Alliance News
Updated February 22, 2010
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What’s up with Virginia’s Drug Courts?
Next Community Meeting: Friday, February 26, 2010
Chippenham Medical Center / Kraus Auditorium
7:45am – 9:00am
They were in, and then they were out in Chesterfield County. Then they were back in again! Now Johnny Joannou is trying to defund them ---- again. Other counties and cities are trying to establish or sustain existing courts. Their success is questioned by few. If you’ve been to a graduation, you know the compelling success stories that show how lives are changed. What is the future for drug courts in the current political and economic environment?
Tara Kunkel and Melanie Meadows of the Chesterfield County Adult and Juvenile Drug Court Programs will join us on Friday morning, February 26th to set the record straight on Virginia drug courts – their funding and their future. Kunkel and Meadows also serve on the Virginia Drug Court Association’s board of directors and bring a statewide perspective to the issue.
Join us for this important presentation. Plenty of time will be allowed for questions and answers.
Please indicate whether you will attend so we can insure enough seating for the auditorium. The outreach list for this meeting is expanded to invite colleagues from around the state who are interested. Email rick.mckeel@drugfreealliance.org if you plan to attend. Also include the number coming if you plan to bring guests.
Early Bird coffee, juice, fruit and muffins are available at 7:45am.
This is a great opportunity for networking and learning more about substance abuse prevention in Central VA and beyond. Please join us!
Over 450 people attending a free showing of HAZE at the Byrd Theater, Sunday February 22nd. Special thanks go to Ariel Rosmarino, Denise Miller, Wayne Frith, Michael Herring, Dr. Grant Azdell, Dr. Ruddy Rose, Mary Lib Morgan and Abby Lynch, The Byrd Theater and Commonwealth Parenting for helping the Alliance make it a true success!
New Study shows grave danger of mixing certain drugs - must read!
Click here for full article
VA ABC announces "PSA" program to raise
awareness and support local education
Click here for release
Training Announcement:
"High Level Environmental Strategies and Best Practices for Community Based Substance Abuse Prevention"
Click for meeting announcement and registration info
Kerlikowske holds the line
By MATT NEGRIN | 01/18/10 4:56 PM
Legalizing marijuana has no benefits, for either people’s health or states’ economies, President Obama’s drug czar says ...
“People say, ‘Well, if you legalize drugs, it will reduce your tax issues, that states would be improved, and, by the way, your health would be improved,’” Gil Kerlikowske, the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told POLITICO. “Anybody that would sell me a product like that — I’d be very suspicious.”
Kerlikowske acknowledged that issues surrounding marijuana legalization are “front and center” — the New Jersey Legislature recently approved the drug for medical use — but he said legalization “isn’t even a topic of discussion” in the White House.
A police chief in Seattle for nine years before taking his current post, Kerlikowske has derided the phrase “war on drugs” as overly reductive of a complex policy problem. The approach President Obama has asked him to trumpet, Kerlikowske said, emphasizes that treating drug users can be more effective than sending them to jail.
Seven months since taking office, Kerlikowske said his job — which involves weekly travel to various American cities and countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Afghanistan and Russia — has reinforced his belief that legalization is not in the administration’s “vocabulary.”
“People will say, ‘The war on drugs has not been successful; therefore, the next step is legalization,’ ” he said. “No – a balanced, comprehensive strategy that involves public health and public safety makes an awful lot of more sense.
They Did What?
Underage Kids Get Sick at Parent Sponsored Drinking Party
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U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice speaks out on Virginia drunk driving case
The power of research combined with common sense
The latest study on the power of family meals
Virginia plans crackdown on drunk driving
Stop the Pain 804 Premieres at the Byrd Theater
300 attend kick-off event in support of ending violence and related drug activity in Richmond
1 in 5 Teens Share Prescription Drugs with Friends
5th Annual Recovery Fest is Huge Success
12.3% of high school students misuse prescription drugs in past year full story . . .
CADCA launches social networking site
www.connectedcommunities.ning.com
Virginia Attorney General Bill Mims welcomes our 125 guests at the Byrd Theater, Wednesday, June 10 for a special showing of The Wrong Family - Virginia Fights Back Against Gangs.
VIDEO
Click here to view the NBC 12 Story that aired June 10th.
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Updated research on underage drinking and the minimum drinking age from NIAAA more . . .
WHAT MAKES YOUNG PEOPLE HAPPY? Click here for the answer . . . a must read article
Cracking Down on Adults and Cool Parents Who Serve Kids Alcohol . . . click here for CNN story
Chesterfield SAFE awarded CADCA's Got Outcomes Award for success in inhalant prevention
The Alliance Supports Keeping the Legal Drinking Age at 21
RDFA Executive Committee Affirms Support for State's Legal Drinking Age
British Look to Ban Happy Hours Citing Increase in Drinking Related Deaths
British Legal Drinking Age of 18 Hasn't Impacted Out of Control Binge Drinking in that Country
PIRE Research / 21 Drinking Age
CADCA Response to Drinking Age Initiative
SAMHSA Underage Drinking Report
CBS Online Coverage of SAMHSA Report
College Presidents Want to Lower Drinking Age?
American Medical Association Weighs In on the Minimum Legal Drinking Age
Scotland May Raise Drinking Age to 21 Citing
A Response to the 60 Minutes Story on the Amethyst Initiative click here
Washington Post editorial calls Amethyst Initiative a bad idea - calls on colleges to enforce existing laws more . . .
Other News
Marijuana Most Commonly Detected Drug
Regional Sticker Shock is a SUCCESS - see the celebration video
Increase in Alcohol Related Deaths and Accidents
Area Coalitions
Too Smart To Start - Henrico County
Hanover I Care - Hanover County
Friends of Prevention - Richmond City
SAFE - Chesterfield County
Comunity Coalitions of Virginia
Virginia's statewide organization of prevention coalitions
Do You Need Help Today?
RICHMOND REGION PREVENTION & SERVICES DIRECTORY
Drugs & the Brain
National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Click here for an outstanding online booklet on how brain research is revolutionizing the way we look at addiction.
Brain Drain: Drug Induced Loss of Brain Function
Take a close look at what drugs and alcohol do to your child's brain. This presentation is courtesy of Dr. Sandra Welch, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth University.
How drugs seduce you and your kids. Please read and download this important document.
Family Meals Help Girls Stay Drug Free
Exciting Things To Do in Richmond
www.discoverrichmond.com
A great way to keep drugs and alcohol off the table to begin with!