October 8, 2009
In this issue:
Oregon Partnership Tells Old Navy: Stop Selling Beer T-Shirts to Kids
Oregon Partnership and other anti-drug coalitions are requesting Old Navy stores stop the sale of t-shirts promoting beer drinking and binge drinking. In a strongly worded letter to the parent company, GAP Inc., OP objected to the marketing of the shirts during back-to-school season and to the store's young customer base. A response from Gap, Inc. was "highly unsatisfying and will get media attention," according to OP Communication Director Pete Schulberg.
We ask you to consider writing to GAP Inc., to insist that they remove these items from their stores. Oregon Partnership will continue to fight to make sure these irresponsible retailers stop selling such appalling products.
Click here to read the letter from OP to GAP Inc.
Click here to read GAP Inc.'s response.
Click here to read news release.
Pamela Hyde Nominated for SAMHSA Administrator Post
President Obama has nominated Pamela Hyde, New Mexico Health and Human Services Secretary, to become the next administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Hyde, an attorney who had previously worked for the city of Seattle, will take the position held by acting SAMHSA administrator, Rear Admiral Eric Broderick, when confirmed.
Click here for more information.
Volunteer Opportunity: Oregon Partnership Crisis Lines Fall Training
Oregon Partnership is seeking volunteers for its Alcohol and Drug Helpline/Suicide Crisis Lines. Calls on these crucial lines are up dramatically. The suicide LifeLine has seen a 243% increase in call volume from last year, and new volunteers are urgently needed to help the growing number of Oregonians in crisis are urgently needed.
Training for volunteers begins in October. The HelpLine training takes place on four consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a required element of the training and will be held in November. Participants will receive 56 hours of professional training, an ASIST certificate, AmeriCorps opportunities for educational scholarship and 225 hours towards ACCBO certification.
Oregon Partnership's Alcohol and Drug HelpLine is a free, confidential referral service that provides information about substance abuse and refers clients to professional treatment providers. Every year, the HelpLine serves thousands of Oregonians looking for a way to deal with the disease of addiction.
Click here to download the fall training flyer.
Click here for more information.
National Red Ribbon Celebration - October 23-31, 2009
Red Ribbon Celebration, a national drug prevention observance reaching millions of youth, is almost here. There are countless opportunities for organizations such as yours to participate and conduct activities that raise awareness about the tragic consequences of underage alcohol use. Help prevent underage drinking today and encourage youth to live a healthy, alcohol-free lifestyle. The 2009 theme is: Drug Free is the Key.
Click here for underage drinking prevention materials to support the 2009 Red Ribbon Week.
Follow Oregon's Lead on Meth Policy
As reported in The Oregonian ("Violent crime drops 10.6% in Oregon"), recent statistics released by the FBI indicate that local crime rates are going down both for violent crimes and property crimes. That's welcome news, especially during a recession, when many people would expect the opposite. But there is even better news for Oregonians: Violent crime in Oregon took our nation's biggest drop, and a decrease in meth production may be the key. Of course, meth is not the only reason, but it does play an important role.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Do you have information to share with your prevention colleagues around the state? Please send to: dslifman@orpartnership.org.
Thank you for your continued support of this publication.
