ILCAAAP News, September 2007, Volume 70, No. 3

Substance Abuse Prevention
Involvement is the Key

Substance abuse is an ongoing problem nation wide. The earlier a person begins to use alcohol and other drugs, the greater the likelihood they will become addicted. That is why so many prevention programs are focused on children and teens in school. While many youth begin experimenting with alcohol and other drugs before high school, many parents are unaware of their drug use or the dangers to their child's growing and developing body.

"Growing evidence shows that early initiation of drug and alcohol use increases the chances of both immediate and future negative consequences. Alcohol is the principal contributor to the leading causes of adolescent death. For some teens, heavy alcohol and drug use will lead to sexual assaults, violence, and injury. For many, initiation in the high school years increases the chance of poor academic performance, unwanted sexual contact, and injury.

There is also new research suggesting that alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs act differently on developing adolescent brains than they do on mature adult brains. Early use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs may actually alter brain development, resulting in long-lasting changes. Research has shown that areas of the brain that encourage impulsive behavior develop earlier than those areas that improve self control and inhibit risk taking behavior, underscoring the importance of prevention activities.

Schools are the major institution outside the family that affects kid's daily lives. We ask schools to do a lot of things in addition to preparing our kids to compete in the global economy. Teaching about the dangers of drugs and alcohol is included in the state requirements of 37 states. Join Together and Communitas Online, with funding from the Gift of the Magi Foundation, conducted an online survey of U. S. educators to gauge how schools are teaching drug and alcohol prevention.

Based on the findings of the survey and other research, we concluded that schools should not be relied on as the primary element in the country's efforts to prevent initiation and consequences of alcohol and drug use. Teachers don't have the time, training, or other resources needed to do the job effectively, regardless of what the state-mandated standards say.

Further, research shows that a comprehensive approach, encompassing families, schools, and the community as a whole, is the key factor in successful prevention efforts. Social attitudes, especially in the family, are very important. Parents have a large impact on their child's use of alcohol and drugs through their expressed beliefs and modeled behavior. On the community level, environmental policies such as appropriate alcohol taxes, graduated drivers licenses and social host laws have been shown to be effective at reducing adolescent use."

In order for substance abuse awareness programs to be successful, everyone must be involved-parents, churches, community groups. Red Ribbon week, a national substance abuse awareness effort, provides a good opportunity to get involved. The red ribbon is the symbol of zero tolerance for illegal drug use-including underage drinking-and a commitment to a drug-free lifestyle. Churches and people of all faiths are asked to Pray for the Children that they will be drug-free and safe. Additional ideas, activities, and fact sheets for families and churches are available at the ILCAAAP web site www.ilcaaap.org. Help prevent substance abuse.

Source: Introduction from Join Together report "Prevention Education in American's Schools: Findings and Recommendations from a Survey of Educators" (Sept. 7, 2007) www.jointogether.org

Staff Activities

In order to give our readers an idea of how and where their donations are allocated, some of our activities and upcoming events are listed on this page.

ILCAAAP Teen Board made a DVD, "Real Teens Helping Teens". Members of the ILCAAAP Teen Board had an informal conversation about the peer to peer program, its impact on others, and the importance of a drug-free lifestyle. They also perform one of their alcohol prevention skits. A preview of the DVD can be seen on the web site. To schedule a Teen Board presentation for youth groups, parents or schools events, contact Lis Phillips at 217-546-6871 or e-mail lis.ilcaaap@insightbb.com.

Legislation Highlights

Alcohol and Other Drug Legislation

The Governor signed the following legislation into law:

AGs Urge Crackdown on Marketing of Alcoholic Energy Drinks

Illinois Attorney General and 29 other AGs are calling on the federal government to crack down on the marketing of alcoholic energy drinks that they say targets youths.

The group sent a letter to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Bureau (TTB) asking the agency to investigate the promotional claims made by the alcoholic energy drinks manufactures and take appropriate enforcement action against any manufacturers who make misleading health-related statements in their advertisements.

Beverages in this category include Sparks and Sparks Plus (Miller Brewing Company), Bud Extra (Anheuser-Busch), and Liquid Charge and Liquid Core (Charge Beverages).

Illinois A.G. Press Release, August 21, 2007

Governor Vetoes Gambling in Bars (HB 1124)

The Governor vetoed HB 1124 to legalize gambling on video games in bars and neighborhoods statewide. We are thankful to the Governor for protecting families, children, and individuals from the harm of more gambling in Illinois. Children and young adults have grown up playing video games. Legalizing payouts on video game "contests" would lead to problems and addiction. Call your State Senator and Representative (217-782-2000) and ask them NOT to override the veto on HB 1124.

Massive Gambling Expansion

Politicians and gambling promoters are using a desire for a capital construction plan as an excuse to expand gambling. Legalizing three new casinos will not result in "instant cash" to fund mass transit in Chicago or pay for large construction projects.

