Local/County/ State/US Government-what we need to be doing to reverse this drug scar that afflicts us like a growing cancer. This is kind of a mishmash of articles. Probably need to reorganize it but its a quick look at all the differing areas that are affected.

A great resource is Jointogether.org , CADCA and the Pew foundation
Publications- BPOE Elks has a good of information available.  also, here is SMASA's top ten list of publications that have been ordered.

Mifflin County Residents against drugs- A community group alarmed by rising heroin use.

Ban paraphernalia sales at stores and flea markets.

Alcohol

Morality-

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Drug commercialism. see more information on this site Ritalin

reduce and discourage drugs like Ritalin
 dietary changes reduce ATDD 7/99
to learn from others (but be somewhat leery of a few folks who are selling vitamins etc) subscribe to ABCs2ADD@onelist.com at  one list-pretty neat concept
onelist-digest number 143
 
 
 

Treatment and education efforts

Schools problems-
9/99 juveniles more likely to commit crime after school
curriculum needs to be more value oriented (morals..do the right thing etc.)  C.S. Lewis book review
Teens at risk-need to really get to them  Canada: Smoke, Booze Cravings Linked 7-15-99 male teens susceptible
7_99 McCaffrey's flawed view of alcohol and drugs

Drug law changes

War on Marijuana is lost. No one has ever died from an overdose of pot but plenty have from trying to buy and sell it.
Some of the pro's that make sense-

Some of the con's
Recent  article's  Decriminalizing Pot Could Harm US Kids, Study Says  7-15-99
 

Government procedural changes

New procedures for drugged driving; how to tell if something's wrong.
 The state mounts a campaign against drugged driving 8/99
 

Kids Partying- more here

Restrict and regulate all night clubs. The debate in Charlotte Nov 2000. Also, Gainesville FL vote.  2/15/00

Here's a raver site that's interesting

Wed, 22 Sep 1999 US FL: A Weekend Rave In  Coconut Grove Has Tragic Aftermath
 Rave parties need to be monitored and banned if need be 7-99
 They call it rolling in ecstasy 8/99
 Village voice article on safeguards b4 partying 99

Parents

9/99 juveniles more likely to commit crime after school
 Many parents don't tell kids to say no 7_99
9/99 US NC: what parents should do. short quick list
9/99 US AZ drug abuse affects ministers too. good and enlightening article

Needle Exchange-for my viewpoint/information go here

This is a tough call. Australia swears by it as being effective in reducing the spread of AIDS, yet they have a horrendous heroin problem. Critics often cite that as well as "sending the wrong message to the public" statements. To me, I don't think it really matters as you can buy needles pretty cheap. With Tommy, he didn't care cause he was so sure of death that it just didn't matter. He wanted the fix. Still, there may be opportunities to reduce needle sharing diseases if this was done right.
Florida group is trying this approach 8/99

Below are links to the above stories so there is no need to go down any further.
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A new resource on juvenile crime:
Juveniles are more likely to be victims of violent crime in the hour
after the end of the school day than at any other hour of the day.

 New research reported today by the U.S. Department of Justice finds
that 1 out of every 10 violent crimes known to law enforcement agencies
and committed against juveniles occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.. In
contrast, the peak hour for violent crime against adults is between 11
p.m. and midnight. "These data may actually underestimate the level of
violence that occurs in the afterschool hour," says Howard Snyder,
co-author of the report. "Many crimes in and around school are likely to
be reported to school officials who may handle the matters themselves
and not report the crimes to police."

"This late afternoon peak occurs only on school days. It is a time when
juveniles are together and often unsupervised," says Shay Bilchik,
Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, the agency that released the report. On nonschool days, a
juvenile is a greatest risk of becoming the victim  of a violent crime
between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., but this risk is about half that in the
afterschool hour on school days. "The need for afterschool activities is
vital, especially in communities where violent crime is more common."

This research is based on data reported to the FBI by law enforcement
agencies in 12 States (Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Massachusetts, Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont,
and Virginia) covering the years 1991 through 1996.

Supporting Data:

Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report pages 34–35 and
64–66

For more information contact:
          National Center for Juvenile Justice (412–227–6950)
          Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (202–307–0703)
          Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (800–638–8736)

     To obtain a copy of the full report:
 The full report is available online from the OJJDP Web site
(ojjdp.ncjrs.org) under the JJ Facts & Figures section and the
Publications section or can be  ordered from OJJDP's Juvenile Justice
Clearinghouse. Send an e-mail to puborder@ncjrs.org; call 800–638–8736
(select option 2); or write to the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, P.O.
Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000. Be sure to ask for NCJ 178257.
--


Published Saturday, October 16, 1999 http://www.charlotte.com/observer/local/pub/sting1016.htm  (this link may only be good for 10/16)
                  Email this story to a friend

17 Stores sell beer to teen, sheriff says

                                    By MICHELLE CROUCH

                  MONROE -- A teen-ager walked into 28 Union County stores last week
                  and walked out of 13 with beer, police said.

