Substance-Free Saturday: Red Ribbon Week Tip of the Day

Tip #3

Every month, ACT Missouri encourages communities to observe and celebrate #SubstanceFreeSaturday. On this day, plan an activity with your friends, school, SADD chapter, or community that celebrates being Substance Free! Then share your event with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #SubstanceFreeSaturday hashtag. Be sure to watch Facebook and Twitter or check out your 2014 Red Ribbon Week calendar for #SubstanceFreeSaturday dates!

Let us know in the comments about your favorite #SubstanceFreeSaturday event, or the one you are looking forward to the most!

Red Ribbon Week Tip of the Day #2

Tip #2

Today’s tip of the day is how to get involved with the Missouri Youth/Adult Alliance (MYAA). MYAA is a statewide coalition made up of adults and youth that assists local community efforts in addressing underage drinking. Its mission is to encourage advocates to reduce youth access to alcohol by implementing environmental and social policy changes in their communities. By changing policy we will improve the environment that our children are living in each day; the environment that encourages them to drink alcohol.

So how can you get involved? Complete this membership form and make plans to join us at the next coalition meeting!

Red Ribbon Week Tip of the Day #1

Happy Red Ribbon Week!

Every day during Red Ribbon Week we will bring you a tip of the day. Be sure to watch your email or check back here on our blog to follow along!

Tip #1

Have you signed the Red Ribbon Week Pledge yet? As parents, the Pledge is very important, and we encourage you to sign it.

WHAT’S THE PLEDGE ABOUT?

As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.
We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.

Let us know in the comments once you sign the Pledge!

Substance Abuse Prevention Conference Update

Here at ACT Missouri we are busy getting everything ready for the 2014 Substance Abuse Prevention Conference! We are very excited, and cannot believe it is already next month!

Some reminders:

Award applications are due October 17^th
Lodging reservation deadline is October 24^th
Registration closes October 31^st

fIf you applied for a scholarship, be sure to check your email! Award letters went out this morning. If you did not receive a scholarship, we would still like to encourage you to attend the conference. We have a great lineup of speakers this year!

#FlashbackFriday to the 2013 Prevention Conference

Social Media

We would love it if you would share and RT any social media posts regarding the Conference! Remember to use #ACTAgentsOfChange for all Conference-related posts. That helps us find them and share them with all of our followers too!

For more information and to register, visit our website.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2014

Today, September 10, 2014, is World Suicide Prevention Day.

Source

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults (15-24). Risk factors for suicide include: mental illness, substance abuse, family history of suicide and previous suicide attempts.

So what can you and your community do to help prevent suicide? First of all, be sure to know the warning signs. Listen and get involved, directly. It is important to talk openly with the person and provide support to them. Most importantly, get help from a professional, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to reducing the national suicide rate 20% by 2025.

“Robin Williams’s recent death saddened our nation. It also prompted a much-needed conversation about this important health issue,” said Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Over the past few years, more and more people are speaking out about their personal experience with suicide. That’s a big change. And it’s why we believe that in the next ten years, by 2025, we can reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent. But to accomplish this, we need to take action – we need greater investment in research, education, and advocacy.”

The AFSP is asking that partner agencies use #EndSuicide on Social Media this week, and post their #SelfiesAgainstStigma on Friday.

Student-Athletes and Substance Abuse

Back-to-school and the beginning of fall athletics is the perfect time to talk to you student about the dangers of substance abuse. ACT Missouri and The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is using this time to educate on the dangers of athletics and alcohol/performance enhancing substances.

Alcohol

For years parents have supported their young athlete by driving them to practices, pitching balls, coaching their teams, cheering them on when they are losing, paying traveling expenses, and enduring extreme weather on uncomfortable bleachers. Parents want their children to succeed, and encouraging them to become refined athletes is a good start in building resiliency and teaching necessary life skills. Now that they are in high school and possibly driving themselves, you may think that you have done your part. While it is true that most athletes are dedicated to their health, team, and sport, they also have a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed, be their peer’s leaders, and succumb to alcohol use. Common sense tells you that alcohol and athletics is a losing combination, so don’t turn a blind eye to the fact that your star athlete may be drinking. The solution: talk, talk, talk. Team rules are great, but they’re just the beginning. If your child has to agree to team rules before the start of the season, use them as a conversation starter. You are still the most impactful influence in your child’s life. We know that “kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use than those who do not”. (The Partnership at Drugfree.org)

