Prevention Newsletter

YAK Attends Washington State Prevention

Summit in Yakima

Ilwaco High School’s Youth Action Klub (YAK) partici-pated in the Washington State Prevention Summit in Yakima November 4th through 6th. YAK members Grace Bruncke, Emily Mac-Donald, Sarah Monteith, Kevin Johnson, and Aileen Monteith collaboratively wrote a scholarship applica-tion that allowed the team to attend. Wellspring Commu-nity Network also provided funding and staff support for the trip.

The theme of the 2012 sum-mit was “Prevention is Epic”. Students participated in workshops and listened to keynote speakers. On Sunday students learned about team building activities and lis-tened to musician Hannah

Michelle Weeks discuss the influence of music and peers. On Monday morning students participated in a service learning project. YAK mem-bers went to the Northwest Harvest Food Bank ware-house to help sort and box canned vegetables. This was a very rewarding experience for the students. Later in the afternoon students par-ticipated in a workshop about planning and doing presenta-tions. On Tuesday students were given an opportunity to participate in smaller group sessions covering topics such as suicide prevention, healthy relationships, cyber bullying, youth leadership, and “The Kindness Project.”

Besides all of the learning opportunities, students

where able to socialize with students from other preven-tion clubs throughout the state. Prevention summit attendees enjoyed an ice cream social, crafts, games, and a dance.

YAK members have been working hard towards their goals to help reduce youth substance use. Wellspring Coordinator Monica Younger and YAK advisor Sarah Tay-lor chaperoned the students on their trip. For more infor-mation about Wellspring Community Network please contact Monica Younger at 360-783-1090. For more information about the Youth Action Klub please contact Sarah Taylor at 360-642-1244.

Inside this issue:

Fun at Boys and Girls Club

2

Smoke Free Cities

2

Smoking Rates Down

2

Teen Alcohol Use

3

CADCA Opposes Marijuana

3

YAK Night Com-ing Soon!

4

Ilwaco Midd

le/High Scho

ol

November 2012

Volume 4, Issue 3

At left - YAK members present their “positive social norms” idea.

At right– Kevin helps label food while volunteering at Northwest Har-vest.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Club of the Long Beach Peninsula offers several aca-demic and recreational opportuni-ties for local students.

Students up to age 18 are welcome to join the club for $25 a year. This membership fee will allow students to hang out after school at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Monday through Friday. Students can enjoy arts and crafts, games, activities, and an hour of study time.

High School students can earn credit by helping at the club. Stu-dents in this program will receive work-study credit, make an impact, have fun, and build their resume. For more information contact Beth-any at 642-8668.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Club is located in the Black Lake Campus and is open for students Monday through Thursday after school until 7:00 PM and Friday until 5:00 PM.

New Report Shows that US Teens Smoke Less American teenagers are smoking less, according to a new govern-ment report. The report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found current cigarette smoking among teenagers declined signifi-cantly between 2002 and 2010 in 41 states. Nationwide, teen cigarette use fell from 12.6 percent to 8.7

percent.

“Although this report shows that

considerable progress has been made in lowering adolescent ciga-rette smoking, the sad, unaccept-able fact remains that in many states about one in 10 adolescents smoked cigarettes in the past month,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said. “The report also shows that we must collec-tively redouble our efforts to bet-ter educate adolescents about the risks of tobacco, and continue to work with every state and commu-

nity to promote effective tobacco use prevention and recovery pro-

grams.”

The report found Wyoming had the highest teen smoking rate—13.5 percent—more than double Utah’s rate of 5.9 percent. Teens’ percep-tion of great risk from smoking a pack a day or more increased overall, from 63.7 percent

to 65.4 percent.

Sixty percent of the 50 largest U.S. cities are smoke free, ac-cording to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overall, almost half of Americans are protected by state or local smoke-free laws. In contrast, fewer than 3 percent of Americans were protected by such laws in 2000. The CDC report notes that 16 of the 50 largest cities were covered by local smoke-free laws as of

early October, while 14 additional cities were covered by state laws. Ten of the 20 largest cities with-out comprehensive smoke-free laws are in southern states.

“Communities have made tremen-dous progress eliminating smoking from worksites and public places in 60 percent of big cities in the United States. Smoke-free laws save lives and don’t hurt business,” CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, said. “If we can protect workers and the public in the re-maining 20 largest cities, 16 mil-lion people would be better pro-tected from cancer and heart dis-ease caused by secondhand smoke.”