                  She did it again Thursday, buying beer illegally in four of six stores.

                  The 19-year-old was working under cover for Union County sheriff's
                  deputies, who cited 17 clerks with selling alcohol to a minor, Sheriff
                  Frank McGuirt said Friday.

                  The teen-ager went into convenience stores, grocery stores and
                  drugstores across Union County beginning Oct. 8. When she walked out
                  with beer, a sheriff's deputy walked in and cited the store and the clerk
                  who sold the beer, McGuirt said.

                  "We know the problem's out there, and it's our job to do something
                  about it," McGuirt said.

                  "This is something we've done many times, and it doesn't get any better.
                  They keep selling."

                  In his office's last big sting, in October 1998, 19 of 35 Union County
                  stores sold beer to a teen-ager working with sheriff's deputies. It's illegal
                  in North Carolina to sell beer to anyone under age 21.

                  For a first offense, a store can either pay an $800 fine or suspend its
                  alcohol sales for 10 days. Most pay the fine, said Fred Gregory, chief
                  deputy counsel of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission in Raleigh.

                  If a second offense occurs within four years, the store is given either a
                  15-day suspension or a $1,500 penalty. The third offense carries a
                  30-day suspension or a $2,500 penalty and a five-day suspension,
                  Gregory said.

                  McGuirt said the laws need to be stricter. "If the same store sells twice in
                  six months, they ought to lose their permit," he said. "This is something
                  we've done many times, and it doesn't get any better. They keep
                  selling."

                  Frank McGuirt Union County Sheriff
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Bach And Beethoven To Deter Druggies?

                    AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Railway officials in a Dutch town plan to play classical
                    music by the likes of Bach and Beethoven in the station's pedestrian tunnel, in the
                    hope that it will drive away drug users, Dutch media said on Saturday.

                    Officials in the town of Heerlen, near Maastricht in the south of the Netherlands,
                    will first carry out tests on music by various composers to discover which one
                    irritates junkies the most.

                    The idea for the tunnel, which is close to a shelter for drug users, was taken on
                    board by Heerlen after successful experiments in stations in Hamburg and Paris.

New Grand Prairie ordinance called drug-fighting weapon

                    By Tawnell D. Hobbs
                    Star-Telegram Dallas Bureau

                    GRAND PRAIRIE -- Grand Prairie police officers will begin using another
                    tool today to take drug dealers and people who use illegal drugs off the
                    street.

                    The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance yesterday that
                    does not require officers to have probable cause to detain a suspected
                    drug dealer or user. The ordinance allows officers to arrest known drug
                    dealers and users who loiter in public places if the officer decides the
                    suspected person's explanation of why he was at the location is
                    inadequate.

                    The offense, which is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a fine up to
                    $500, has been successful in such cities as Dallas, Chicago and Los
                    Angeles, city officials said.

                    Councilwoman Teri Jackson said without the ordinance it could be
                    considered harassment if an officer approaches a loiterer.

                    "But with this ordinance in place, they can now go up and question
                    them, challenge them," Jackson said.

                    Police Chief Glen Hill said the ordinance will be "one more tool in our
                    arsenal." But, he added, officers will be under close scrutiny in using the
                    new ordinance.

                    "We're not going to go out there and target anyone," Hill said. "They
                    will be given time to explain their conduct."

                    Specifically, the ordinance would allow officers to approach loiterers
                    who are known drug dealers and users; or are in areas frequented by
                    people who use, possess or sell drugs; or repeatedly engage in
                    conversation with passersby, whether on foot or in a vehicle; or who
                    repeatedly pass to or receive money, objects or written material from
                    passersby.

                    The Police Department considers a known drug dealer to be a person
                    who has been indicted or convicted in the last year for manufacturing,
                    selling, or delivering an illegal controlled substance. A known drug user
                    is considered a person who has been indicted or convicted in the past
                    year for possessing an illegal controlled substance, a dangerous drug, a
                    simulated controlled substance, a volatile chemical or narcotic
                    paraphernalia.

                    City Attorney Don Postell said the Police Department brought the
                    ordinance to the council because there are concerns about drugs in
                    some parts of Grand Prairie, including the Dalworth area in west Grand
                    Prairie.

                    Police Lt. Mike Fleming, who suggested that the department use the
                    ordinance, said that when he was a sergeant patrolling Dalworth it was
                    frustrating to know that someone was dealing in illegal drugs and not
                    being able to make an arrest without having probable cause.

                    "It was frustrating not being able to help the neighborhood," Fleming
                    said. "Most of the people there don't want drugs in their
                    neighborhood."

