Washington, D.C. – Health advocates from Roanoke Virginia are headed to Washington, D.C. Feb. 6-9, 2012 to join nearly 3,000 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 22nd annual National Leadership Forum. CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers.

Besides the opportunity to learn the latest strategies to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, the coalition will also hear from such conference headliners as Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and James Fowler, Ph.D., author of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, and a Professor in the School of Medicine and Division of Social Sciences at the University of California, San Diego.

 The coalition will also have the opportunity to meet and brief Senators and members of Congress from their state during CADCA’s Capitol Hill Day.

R.E.A.L. Team is looking for high school youth to join our youth leadership team. We have an upcoming Team Building event on January 16th at Pump It Up. If you are interested in joining other Roanoke area youth in making a positive difference in our schools and communities, then check out information here.

Parents are one of the greatest influences in their children’s lives. Being a parent of a teenager is not always easy, so we would like to let you know of a wonderful program designed to give parents of teens the opportunity to come together as parents/guardians and enhance the skills needed to help teens successfully make the transition to adulthood. Remember, you are their greatest influence!

Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare offers a free science-based program Staying Connected with Your Teen to learn more about it check out this informational flyer

Check out this article published in the Roanoke Times this week.

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/302564

December has been designated National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.  During this month, family and friends gather for holiday celebrations where alcohol is likely to be present.  The presence of alcohol during the holidays often results in minors having easy access to alcohol as well. Sixty five percent of teens say they get alcohol from friends or family; and many teens cite other people’s homes as the most common setting for youth consumption of alcohol.  Moreover, some parents encourage teens to drink at their home with the assumption that they can monitor the event.

Parents need to know that hosting underage drinking parties is illegal.  Parents may be held responsible if someone as a result of alcohol use; gets into a fight and hurts someone, falls and hurts themselves or someone else, sexually assaults someone, damages property, dies from drinking too much, or injures or kills someone while driving after leaving the party.

The average age now reported for the initiation of drinking alcohol is twelve years old.  Most youth do not report excessive drinking on a regular basis, but nearly 20% of 12 to 20 year olds report binge drinking (having 4 to 5 drinks in a row).  We know that there are many risk factors associated with underage drinking such as academic and social problems, homicides and suicides, depression, and risky sexual behavior. Also, it is the leading contributor to injury death, and the main cause of death for youth under the age of 21. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that around 1.4 million people are arrested for DUI and DUI-drugs in the United States every year, and federal statistics indicate that the number of those arrested is far lower than the number who actually drove under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

Parents need to understand the health risks involved in underage drinking and the severity of hosting underage drinking parties.  There can be no worse consequence to a parent’s participation in underage drinking than a tragedy. Parents have to realize that young people who are drinking may well be getting behind the wheel of a car.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday, and remember…

Parents, talk to your teen… they will listen!

RAYSAC and the Botetourt Prevention Planning Team sponsored the third annual Virginia Alcohol Laws Roundtable on Thursday, December 8th at the Greenfield Education Center in Daleville, Va.  The panel of experts included Commonwealth Attorney Joel Branscom, Chief Craig Harris, Elizabeth Dillon-Attorney, Judge Paul Tucker, ABC Special Agent Chris Goodman, and newly elected Delegate Chris Head.  The panel discussed current underage drinking laws, and other issues that may give communities more tools to address underage drinking.  Lunch was provided by Botetourt County Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.