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Holiday Safety Tips for Parents

As parents take part in holiday festivities, it is of critical importance that they make healthy choices around the use of alcohol. According to a recently released report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, “teens that have seen their parent(s) drunk are likelier to drink and get drunk than teens that have not seen

their parent(s) drunk. They are also likelier to try cigarettes and marijuana”. 

Research has taught us time and again that active parents, voicing their disapproval of alcohol and other drug use, have proven themselves to be the most effective preventative method for keeping our children substance-free. A cohesive family with parents who model healthy decision making can make all the difference in helping young people to avoid antisocial behavior. 

Holiday parties give individuals more of an opportunity to use drugs and alcohol.  This accounts for the increase in alcohol and drug related tragedies during the festive season.  

A few holiday party tips for parents:

-Lay down the law. Tell your child, prior to the party, that he or she is absolutely prohibited from drinking and using illegal substances.

-  Be a model for conscientious behavior.

- Have a plan for those who drink too much and make sure your guests do not drink and drive.

- If you are hosting the party, offer an ample amount of non-alcoholic drinks, foods, and games to all.
-  Children may drink leftovers. Dispose of all unfinished beverages to prevent alcohol poisoning.

-  If your child is going to a party at a friend’s house, phone ahead and make sure there will not be any alcohol beverages available. 

For more holiday safety tips, please visit: http://www.madd.org/media-center/media-library/safe-party-guide.html

To further reduce the prevalence of underage drinking, legislation has been passed in all Putnam County towns, entitled the “Social Host Liability” law, which makes it a crime to “host, suffer, permit, organize, or allow a party, gathering or event at his or her place of residence or other private property where three or more minors are present and alcoholic beverages are being consumed by any minor”. This crime is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine. 

A 2014 survey of Putnam County students in grades 8 - 12 revealed that 38.1% of respondents believe that parental attitudes favor alcohol and drug use. What better way to end 2014 and begin 2015 than for parents throughout Putnam County to loudly and affirmatively voice their disapproval of alcohol and other drug use. 

Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children.  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646. 

Teens Needed for Youth Forum!

Happy Thanksgiving!

December is National Drunk, Drugged and Distracted Prevention Month

Did you know that of the fatal crashes in 2010, the highest percentage of drunk drivers was for drivers ages 21 to 24 (34 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (25 percent)? Did you know that the number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this was a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011? (Source: Distraction.gov).

On December 1, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation stating that December would be observed as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.  The Proclamation focuses not only on the prevention of drinking and drugged driving, but the prevalence of “distracted driving” due to “electronic equipment and texting”. The Proclamation is a call for all individuals to practice safety by not getting behind the wheel impaired by alcohol and drugs, including those drugs prescribed by a medical provider.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the results of a nationwide survey related to impaired driving. The self reporting survey concluded that “In an average year, 30 million Americans drive drunk , 10 million drive impaired by illicit drugs.”

 

Thousands of people die due to the prevalence of drinking or drugged driving, and many innocent lives are shattered as a result.  The ramifications don’t end with injury or family loss. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies “the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than 51 million dollars”.

 

“The Putnam County Communities That Cares Coalition is dedicated to preventive measures geared towards reducing the intake of alcohol and illicit drugs, especially to protect our youth.  This includes reckless or negligent behavior when using prescribed medication. This is not only a local priority, but a national concern as well. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones ” said Joseph DeMarzo, Deputy Commissioner of Putnam County Mental Health, Social Services and Youth Bureau.

 

“The prevention of debilitated driving, whether it is from substance use or distracted driving is imperative at any time. That being said, the holiday season is a time when more gatherings take place and traveling is sometimes inevitable. We encourage individuals to utilize public transportation should they drink or use medication. It will protect you, your family, and the community as a whole.” said Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator.

 

Coalition Tips for Residents :

 

• Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
• Never serve those under the age of 21 alcohol.
• Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests and not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering.
• Be prepared to get everyone home safe in case your plans or individual circumstances change.
• Driving is a serious responsibility. Discuss what it means to be a safe driver with your teen and set ground rules for when they're behind the wheel. If your teen is on the road, they should stay off the phone.
• Remember:  It can wait! No text message is more important than your life (or another).

