November 19, 2009
In this issue:
Ask Members of Congress to Ensure That Substance Abuse Prevention is Included in Final Healthcare Reform Legislation
Congress continues to work at a fast and furious pace to come to an agreement on healthcare reform legislation. It is imperative that the final version of healthcare reform includes language that explicitly includes substance abuse prevention in the definition of community based prevention; and explicitly includes substance use disorders as part of the definition of chronic disease, condition or illness.
Please take action and contact your congressional delegation right away! CADCA's (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) fax system allows you to automatically fax CADCA's sample letter on this issue to your legislators from its website. To send faxes to your legislators, go to http://capwiz.com/cadca/home.
If you would like to personalize your letter with examples from your state/community, please email dkurosky@cadca.org for a MS Word version of the sample letter.
FDA Threatens Ban on Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine are facing an imminent ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unless manufacturers can clearly show that the products are safe for consumers.
The FDA, responding to a request from 19 state attorneys general, told 30 makers of caffeinated alcohol drinks that the agency would move to "ensure that the products are removed from the marketplace" unless the manufacturers produce evidence of their safety within the next 30 days.
Click here for more information.
Volunteer Opportunity: Oregon Partnership Crisis Lines Winter 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.
Training for volunteers begins in February. 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 March. 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 training flyer.
Click here for more information.
U.S. Army Suicides Set to Hit New High in 2009
Suicides in the U.S. Army will hit a new high this year, a top general said this month, in a disclosure likely to increase concerns about stress on U.S. forces ahead of an expected buildup in Afghanistan.
The findings, released as President Barack Obama inches toward a decision to send up to 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, show the number of active-duty suicides so far in 2009 has already matched last year's record of 140 deaths.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Don't Miss The Writer's Workshop!
This one-day training will take place on January 13, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Local Government Center in Salem. The Writer's Workshop, taught by Stephanie Soares Pump, MA, is a practical, interactive session designed to hone your skills for organizing and writing more effective grants, strategic plans, articles, and testimony. The cost is $70 per person and includes lunch.
Email your registration by January 6 to Diana Bronson at dbronson@aocweb.org or fax to 503-589-3101. Participants are asked to come prepared with a laptop and writing samples or works in progress.
The Writer's Workshop training is brought to you by the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs.
Click here for more information.
Communities are Pushing Back Against Marijuana Dispensaries
As of October 2009, 13 states have laws that provide for the medical use of marijuana. A number of towns, cities, and counties across the United States have passed local laws or ordinances regarding these businesses. For example, in California, which has a large number of marijuana shops, 64 cities and 6 counties have passed moratoria and 130 cities and 8 counties have imposed bans on marijuana dispensaries, collectives, or cooperatives.
Click here for more information.
Check out OP's Newly Designed Website
Check out Oregon Partnership's redesigned website. OP would like to continue improving its support of community drug prevention efforts around the state. If you have any information for our e-newsletter, blog or new website, please let us know!
Thanks for all your support!
Click here to view the new site!
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.
