelton@house.mi.gov
-Representative Paul Condino, 517-373-1788, paulcondino@house.mi.gov
-Representative Aldo Vagnozzi, 517-373-1793, aldovagnozzi@house.mi.gov
-Representative Craig DeRoche, 517-373-0827, craigderoche@house.mi.gov
-Representative David Law, 517-373-1799, davidlaw@house.mi.gov
-Representative Chuck Moss, 517-373-8670, chuckmoss@house.mi.gov
-Representative Marty Knollenberg, 517-373-1783,martyknollenberg@house.mi.gov
-Representative Fran Amos, 517-373-0615, franamos@house.mi.gov
-Representative John Garfield, 517-373-1773, johngarfield@house.mi.gov
-Representative Jim Marleau, 517-373-1798, jimmarleau@house.mi.gov
-Representative Chris Ward, 517-373-1784, chrisward@house.mi.gov
Headlines
Valuable Training For You and Your Community
Nationally recognized leaders will facilitate The Community Anti-Drug Conference and Workshop on June 2, 2008, hosted by Sander Levin, Representative of the U.S. 12th District. "If you want to learn more about local drug problems and proven strategies to address then, please join us," states Congressman Levin.
The Coalition Conference will be held at the Macomb Community College South Campus located at 14500 E. 12 Mile Road, K building - 2nd Floor in Warren (located on the corner of 12 Mile Road and Hayes). Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the conference will end at 3:00 p.m. Please call Congressman Levin's office at 586-498-7122 or 248-968-2025 to R.S.V.P.
Current Research
Teens More Susceptible to Drug Related Addiction and Relapse
Recent studies, from the Harvard Medical School, have suggested that due to their developing brains teens are at higher risk for drug addiction. Teens are more vulnerable to the highly enticing drug related cues, as compared to adults, and are more likely to relapse into destructive behaviors. Read More
Rise in Ritual Drinking for 21st Birthday Celebrations
New research has found an increase in the drinking ritual of consuming 21 or more drinks to celebrate their 21st birthday. According to the data collected, from over 2,500 students at a public university, it is estimated that half of the men and a third of the women reached blood alcohol levels of 0.26 and above. At this extreme level of intoxication, there is an increased risk of suffering serious injuries.
Coalition Spotlight
Holly Area Youth Coalition
The mission of the Holly Area Youth Coalition is to work in partnership with the community to empower youth to make positive life choices, thereby reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among area youth. We are here to provide opportunities for youth and adults to develop assets that will prevent youth from making destructive decisions. The Holly Area Youth Coalition uses the 40 Developmental Asset framework as the model for its substance abuse prevention efforts in the Holly Community. These assets, identified by the Search Institute of Minneapolis Minnesota, are 40 positive experiences and qualities that all of us have the power to bring into the lives of children and youth. Research has shown that the more of these positive qualities and experiences a child has while growing up, the more likely he or she is to make choices that will lead to success.
As part of our asset building effort, we have implemented the All Stars and All Stars Junior after school programs. All Stars is offered to 6th graders, while All Stars Junior is for 4th and 5th graders. In the All Stars programs, young people are challenged to think about their futures and how their behaviors will positively, or negatively, affect their ability to reach the future they desire. The coalition also offers an after school tutoring program for 6th grade youth.
The Holly Area Youth Coalition participates with the other ACHC member coalitions in several county-wide prevention efforts, as well. These include Operation Sticker Shock, the Underage Drinking Prevention Initiative and Synar underage tobacco sales compliance checks. We are proud to partner with the Village of Holly Police Department and the Holly Area Schools to bring many of these prevention efforts to our area.
We are currently working with Holly Area Schools to implement the Survey of Student Resources and Assets to 8th, 10th and 12th grade students in our district. This will assist us in better understanding the needs of area youth and help us to enrich our efforts in providing Asset Building opportunities and prevention education to the residents of Holly and its surrounding communities. If you are interested in learning more about The Holly Area Youth Coalition and its prevention and asset building efforts, please contact Mary Ann Vergith or Susan Papple at 248-328-3135.
Calendar
- Frontline: Growing Up Online
- Tune in: May, 20 2008 at 10 p.m. on WTVS Channel 56
- Medical Health Education Conference - Suicide Prevention
- May 29, 2008 from 8:30a.m. - 3:30p.m.
- Oakland Schools, 211 Pontiac Lake Rd. Waterford
- Questions, call 248-258-6693
- Community Anti-Drug Conference & Training Workshop - Hosted by Congressman Sander Levin
- June 2, 2008 from 9a.m. - 2p.m.
- Macomb Community College South Campus, at 14500 E. 12 Mile Road
- R.S.V.P. at 586-498-7122 or 248-968-2025
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