The Holidays and Safety

Supporting Your Child's Recovery During the Holidays

The holidays are coming and we will start sharing tips for getting through this busy time of year. Here are some tips for parents (from Hazelden) on how to support their child in recovery during the holiday season. ‪#‎holidays‬‪#‎drugfreecommunities‬

November is Military Family Appreciation Month

On October 8, 1919, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation.” The observance of Veterans Day is an opportunity to celebrate America’s veterans for their patriotism, willingness to serve, love of their country, and sacrifice for the common good.¹

In conjunction with Veterans Day, November is also known as Military Family Appreciation Month. Each year the President signs a proclamation marking the beginning of a month-long celebration of the Military Family and the sacrifices and commitment made by the families of the nation’s servicemen and service women.² Community businesses, leaders, and military bases work together to recognizes military families through various events, such as family fun nights, fun runs, community dinners, etc.

This year, there are ways that the Putnam County community is helping Veterans and military families.  The Putnam County Veterans Taskforce is hosting the 2^nd Annual Veterans Legislative Forum on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Bureau of Emergency Service Auditorium located at 112 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY from 9:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M. This is an ideal opportunity to speak to your elected officials or hear about issues facing Veterans such as military sexual trauma, Veteran suicide, Veterans Affairs benefits/healthcare systems, and several more. For more information, please contact Karl Rohde, Director of Putnam County Veterans Service Agency, at 845-808-1620 ext. 46019 or by email at karl.rohde@putnamcountyny.gov.

Additionally, the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity is looking for a military family (or any Putnam County family) to own the third home recently built that is located in Putnam Valley, NY. The applicant(s) must either work or live in Putnam County, be a legal resident of the United States, currently living in substandard housing, willing to provide 500 hours of ‘sweat equity,’ and have a gross annual income of $50, 000 to $70, 000. If you and your family would like to participate in this program, please contact the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity by phone at 845-230-8022 or by email at info@habitatiputnam.org.

The VetCorps Program and the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition would like to thank all Veterans for their dedicated service and all military families for their support and sacrifice for their uniformed service member. If you have any questions or would like more information about the VetCorps Program  or the events discussed above, please contact the Prevention Coordinator, Chauntel Wright, at putnamvetcorp@gmail.com or VetCorps Supervisor, Elaine Santos, at putnamdfcgrantee@gmail.com. Both can be reached by phone at 845-225-4646.

###

References

¹ http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

² http://www.military.com/military-family-appreciation-month

Don’t Let Impaired Driving Ruin Your Halloween

This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, and area police will be out on the roads looking for drunk drivers as part of an aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort.  Consider yourself warned: if local law enforcement catches you driving over the legal limit, you will be arrested.

“On Halloween, the real horrors occur out on the road when people choose to drive drunk,” said Joseph DeMarzo, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Co-Chairperson, and drunk driving is a choice—a preventable one. “We want to remind all Putnam County drivers that if you’ve had any alcohol to drink, you cannot drive. There are always other options: a designated, sober driver; a taxi, etc.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2008-2012, almost half (51%) of all crash fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. During that 5-year period, there were 166 people killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night. And on a night best-known for trick-or-treaters in the streets, it’s no surprise that pedestrians make up a tragic number of those fatalities. In 2012, 19 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involved drunk drivers.

In every state, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Yet every year in the United States, thousands of people lose their lives to this reckless crime. In 2012 alone, 10,322 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. Driving drunk costs lives and the other consequences can be costly as well. A DUI arrest costs $10,000 on average. Wouldn’t you rather spend a fraction of that on a sober ride home instead?

If you plan to drink on Halloween, plan now how you’ll get home. No costume can hide you from the police if you drive drunk, they’ll see you before you see them.”

This Halloween, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign aims to save lives by reminding all drivers to follow these simple tips:

·         Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night. If you wait until you’ve been drinking, —you’re more likely to make the wrong decision to drive drunk.

·         Always designate a sober driver.

·         If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member.

·         Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.  Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

·         If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

·         If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.

For more information, please visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov. Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children.  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Hudson Valley Interventions

Available in our community.

