10 Resolutions for a Happy New Year!

2011 is days away, and you may be trying to decide your New Years resolution. For inspiration, see this wonderful email below from the Partnership for tips to start the new year off on a positive note. Happy New Year from all of us here at Holcomb and Start the Discussion!

For the coming New Year, resolve to talk more often with your family about healthy decisions and choices. Our research shows that kids who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use than those who do not get those important messages at home.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org celebrates the positive influence of parents in the lives of their kids. Together, we can help you start the New Year with "10 Resolutions That Show Your Kids You Care."

10 Resolutions That Show Your Kids You Care:

1. Teach your children to trust you by seeing you as a role model.
   
2. Be patient, not just tolerant. Apologize when you make a mistake or do something you regret.
   
3. Ask teens what they need from you - and do whatever you can to meet those needs.
   
4. Listen to your teens, a lot. Avoid interrupting.
   
5. Teach your children about ethics, values and principles they can apply in choices and decision making.
   
6. Help them discover the feeling of gratitude, not just to say thank you.
   
7. Keep the promises you make. If you do not keep your word, acknowledge that. Help your teen understand the circumstances or choices that precipitated the change in your plans.
   
8. Answer your teen's questions and be consistent. When you notice behavioral changes in them, make yourself available and encourage them to talk about what is going on in their life.
   
9. Be understanding when they have a difficult time and let them know you will love them no matter what.
   
10. Be diligent. Have ongoing conversations with your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
    

Best Wishes for a safe, happy and healthy New Year,

-- Your friends at The Partnership at Drugfree.org

What You Say and Do Matters to your Kids

As the holidays, a time of celebration (and some stress!), are quickly approaching, remember that you are your child's #1 role model...even if it sometimes feels like you are last on list. See this great article below from The Partnership at Drugfree.org about how important your actions are in modeling healthy behaviors:

Kids learn a lot from their parents, who are the number one influence in the lives of their children, and the way parents talk about and handle their own alcohol use affects their kids and teens. Parents’ “model behavior” may have a direct impact on the choices teens make for themselves about alcohol and or other drug use.

Sobering Fact: One in five parents acknowledges that sometimes they drink too much alcohol in front of their children or teen (21 percent of parents surveyed agree or agree strongly when asked the question, “I sometimes drink too much alcohol in front of my child or teen.” Source: PATS 2009, sponsored by MetLife Foundation.)

You might also be surprised to learn that only one-third of parents safeguard alcohol in their own homes, even though they have underage children living with them. (34 percent of parents agreed with statement, “I keep alcohol in a locked cabinet in my home.” Source: PATS 2009, sponsored by MetLife Foundation.)

What you do and what you say matters in the lives of your children and it’s important to think about how your drinking may influence your child’s attitudes about drug and alcohol use. Please remember that keeping your alcohol safely locked away in your home – and telling the parents of your child’s friends to do the same – can help prevent your child from engaging in risky behavior.

Parents have more influence over their child than friends, music, TV, the Internet and celebrities.

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.

Help your teen stay safe and make healthy choices by:

• Talking and listening regularly

• Being directly involved in your child’s everyday world

• Making it clear that you do not want him or her drinking or using drugs

• Setting limits

Adult Chocolate Milk: "Re-taste Your Youth at 40 Proof"

Yes. Really.

Adult Chocolate Milk is the newest "adult" beverage on the market from the aptly named manufacturer Adult Beverage Company. Developed by one of the company's founders, the chocolate milk is the first flavor in a whole line of "throw back" beverages including Orange Cream, Limeade, and Fruit Punch. The chocolate milk is 40 proof in alcohol content and comes in 1 liter bottles.

The website features cartoon characters surrounding an angel-devil theme, and many references to "bringing back the good ol' days, one sip at a time".

Adult Chocolate Milk is not available in Pennsylvania yet, but it is available to order online. Keep your eye-out for this product turning up among adults, and especially underage drinkers.

Look Out Four Loko! Make Room for Whipped Lightening!

The good news is the dangers of Four Loko have been addressed by the government, health professionals, the media and communities. The bad news is the wine and spirits business has moved on to...are you ready?...

Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream!

Yup. As in spiked Reddi-Whip. Whipped Lightening and Cream Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream are the newest cocktail garnishes to hit shelves. Here are some important facts you should know:

• These whipped creams are shelf stable and can be stored at room temperature up to 9-12 months
• Most flavors are 30+ proof and contain 15% or more alcohol by volume
• The cost runs around $13 per bottle, and Cream is available to order online
• The marketing is believed to be targeting young/underage consumers--Cream's Myspace page advised topping jello-shots with their whipped topping
• It is difficult to gage serving sizes, therefore one may not regulate how much of the product they are actually consuming

For more information check out Time Magazine's article on their Healthland page. We will keep you posted as the controversy continues!

We are Thankful for Parent Resources and Federal Action!

Happy Almost Thanksgiving! We at Holcomb are thankful for all the wonderful communities and people we are able to support and work with, and also for other helpful Prevention resources including....The Partnership for a Drug Free America's newest parent resource Time to Get Help!

