Helping to Prevent Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Youth

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed every September, CADCA´s Coalitions Online interviewed Dr. Judith Arroyo, Minority Health and Health Disparities Coordinator for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), to help paint a clearer picture of the scope of alcohol abuse among the Hispanic community. Here, Dr. Arroyo discusses alcohol abuse rates among the Latino community and offers suggestions on how best to prevent alcohol use among Latino youth.

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New Tool Available to Help Educate Parents, Teens on Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

CADCA, in partnership with the Newspaper in Education (NIE) Institute, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), has published a 16-page newspaper supplement to help educate parents and teens about the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol. This new supplement, entitled Stay Smart, Don´t Start: The Truth About Drugs and Alcohol, includes a special section on prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine abuse.

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Scotland Considers Raising Drinking Age to 21

AFP news service recently reported that Scotland officials are considering increasing the drinking age from 18 to 21, after two trails showed a decrease in alcohol-related incidents among young people as a result of increasing the drinking age. The news comes as the nation discusses the Amethyst Initiative, which seeks to revisit the debate on the legal drinking age and encourages lawmakers to lower it.

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AAAS Urges Middle School Parents to Talk to Kids About Alcohol

The first few weeks of middle school are a frenzy of friends, parties, and school events. It´s also time for parents to start talking with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)´s The Science Inside Alcohol Project.

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Don’t Miss CADCA TV Show on Teen Addiction Recovery Sept 25

In 2007, 3.9 million people aged 12 or older received treatment for a drug or alcohol problem and 7.7 percent of youth ages 12-17 were dependent on or abused drugs, according to SAMHSA´s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For many young people who are addicted to drugs, the road to recovery can be a long and bumpy one, requiring the support of the community and their families. A new CADCA TV, entitled Teen Addiction & the Path to Recovery, will explore the science behind teen addiction, the warning signs of addiction and steps that parents, teachers and other adults can take to help a teen achieve long-term recovery.

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Updated Version of CADCA Strategizer on Advocacy Available

Public policy and advocacy are integral components of substance abuse prevention work. However, many find the legal restrictions and regulations daunting and confusing. CADCA´s newly revised publication, Strategizer 31, Guidelines for Advocacy: Changing Policies and Laws to Create Safer Environments for Youth, can help community prevention practitioners better understand the legislative process and the ins and outs of "lobbying."

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