Commentary: Teen Alcohol Use — Parents Have More Influence Than They Think

By Jan Withers | April 20, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol,Parenting, Young Adults & Youth


Underage drinking is in part a youth problem, but it’s also an adult issue. Over half of all high school age drinkers get their alcohol from an adult, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Plus, half of those adults providing alcohol are parents or other family members.

Although adults can be part of the underage drinking problem, they can also be part of the solution. About three-quarters of teens say parents are the biggest influence on their decision on whether or not to drink.

Most parents want to do the right thing, but don’t know how. Part of that can be knowledge – one out of every five teens binge drink, but only one out of every 100 parents think their teen binge drinks. Sometimes parents take an authoritarian style of parenting that causes them to lose their ability to influence their teen through reason. While others take a hands-off approach, or allow their teen to drink under their supervision, which makes it even more likely that their teen will drink more when away from their parents.

Fortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with Dr. Robert Turrisi of Pennsylvania State University to create thePower of Parents handbook. Based on Dr. Turrisi’s research, this handbook gives proven tips on how to talk with your teens about alcohol in a productive, positive way. Parents who read the handbook and have the intentional conversation with their teens about alcohol can reduce underage drinking behaviors by as much as 30 percent. We encourage you to start the conversation this Saturday, April 21st, PowerTalk 21 day — the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol.

Here are some tips from Dr. Turrisi’s research:

1. Communicate before a problem starts. It’s important to have discussions before incidents happen – prior to any blaming, anger, or punishment.

2. Discuss rules and consequences. Explaining how and why you expect your teen to behave, should allow for rational discussion of a sometimes emotional issue. Still, it’s important to impart that you don’t want your teen drinking. Discuss and agree on consequences of broken rules.

3. Show you care. Sometimes a gentle touch can help show affection for your teen during this tough conversation. Telling your teen you love them and want them to be healthy and safe is the reason why it’s important to talk about the dangers of underage drinking together.

4. Pay attention. Even when life is stressful, it’s important to make time to listen to your teen, know where your teen is and what your teen is doing.

5. Share family activities, including events such as dinner, to build a bond with your teen.

6. Give and get respect. When your teen talks to you, it’s important to listen and reply respectfully, and to insist your teen do likewise.

7. Enforce consequences consistently. If your teen breaks the rules, stay calm and enforce the consequences you’ve agreed upon.

You can learn more or download the handbook atwww.madd.org/powerofparents.

Jan Withers, MADD National President

DEA DIVERSION CONTROL PROGRAM!

NATIONAL TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE
April 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.


Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.


“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”


“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.
Collection Site Locator:


Find a collection site near you. Check back frequently as collection sites are continuously being added.
Law Enforcement Agencies Only:


For law enforcement agencies that wish to host a collection site please call the POC in your area.
Take-Back Day Partnership Toolbox:


Here you will find a list of files that you can download to use for your own purposes.
General Public Inquiries:


Inquiries can be made at 1-800-882-9539.
News Releases
DEA’s Third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Collects 188.5 Tons (November 3, 2011)
Another Huge Turnout At DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event (May 06, 2011)
Additional Resources
DEA would like to express our appreciation to the following.
Drug Disposal Information
FDA – How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
FDA – Disposal of Unused Medicines

ANNUAL MEETING

The RADARS System annual meeting encourages prescription drug abuse experts, representatives  from the pharmaceutical industry, medical professionals, and federal regulatory agencies to discuss  current trends in prescription drug abuse research and to develop strategies to ensure the safe and  proper use of prescription medications.  Meeting Summaries: 2011: Abuse Deterrent Formulations of Prescription Drugs 2010: Risk Management of Scheduled Drugs: Evaluation of REMS for Opioids 2009: Risk Management of Scheduled Drugs: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Headed? 2008: From Signals to Interventions 2007: New Developments in Prescription Drug Abuse Research RADARS System Annual Meeting Save the Date - April 24, 2012 Bethesda, MD

Walgreens to Pay $7.9 Million to Resolve Allegations Over Illegal Prescription Transfer

By Join Together Staff | April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inGovernment, Legal, Marketing And Media & Prescription Drugs





The Justice Department announced that Walgreens has agreed to pay the government $7.9 million to resolve allegations the company gave people enrolled in government-run health programs $25 gift cards if they moved their prescriptions over to the pharmacy chain.