Enhance this influence by educating yourself on how alcohol affects athletic performance. “Many athletes tend to underestimate the way in which alcohol use (even a few drinks) can erase the effects of a hard workout, reduce endurance, and compromise the mental game.” (Janis Meredith, Alcohol and Athletics Don’t Mix, redding.com, 6/20/12)

In all, “One night of drinking negates two weeks of athletic training!!!”(American Athletic Institute, 2005).

Performance Enhancing Substances

Performance enhancing substances are also a concern with student-athletes. Student-athletes are often under an immense amount of pressure, and may turn to PES in order to “get an edge” on the competition. However, because youth are still developing physically and mentally, they can suffer extreme side effects. It is important to talk to your student-athlete about the effects of using these substances and emphasizing that winning isn’t everything, especially at the cost of their health.

What can you do to help your student-athlete?

Limiting their free time and access to alcohol will take the pressure to drink off of them.
Be part of the 80% of Missouri parents that don’t give alcohol to kids (their own or others!) Empower them with personal stories. Share your own experiences and past occurrences in your community that involved alcohol.
Be an active part of substance-free celebrations. Things like cook-outs and pizza parties are great substance-free ways to cap-off a good season! Be clear on the fact that underage drinking is illegal and your household does not support it.
Encourage them to never get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Assure them that you are available to support them, no matter what. Have a special code like “I forgot to feed the cat” that they can either call you with or text you to come get them if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
Know the facts on the different types of Performance Enhancing Substances.

Other Resources

Be sure to watch the Play Healthy webinar from The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. The Play Healthy program is designed to help parents, coaches, and other concerned adults gain a better understanding of performance enhancing substances so that they can help youth athletes make healthier and safer decisions. Also be sure to nominate your coach and player for the Commissioner’s Play Healthy Award! The applications are due by October 31^st.

2014 Red Ribbon Week Art Contest

In honor of Red Ribbon Week, the oldest national substance abuse prevention campaign, MYAA is hosting its annual art contest. You can submit still art for the calendar, or a video!

Please incorporate this year’s theme into your artwork: Stay true to yourself, stay drug free!

Last year’s still art Grand Prize winner was 4th Grader Olivia G. from Southwest Elementary in Lawson.

Post by ACT Missouri.

Last year’s Grand Prize video was: “My Life is Worth Framing” by the Lawson Middle School Character Club.

Check out the other 2014 winners!

Entries must be received by October 10th. Click here for contest rules.
Any questions? Give Chelsea a call at (800) 669-2280 or email cbilleck@actmissouri.org.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share your creativity, win amazing prizes, and most importantly, help to keep Missouri kids drug and alcohol free!

Need ideas for your Red Ribbon Week celebrations? Give us a call, or click here!

2014 Rocky Mountain HIDTA Report-Volume 2

The newest Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Report was released today. Volume 2 further examines the impact of legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Colorado.

View the report here.

Visit here for more information.

Video Game and Internet Addiction

Has anyone ever told you that you are addicted to video games or spend too much time on Facebook? What do they mean? Is Video Game Addiction real?

Internet Addiction Disorder, although new in the field of psychiatry, is defined as an impulse-control condition. Internet use becomes problematic if it absorbs too much time causing a person to neglect relationships, work, school, or other important things in life, or if a person keeps repeating compulsive internet behavior, despite negative consequences.

Geeks With Wives (GWW), a popular website and podcast, shares tips on how to balance your video game hobby with other responsibilities. Joe Barhoum, President of GWW, uses “a simple hierarchy of needs: family, health, work, fun. Before I sit down to play games, I ensure that these needs are met, and in that order. And I’m always willing to walk away from gaming to satisfy one of these more important needs. My cell phone is always by my side and my wife always knows when I’m gaming.” Andrew Barton, Editor-Games, gives similar advice. “I have several hobbies (mostly all geek related) and I tend to rotate through them, almost in phases. I may play video games a lot over two or three weeks, and then rotate into comic books, and then into television and movies. It makes things all the sweeter for when I return to a hobby after a couple weeks.”