Gambling always promises more than it delivers. Did the Lottery solve funding for schools? Studies show that states with Lotteries spend less money for education and have higher taxes than states without Lotteries. Tell Legislators to stop chasing the false promises of "fools gold". Gambling is an unstable source of revenue.

For every dollar of revenue, the cost for taxpayers is $3 for social welfare, criminal justice, and regulatory costs. The costs of gambling include addiction, bankruptcy, crime, embezzlement, child abuse, divorce, and suicide, which will be passed on to all taxpayers.

Call your Senator (217-782-2000) and the Governor (800-642-3112) to tell them NO MORE GAMBLING!

Study Says Young Drinking Underestimated

About one in ten 4th graders have had more than a sip of alcohol and 7 percent have had a drink during the past year, according to researchers who say that prevention programs, parents and teachers should not overlook drinking among elementary-school children.

A research review by John E. Donovan, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center revealed that, "While the numbers are small in the 4th grade, the surveys show that the percent of children who have used alcohol increases with age, and doubles between grades four and six."

"The largest jump in rates occurs between grades five and six," according to Donovan.

Donovan did say that the numbers of young drinkers has been declining, "but the numbers are still alarming because of the connection between early alcohol consumption and negative outcomes later during both adolescence and young adulthood. It is this linkage that argues most strongly for preventing alcohol use prior to adolescence," he said.

While alcohol use among adolescents gets a lot of attention, Donovan said that research on drinking by younger children often goes unpublished or is overlooked.

"Knowing how many children have had experience with alcohol would serve as an indicator of the number potentially at risk for later use of marijuana and other illicit drugs," he said. "Childhood use of alcohol also predicts involvement in alcohol problems, alcohol abuse and dependence in both adolescence and adulthood. And early drinking relates to a variety of other problems, including absences from school, delinquent behavior, drinking and driving, sexual intercourse and pregnancy."

The report was published in the September 2007 issue of the journal Prevention Science.

Reprinted with permission from Join Together, August 31, 2007

Reduced Brain Growth in Alcoholics with Family Drinking History

The brains of alcohol-dependent individuals are affected not only by their own heavy drinking, but also by genetic or environmental factors associated with their parents' drinking, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism (NIAAA). Researchers found reduced brain growth among alcohol-dependent individuals with a family history of alcoholism or heavy drinking compared to those with no such family history.

Many studies have shown that alcohol-dependent men and women have smaller brain volumes than non-alcohol-dependent individuals. It is widely believed that this is due to the toxic effects of ethanol, which causes the alcoholic's brain to shrink with aging to a greater extent than the non-alcoholic's.

"Our study is the first to demonstrate that brain size among alcohol-dependent individuals with a family history of alcoholism is reduced even before the onset of alcohol dependence, "explains first author Jodi Gilman, B.S., a NIAAA research fellow and Ph.D. candidate.

Children of alcoholics are known to have a greater risk for alcohol dependence than individuals without a parental history of alcohol dependence. In addition to inheriting genes that predispose them to alcoholism, children of alcoholics may experience adverse biological and psychological effects from poor diets, unstable relationships, and alcohol exposure before birth, all of which could contribute to their increased risk for alcoholism.

The authors note that a possible implication of their findings is that the increased risk for alcoholism among children of alcoholics may be due to a genetic or environmental effect, or both, related to reduced brain growth.

Their report has been published in Biological Psychiatry Vol.2, Issue 6, 15, Sept. 2007 http://www.sciencedirect.com

National Institute of Health, press release

Young Binge Drinkers Face Dim Future, Researchers Report

Teenagers who binge drink are 60 percent more likely to become alcoholics by the time they reach age 30 than non-bingers, and also more likely to use illicit drugs and commit crimes, the BBC reported Sept 5.

The U.K.s Institute of Child Health studied 11,000 children, comparing the drinking habits of 16-year-olds in 1986 to a variety of outcomes when they hit age 30. Those classified as binge drinkers in their teens were 40 percent more likely to use illicit drugs or suffer mental-health problems by age 30, 60 percent more likely to be homeless, and 40 percent more likely to have suffered accidents.

"Adolescent binge-drinking is a risk behavior associated with significant later adversity and social exclusion," said lead researcher Russell Viner. Added Frank Soodeen of the group Alcohol Concern,"This study makes worrying reading. It confirms the view that early alcohol misuse can effectively haunt a young person well into adulthood, with all the implications to health and well-being that that can imply."

The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Reprinted from Joint Together, September 6, 2007

Churches Giving to ILCAAAP/Illinois Churches in Action

June 25 - Sept 7, 2007

Century Churches giving to ILCAAAP/Illinois Churches in Action

Donations of $100 or more

Church Conferences & Church Organizations giving to ILCAAAP/Illinois Churches in Action

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