Providing such inducements to beneficiaries of government health programs violates federal law, CNN reports. Although Walgreens’ ads generally noted that such offers did not apply to people insured through Medicare, Medicaid and similar programs, the government said the company often ignored these exemptions.


“This case represents the government’s strong commitment to pursuing improper practices in the retail pharmacy industry that have the effect of manipulating patient decisions,” Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General with the U.S. Justice Department, said in a news release.


The Department of Justice noted the claims settled by the agreement are allegations, and there has been no determination of liability.


In early April, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) searched six Walgreens stores and a distribution center in Florida in a crackdown on improper sales of prescription painkillers. Earlier this year, the DEA ordered two CVS pharmacies in Florida to stop selling controlled drugs. The agency was concerned CVS had failed to closely monitor sales of oxycodone.


The DEA has tried to tighten control on major national pharmacies to help prevent painkillers such as oxycodone from getting on the black market. The agency is investigating whether Walgreens allowed suspiciously large sales of prescription opioids, which might indicate the pills are being diverted..

Rockers In Recovery Music Festival

Dear RIR Friends, THE RIR MUSIC FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 2-4,2012  Venue  Location: CB Smith Park - Pembroke Pines,Florida   It's a Recovery Palooza , minus the drugs and alcohol, but add meetings and fellowship! RIR Music Fest  is a campout for ALL people in recovery or supporters of recovery. Tickets Go On Sale May 1, 2012   Early Bird Ticket Sales   Save $10.00 Per Ticket!!   Order by July 1, 2012     $60.00 - Three Day Ticket- after July 1, 2012 - $70.00 $40.00 - Two Day Ticket- after July 1, 2012 - $50.00   Order Tickets Here No Tickets Will Be Sold At Gate  If You Wish To Campout At The RIR Music Fest   *Separate Camping Reservations are Needed: Camping at CB Smith Park: This 299-acre site is one of Broward County Parks and Recreation's most diverse parks, as well as one of its most popular.  The park offers a large campground, a tennis complex, a family golfing center, and many other amenities.       View Map      View Prices Please contact C.B. Smith Park 900 N. Flamingo Rd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 Phone: 954-357-5170 or click here.             3 Days of Sober and Clean Fun  Mark Stein, Liberty Devitto ,Christine Ohlman,Ricky Byrd, Kasim Sulton, and Richie Supa RIR Music Festival Schedule   9am- 10pm Friday November 2, 2012: Recovery Speaker -  Full Range  Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways Johnny B. and The Road Dogs     Sooner or Later RIR JAM   9am- 10pm Saturday November 3, 2012: Recovery Speaker -   Keep Coming Back Thrown Alive Black Finger The Chillbillies Selfish Steam RIR Band - Mark Stein(Vanilla Fudge), Liberty Devitto(Billy Joel) , Christine Ohlman(Saturday Night Live Band), Ricky Byrd(Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), Kasim Sulton(Todd Rundgren and Utopia), Richie Supa (Aerosmith and Richie Sambora) and special guests.  9am - 12pm- Sunday November 4, 2012:   Recovery Speaker -  Richie Supa Ricky Byrd Kasim Sulton Count Down Closing Ceremonies   We will be adding more bands to the lineup over the next month.      Rockers In Recovery (RIR) In The News         Sponsors and Vendors:  If your interested in becoming a sponsor or a vendor call954-826-4920 or Email  john@rockersinrecovery.com  no later then July 1st ,2012.

12 STEPPING TO RECOVERY DAILY THOUGHT!! 4-20-12

Step 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
In the natural progression of addiction, life degenerates.  In one way or another, many of us wake up one day to realize that we are living like an animal.  How true this is depends on the nature of our addiction.  Some of us may be living like an animal in terms of our physical surroundings.  Others of us may be a slave to our animal passions-powerful emotions that dehumanize us and others.  The fact that we are able to recognize our life as degenerate or insane proves that there is hope for a better way of life.  We are reminded of times when life was good, and we longed to have the goodness restored.  When we turn to God, who is powerful enough to help us build something better, we will discover that His power can restore us to sanity.




Courteous of Tyndale Life Recovery Bible