Source

The most common forms of this addiction are: online gaming, gambling, pornography, and social media. Online gaming addiction affects approximately 5,000,000 children, and children and adolescents are the most susceptible of developing an internet addiction disorder.Additional at risk populations include those that struggle with mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and other addictions. Individuals who lack social support, feel unhappy or stressed, or are less mobile or socially active as they once were are also vulnerable to IAD.

Behavioral signs and symptoms are:

Losing track of time spent online
Neglecting tasks at work or home to be online
Isolating from family, friends and activities that were once enjoyable
Feeling guilty or defensive about internet use
Experiencing euphoria while involved in internet activities

Physical symptoms may include:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Dry eyes or strained vision
Headaches, neck or back pain,
Disturbed sleep
Weight loss or gain

Should parents stop their children playing any video games because of what they hear on the news? Kenney Newville, Vice-President of GWW, doesn’t think so. He says that “parents know their children better than anyone else, and know what kind of entertainment they can handle. There are many different genres of video games out there. They are not all shooting games, and many have no violence at all.”

So what can parents do to help their children keep a balance? Joe suggests that parents “focus strongly on a hierarchy of needs. Make sure the boxes are checked, literally, before allowing it. Always limit the time spent gaming. It should never be more than 1 hour at a time. Be willing to invest the time to learn what they’re doing with video games. Help them learn from what they’re doing. Games can teach you to have sympathy, to work as a team, and much more. Furthermore, if they enjoy gaming, maybe they’d enjoy programming or hardware design. Introduce them to the other side of the screen. They may find a brilliant career ahead of them.” Kenney also emphasizes “knowing what your child is playing. Don’t just go buy a game because it is popular. Know the rating on the games your child plays and know if your child can handle it.”

Do you think you have an internet addiction? Seeking help from a professional is the only way to be diagnosed; however, Dr. Kimberly Young developed the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ). Meeting five symptoms are necessary to be diagnosed, and there are several versions online you can take to register your online usage.

Want to cut down your internet use? Ask yourself why you use the internet so much, noting any underlying problems that may be contributing to the overuse. You can also strengthen your coping skills with life’s stressors, and surround yourself with a supportive network of people.

If you think you have a problem with any addiction in your life, please seek professional help.

2014-2015 MYAA Youth Ambassadors Selected

The 2014-2015 Missouri Youth Adult Alliance (MYAA) Youth Ambassadors have been selected. Youth Ambassadors play an integral role in the overall development and operation of our statewide underage drinking prevention initiative. MYAA’s adult members work together with the Youth Ambassadors in planning and implementing prevention practices and programs, as well as yearly events including the annual statewide youth conference, Speak Hard and annual Prevention Day at the Capitol.

The 2014-2015 Youth Ambassadors are: Kara Bernskoetter of Jefferson City, Raine Ryerson of Versailles, Madeline Patridge of Eldon, Tali Azar of Chesterfield, Krysta Ott of Sedalia, and Krista Stanford of Jefferson City.

“By becoming a Youth Ambassador, youth gain the confidence to be advocates in the field of substance abuse prevention. This includes grassroots advocacy through community mobilization and transformation, as well as advocating at the State Capitol with legislators,” said Chelsea Billeck, MYAA Project Director. “Our hope is that the students will leave the program feeling empowered to create change in their community – no matter how big or small!”

Members of MYAA’s Youth Ambassador Program are hardworking and well versed individuals who have demonstrated their commitment by reaching out to peers, friends, and younger students. Youth Ambassadors serve as role models for other students and agree to abstain from using drugs and alcohol.

MYAA is the statewide coalition made up of teens and adults that help local communities address problems with underage alcohol use; as it is the most abused substance by Missouri teens. Since 1997 the coalition has been instrumental in passing local and state level legislation including the passage of beer keg registration, social host/open house parties, and the ban of alcohol without liquid (AWOL) devices. MYAA is a program of ACT Missouri, the statewide training and resource center for substance abuse prevention.

Contact Information:
Chelsea Billeck
MYAA Project Director
ACT Missouri
428 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 635-6669
cbilleck@actmissouri.org

Taking ACTion to Build a Healthy Missouri