The Importance of Family Dinners

Teens that have infrequent family dinners are likelier to smoke, drink, and use marijuana according to the The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). CASA has been surveying teens for eighteen years.

“Family Day is a national movement to encourage parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives. Family Day will be celebrated nationwide this year on Monday, Sept. 22^nd”^, stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson. According to CASAColumbia’s report The Importance of Family Dinners VII, compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are:  

•          Almost four times likelier to use tobacco

•           More than twice as likely to use alcohol

•          Two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana

The report also found that teens that have frequent family dinners are likelier to get better grades in school and to say they have an excellent relationship with their parents.

The CASA Columbia family dinners report reveals that 58 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, a proportion that has remained consistent over the past decade. Having frequent family dinners also encourages healthy family relationships. According to the report, teens that have dinner with their families consistently are:

• One-and-a-half times likelier to report having an excellent relationship with their mother;

• More than twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their father; and
• Almost twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their sibling(s).

“Family meals are the perfect time to have a conversation with your teen. It affords you the opportunity to spend time with your child, talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Parental engagement is the key, as this study proves.” stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson.

The study also states that teens that have infrequent family dinners have more access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs (to get high) than teens who have consistent family dinners with their parents and siblings.

“Having meals, even if they are on the go, with your child gives parents the opportunity to answer questions and recognize that they (the parent) have the power to help keep their children substance free. This is a very powerful study, and the best thing about it is that family dinners are an actionable goal for parents and teens to achieve. It’s not always easy because of busy schedules, but it is doable”, stated Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator.

For a FREE Family Dinner Kit please visit: http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/tools-you-can-use/family-dinner-kit/

Members of the Putnam County CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Fall Medication Take Back Day on November 1st!

Happy Fall!

What family activities do you like to do in the Fall?

It's Back to School Time!

We were happy to be on hand at the PVMS 5th grade orientation last week! The school and its staff does a great job acclimating the students out of elementary school. We gave out information on prevention information for parents, did the YOUth Decides survey with the students, and were able to wish all the students a great upcoming first school year in middle school!

International FASD Awareness Day September 9, 2014

At 9:09 a.m. on September 9, 1999, the first international Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day was observed. The date and time were chosen to mark the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month, which serves as a reminder that FAS, like all Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), is completely preventable. Yet, alcohol-exposed pregnancies continue to be a leading cause of birth defects and mental retardation in the United States, and children with an FASD often go unrecognized or are misdiagnosed, even as adults. (SAMHSA)

 “In the United States half of all pregnancies are unplanned” per the CDC. This includes the unplanned pregnancies of teenagers. 5 things you should know about Drinking Alcohol during Pregnancy:

1. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born with birth defects and have disabilities. These conditions, called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASDs, are among the top preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities. FASDs can cause problems in how a person grows, learns, looks, and acts. FASDs can also cause birth defects of the heart, brain, and other major organs. These problems last a lifetime.
    
2. There is no known amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant. All drinks with alcohol can hurt an unborn baby. A 12-ounce can of beer has as much alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1-ounce shot of liquor.
    
3. There is no safe time to drink during pregnancy. Alcohol can harm a baby at any time during pregnancy. It can cause problems in the early weeks of pregnancy, before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
    
4. Too many women continue to drink during pregnancy. About 1 in 8 pregnant women in the United States reports alcohol use in the past 30 days. And about 1 in 50 pregnant women in the United States reports binge drinking in the past 30 days (having five or more drinks at one time).
    
5. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are 100% preventable. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are 100% preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant. (CDC)

Per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Signs and Symptoms of an FASD include: Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum), small head size, shorter-than-average height, low body weight, poor coordination, hyperactive behavior, difficulty paying attention, poor memory, difficulty in school (especially with math), learning disabilities, speech and language delays, intellectual disability or low IQ, poor reasoning and judgment skills, sleep and sucking problems as a baby, vision or hearing problems, problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones. 

A toll-free inquiry line (1-866-STOPFAS) and email address (fasdcenter@samhsa.hhs.gov) available for questions you may have.  If you are someone you know is struggling with alcohol and addiction, please call the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies/Putnam for information and referral services at (845) 225-4646.