                    Hill said drug activity in Grand Prairie is a continuing problem that the
                    Police Department is working hard to combat.

                    Hill, who has been police chief for about two years, said that when he
                    was first appointed to the position, the council charged him with
                    combating the distribution of illegal drugs in the community.

                    "We just had so much trouble in the west," Mayor Pro Tem Ruthe
                    Jackson said. "It took it a long time to get that way, it will take a long
                    time to clean it up."

                    Fleming said he believes that the ordinance will be successful because it
                    has been challenged in court numerous times and has been upheld.

                    Although Grand Prairie's ordinance was modeled after one in Dallas, it
                    will differ in one way, Fleming said.

                    Dallas' ordinance targets only drug dealers, but Grand Prairie's will
                    target drug dealers and users, Fleming said.

                    "If you take away demand, supply will go away," Fleming said.

                    Tawnell D. Hobbs, (972) 263-4448

                    Send comments to tdh@star-telegram.com

4. Say What? Tips on Hearing Protection
By Sylvia Thyssen, DanceSafe Natl. Office

The dangers of drugs are well-publicized, and
more and more people are aware of the risks of
dehydration and heatstroke. But one of the
greatest dangers of rave and danceclub culture
is prolonged exposure to loud music. Taking
responsibility for protecting yourself today
will help reduce the risk of hearing damage and
loss later in your life.

Promoters and club owners also have a
responsibility for helping to make their venues
safer for patrons. Although sound levels are
monitored by police for their potential as a
public nuisance, monitoring sound levels inside
establishments for the protection of the
patrons' hearing is not a priority for public
health departments. Following the simple
recommendations below will make a big difference
for your hearing health!

AVOID dancing next to the speakers. Having a
distance of at least 10 feet between you and a
speaker is extremely important. As your distance
from the speaker decreases, risk of damage
increases exponentially.

LESS exposure to loud music is better. Taking
breaks of 30 minutes or more in a room where
sound levels are less than 90 Dcb is extremely
useful in lowering the risk of hearing loss.

EXHAUSTION and high ambient temperature increase
the risk of hearing loss. Taking breaks from
dancing and drinking adequate water helps
protect your ears from metabolic exhaustion that
can lead to damage.

ASK your doctor about your prescription
medications and whether they make your ears more
sensitive. Certain medications can increase the
chance of damage from exposure to loud music.

CHECK your family history. Hereditary risk can
play a role in the chances of developing hearing
loss.

OVERALL physical health affects your risk of
hearing loss. Decreased blood flow to your
muscles leaves you more at risk. Exercising
regularly improves your resilience.

SHORT term hearing loss -- like what you
experience for a few hours after you get out of
an event -- is a risk factor for long-term
hearing loss.

No one can stress this one enough:
wear earplugs -- wear earplugs -- wear earplugs
-- wear earplugs -- WEAR EARPLUGS!

Recommended devices for protecting your hearing

CUSTOM EARPLUGS (around $150) offer the best
protection. They are made from a imprint of
your ear canal, which makes them very
comfortable to wear. They also decrease all
frequencies equally, so the music won't be
distorted. See <http//www.hearnet.com>
for information about these earplugs.

ER EARPLUGS (around $20) reduce decibel levels
the same across the frequency levels. Users
say they aren't as comfortable as custom plugs,
but they are still extremely useful (as well
as more affordable).

INDUSTRIAL FOAM EARPLUGS (cheap) decrease high
frequency sounds, making speech and music
sound muffled. They are less comfortable
and they distort sound to an extent; however,
they are very useful and should be used when
other options aren't available. They are the
most commonly available type of earplug, and
many DanceSafe chapters hand them out for free!

COTTON AND TOILET PAPER are of no use in the
protection of your hearing.

For Promoters and DJs

PROVIDING chill out rooms with quieter music is
really important. Chill out rooms allow patrons
to take breaks which are an essential way to
help prevent hearing loss.

INCLUDING a physical barrier between patrons and
speakers at 10-20 feet and/or lifting speakers
off the ground helps protect patrons from
exposure to especially dangerous levels of
sound.

LIFTING speakers off the ground. When you put
speakers on the ground, you lose 8 decibels of
the low frequency sound. DJs often adjust their
sound levels to compensate for this loss.
Lifting speakers helps in two ways: it prevents
patrons from getting too close to speakers, and
it prevents this distortion that causes DJs to
increase sound levels unnecessarily.

DJs should keep down midrange frequencies. This
helps lower risks of hearing loss, as well as
allowing patrons to hear each other talk so they
don't have to shout (which increases noise in
the club, which causes the DJ to turn the sound
up, etc.).

For more information about protecting your
hearing, check out the excellent resources at
<http//www.hearnet.com>

These suggestions were adapted from a
presentation given by Phil Coffin at the Harm
Reduction Conference, Miami, October 2000.
 
 

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