This online community is "a first-of-its kind, multi-faceted, online resource for parents and caregivers who are seeking a community of support and advice on treatment options for a child who has a problem with drugs or alcohol."

Eleven million young people in America need help for substance abuse and addiction. Parents of these children often feel ashamed, worried, angry, overwhelmed and uncertain what to do. The Partnership at Drugfree.org listened and has created this resource to help parents gain a better understanding of teen and young adult alcohol and drug abuse, dependence and addiction; get support from experts and other parents who have been there; and help them find the right help for their child and family.

Are you a parent or caregiver of a teen or young adult struggling with a drug or alcohol problem? Then this site is for you. Here you’ll find learning experiences, expert guidance and support from parents and families who understand the challenges and emotions you may be facing.

Click HERE to visit Time to Get Help. You'll also notice a new link to blog Intervene: A Community for Parents on the right sidebar--check it out!

AND IN OTHER NEWS....FOUR LOKO UPDATE!

The FDA and FTC target alcoholic energy drinks! Keep reading for a summary on the latest news surrounding Four Loko from Join Together:

Advocates Urge State and Local Action on Alcoholic Energy Drinks

By Benjamin Chambers

Since three federal agencies acted together on Nov. 17 to shut down the manufacturing, marketing, and shipment of caffeinated alcoholic beverages -- popularly dubbed "blackout in a can" and linked to numerous injuries and fatalities-- you'd think that would be the end of the matter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Treasury Department's Trade and Tax Bureau gave four manufacturers of the drinks 15 days to respond to the notices.

According to a Nov. 18 story in the Washington Post, three companies have already indicated they will comply. Phusion Projects, Ltd., the maker of Four Loko, said Nov. 16 that it would remove caffeine from its alcoholic beverages. United Brands Co., the maker of Joose, disagreed with the rulings but said it would obey them; Charge Beverages Corporation, which makes Core High Gravity, said it had already decided to stop making the drink. New Century Brewing did not respond.

Even so, alcohol policy advocates argued that more should be done at the state and local level - and fast. "It is unclear what action the federal government will take after the 15-day period, so enforcement will therefore need to come from state and local governments," said James F. Mosher, an alcohol policy consultant who has worked with several state and national public health groups on the issue. "Since the products have now been found illegal under federal law, all states now have the authority and responsibility to take immediate action."

Marin Institute, which has campaigned against alcoholic energy drinks since 2007, issued a press release praising federal action and calling on state governments to ban the drinks. "State-level product bans will continue to be necessary to get the products off of store shelves," said Michele Simon, who directs research and policy at the institute. "States are the primary regulators of alcoholic beverages and have full authority to ban alcoholic energy drinks whether by regulatory or legislative action, or through attorney general enforcement."

Several states have already banned or moved to limit the drinks, including Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington.

The same day the FDA issued its announcement, the California Department of Public Health notified the beverage industry that under state law, "the manufacturing, sale, delivery, holding or offering for sale of adulterated food is a crime. Violation of this provision can result in suspension or revocation of your license or registration, civil penalties, and/or criminal penalties that upon conviction could result in a sentence of up to one year in jail and a one thousand dollar fine for each violation."

On Nov. 18, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission announced that it was prohibiting the sale of alcoholic energy drinks, effective immediately. "This means that alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine as an added ingredient, including Four Loko, must be removed from store shelves in Massachusetts today," officials wrote. Vendors there are now prohibited from "selling, storing, importing or transporting" the drinks; the commission directed wholesalers to pick up retaining stock from retailers.

Other states may follow suit. Advocates are now looking to state governors, health departments, attorneys general, and alcohol regulators to put pressure on wholesalers, retailers, and distributors to get the drinks off the market.

"If we don't act quickly, there may be a run on the products at the retail level, elevating the risks to young people," Mosher said.

Four Loko Update and Facts!

Four Loko has been making headlines in local and national news including reports of alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, and in an instance in Florida, death.


Locally, State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown (Phila.) is planning on introducing legislation to ban alcoholic energy drinks. See her press release below PLUS facts about Four Loko provided by the Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, D-Phila, said she will introduce legislation next term that would ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks that have sickened some throughout the country, particularly college students.

"We are seeing more and more circumstantial evidence that these products, which have earned nicknames such as 'liquid cocaine' and 'blackout in a can,' are dangerous," Lowery Brown said. "Combining alcohol and caffeine leads to people who don't realize how drunk they are, and the outcome could be tragic."

Jerry W. Waters Sr., the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's regulatory affairs director, recently asked retailers to voluntarily halt the sale of alcoholic energy drinks until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can determine if they are safe.

Lowery Brown noted that Ramapo College in New Jersey banned all caffeinated alcoholic beverages from campus, and nine Central Washington University freshmen were hospitalized after consuming the drinks at an off-campus party.

"These beverages are being sought out as a quick and inexpensive means of becoming intoxicated and are being marketed as such, sadly at the expense of the consumer’s own health and welfare, Lowery Brown said. "They are very popular with young people, and they are being consumed by inner-city working folks as well as college students. It's time to take a proactive approach here in Pennsylvania before there is a tragedy."

