Reauthorize the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act

From CADCA Newsletter:

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to reauthorize and bolster federal underage drinking prevention programs under the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was joined by Congressman Zach Wamp (R, TN-3), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3), and Congressman Frank Wolf (R, VA-10.). U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (CT) plans to introduce the identical companion bill.

“We need to reinvigorate our message about the impacts of youth alcohol abuse and take the next steps in federal underage drinking prevention efforts,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said. “The investment called for by the STOP Act reauthorization is a cost-effective strategy to reduce the estimated $53 billion toll on our nation each year from the suffering and death caused by underage drinking.”

In 2006, the 109th Congress passed the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act authored by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard. The legislation authorized: the establishment of an interagency coordinating committee to address underage drinking; a parent-focused media campaign; federal research on underage drinking prevention; and the creation of community grants to fight underage drinking.

The STOP Act reauthorization (HR 6241) will continue the programs begun with the original STOP Act, and will build upon these public health efforts by increasing the authorized funding level for the Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Act Grants from $5 million to $9 million. The Community based Coalition Enhancement Act Grants was highly successful, with 266 applications submitted for the 23 grants that were available in FY 2009.

The STOP Act reauthorization would also:
• Double the original investment in a multimedia campaign to educate parents and communities about the dangers of underage drinking;
• Authorize an Institute of Medicine report on the literature about the influence of drinking alcohol on the development of the adolescent brain; and
• Establish grants to train pediatric health care providers in how best to screen and treat children and teens who have had alcohol exposures.

Blake McMeans' Message - Being popular is not worth risking your life

NE State, Blountville, TN. As one of the top tennis player in the nation, Blake McMean had dreams of being a world class competitor. But behaviors that started when he was just twelve years old, and continued until a bad decision made at seventeen, put a sudden end to that dream.

Though he had been able to hide his drinking from his family, Blake admitted that he began drinking from his parent's liquor cabinet. By the time he was in high school, he had established a pattern of drinking on weekends. Perhaps his ability to get to 5 AM practices during the week helped him hide his risky behavior. Those practices did lead to a full tennis scholarship, which led to being on the road and hanging out with older kids. The unexpected and early death of his father complicated his poor decisions about drinking. On the night of the accident, he only wanted to have a good time with his friends.

The documentary detailed the impact of his decision on Blake, his mother and his sister. It is told through interviews with family, the police officer on the scene and his doctors. After the documentary, Blake slowly made his way to the podium and delivered his message before taking questions. More information can be found at his website. He encouraged the audience to make a promise to themselves and to post their successes on his Friends of Blake McMeans Facebook page.

Survey Reveals 17 Million Americans Drive Drunk

Twenty percent of American drivers have gotten behind the wheel within two hours of drinking, and 8 percent have driven when they considered themselves drunk, Join Together reports.

The findings are the result of a 2008 survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The survey also found 8 percent of adults overall, and nearly one-quarter of men aged 21 to 24, accepted rides from someone they thought was drunk. This is in contrast to additional survey data indicating that four out of five Americans see drunk driving as a “major threat” to their own and their family's safety.

Complete survey results are available on the NHTSA website.

From CADCA.org

Sullivan County Participates in the First Take-Back Day

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office is participating in the national prescription drug take-back day on Saturday, September 25. Expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs can be taken to the Sheriff's Office at 140 Blountville Blvd., from 9 - noon.

Properly disposing prescription drugs that are no longer needed keeps them from luring children or teens to experiment or from entering the nation's water supply when flushed down toilets.

More information about the national effort can be found at DEA aims to collect unused medications.