FACTS ABOUT FOUR LOKO

What is it?

• Four Loko is an alcohol/energy drink produced by Phusion Projects Inc.


• Developed by three alumni of Ohio State University in 2005


• Available in eight flavors


• Sold in the US as a 23.5 oz product in aluminum can


• Contains 12% alcohol


• Also contains: caffeine, carbonation, sugar, and natural and artificial flavoring


• As well as: Taurine, Guarana and Wormwood--Wormwood is an active ingredient in absinthe


• Its name is derived from the combination of the “four main” ingredients
  

Where is it sold?

• There are 28 locations within a 10 mile radius of Doylestown, PA that sell this product, most are retailers that only sell alcohol.
• In some states that allow sales of alcohol in convenience stores, it is located in the same cooler as Red Bull and Monster; many clerks do not even realize it contains alcohol

The Problem:

• It looks like an energy drink, tastes like an energy drink and is viewed by youth and young adults as an energy drink with alcohol as an added “bonus”


• It is not recommended to mix stimulants (caffeine) with depressants (alcohol)


• Studies show people put themselves in high risk situations when alert and intoxicated at the same time due to not feeling “drunk”


• One can is the equivalent to the alcohol content of four bottles of beer, the caffeine levels of three 8 oz. cups of coffee, and the sugar content of one king size Kit Kat bar


• It has been termed “liquid cocaine” by the media


• There are currently 165 Facebook sites dedicated to the promotion of Four Loko

1 in 4 US Teens and Young Adults Binge Drink

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a report that found 1 in 4 teens and young adults in the US binge drink. Keep reading for USA Today's article highlighting this report:

More than one in four U.S. teens and young adults admit they are binge drinkers, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the United States, binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks for women, and five or more drinks for men, over a couple of hours — numbers that are different because men and women metabolize alcohol differently.

And it's not just teens who are affected, more than 33 million adults have reported binge drinking in the past year, according to the report. "Binge drinking is a very large health and social problem" and one that has gone largely unnoticed, CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden said during a noon press conference Tuesday. "Most people who binge drink are not alcoholic. It may be because binge drinking has not been recognized as a problem (that) it has not decreased in the past 15 years."

Nonetheless, the toll of binge drinking is enormous. More than 79,000 deaths each year in the United States result from drinking too much, with about half of these attributable to binge drinking, according to Dr. Robert Brewer, alcohol program leader at CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Binge drinkers also put themselves and others at risk for alcohol-related car accidents, violence, HIV transmission and sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancy, according to the CDC.

Moreover, drinking too much can lead to liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases. Pregnant women who binge drink can also harm their developing fetus, resulting in permanent mental retardation and other birth defects, the CDC says.

And among teenagers, damage from regular binge drinking may far outlast a hangover the next morning. An earlier study found that in MRI scans, the brains of teens who drank heavily showed damaged nerve tissue compared to those who did not. These findings are particularly worrisome in light of the current CDC report, which reveals that high school students tend to binge drink whenever they consume alcohol. "Ninety percent of the alcohol consumed by high school students is consumed in the course of binge drinking, and more than half of the alcohol consumed by adults is consumed in the course of binge drinking," Frieden said.
Among drinkers, one-third of adults and two-thirds of high school kids binge drink, Frieden said.

"If excessive alcohol consumption every day is problem drinking, what is the occasional stint of up to five drinks at one sitting? The answer for many might be 'a party,' and that's just what makes binge drinking so dangerous," said Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "While it resides in the realm of social acceptability, it is, in fact, a major cause of alcohol-related death, and the major cause of such deaths among adolescents and young adults. No party is worth the cost of a young life, full of promise," Katz added.

"Avoiding that cost starts with awareness. Adults need to know, and show, that a drink or two is fine — five or six is not. They need to pass on that awareness to their children. The tragic problem with not knowing when to say 'when' ... is that you may never get another chance," according to Katz.

Men are more than twice as likely to binge drink as women (21% compared with 10%). In addition, binge drinking is more common among whites (16%) than among blacks (10%).
While the report indicates that binge drinking is common, it is probably even more widespread than this report found.

"There really is a substantial under-reporting of binge drinking and alcohol consumption," said the CDC's Brewer. "Even though we are reporting high rates of binge drinking among adults and youth, there is good reason to believe it is significantly under-reported," he said. Interestingly, binge drinking becomes more common as incomes rise. In fact, adults with incomes of $75,000 or more were more likely to be binge drinkers. About one in five reported binge drinking, Brewer said. A possible reason that binge drinking increases with income is because it is not recognized as a risky health behavior, Frieden said. "Another possibility is simply with more money, people are able to afford more alcohol and do so," he said.

For the report, the CDC used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey to collect data on self reports of binge drinking during the past month for 412,000 adults aged 18 and older and over 16,000 high school students. Binge drinking also varies from state to state, ranging from 6.8% of adults in Tennessee to 23.9% in Wisconsin. Binge drinking is most common in the Midwest, North Central Plains, lower New England, Delaware, Alaska, Nevada, and the District of Columbia, according to the report.