60 Percent of Largest U.S. Cities Are Smoke Free

Boys’ and Girls’ Club Offers Opportunities for Students

Prevention Newsletter Page 2

Parents who closely monitor their

teens’ behavior and friends can help

counteract their children’s genetic

predisposition to an alcohol use disor-

der, a new study indicates.

In a previous study, lead researcher

Robert Miranda, Jr. of Brown Univer-

sity found teens with a single differ-

ence in their genes were more predis-

posed to alcohol use disorders. In the

new study, Miranda found this risk

was largely overcome in teenagers

whose parents closely monitored their

behavior, and who spent less time

with ‘deviant’ friends.

The study included 104 teens, who

were interviewed about their alcohol

use, parental monitoring and friends.

They also provided a DNA sample for

genetic analysis. The researchers re-

port in Alcoholism: Clinical & Ex-

perimental Research that 30 of the

teens had the genetic variant that in-

creased their risk of an alcohol use

disorder. “The

key finding of

this study is

that while ge-

netics appear

to play a role

in the devel-

opment of

alcohol prob-

lems among teenagers, environmental

factors can considerably reduce this

risk,” Miranda said.

“If you are a parent, pay closer atten-

tion to your child’s whereabouts, and

with whom your kids are affiliating

socially, both of which can pay enor-

mous dividends in reducing prob-

lems,” added John F. Kelly, Associate

Director of Massachusetts General

Hospital-Harvard Center for Addic-

tion Medicine. “Beginning an open

and ongoing conversation with your

child along these lines, including dis-

cussing the nature of alcohol-specific

risks, could eradicate a potentially

devastating problem.”

Parental Monitoring Can Help Overcome Teens’ Genetic Predisposition to Drinking

Washington, D.C. – Voters in Washington

and Colorado approved a ballot question to

allow the legalization of marijuana for rec-

reational use, allowing adults to possess and

grow marijuana with state regulation and

taxation. The legalization measure in Ore-

gon was defeated.

Under federal law, any marijuana use is still

illegal. Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of

America (CADCA) opposes marijuana use

by anyone for any reason.

According to recent research from the Na-

tional Institutes of Health, marijuana is sig-

nificantly associated with lower IQ scores

and learning problems, mental illness, car

crashes, and a lower quality of life.

“Despite being outspent by several million

dollars, CADCA member coalitions faced

with these ballot challenges have done an

outstanding job of mobilizing and educating

the public that more marijuana availability

isn’t good for public health or their states’

economy. Unfortunately, there is a well-

funded effort to misinform the American

people when it comes to the facts about

marijuana, contributing to a disturbing dis-

connect among the media and the voting

public. Allowing marijuana use will further

increase overall drug use rates, youth access

and use and treatment admissions,” said

General Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s Chair-

man and CEO.

The American Medical Association and The

American Society of Addiction Medicine

have stated their opposition to legalize mari-

juana. Research shows marijuana harms

adolescent cognitive brain development,

contains carcinogens, and is linked to mental

illness, especially schizophrenia. Marijuana

use by drivers doubles the risk of car

crashes. A longitudinal study supported by

NIDA shows that persistent marijuana use

decreases IQ as much as 8 points, moving a

person of average intelligence into the lower

third of intelligence.

“Marijuana use is related to a host of health

and safety concerns, and frankly, dulls your

brain. Our nation cannot afford to raise a

generation of pot smokers and expect to

compete in this high-tech, global economy.

We need a reality check,” Gen. Dean said.

• In Washington, Initiative 502 allows adults

21 and older to purchase marijuana from

state-licensed and state-regulated businesses.

It also creates a regulatory system, much

like the liquor control system, in which a

board oversees licensing of marijuana pro-

ducers, processors and retailers, and imposes

an excise tax of 25 percent at each step.

About CADCA

CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions

of America) is the membership organization

representing over 5,000 coalitions and their

affiliates working to make communities

safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mis-

sion is to strengthen the capacity of commu-

nity coalitions by providing technical assis-

tance and training, public policy and advo-

cacy, media strategies and marketing pro-

grams, conferences, and special events.

CADCA Opposes the Legalization of Marijuana CADCA Opposes the Legalization of Marijuana CADCA Opposes the Legalization of Marijuana CADCA Opposes the Legalization of Marijuana

Volume 4, Issue 3 Page 3

YAK—Youth Action Klub is open to all Ilwaco High School students. Meetings are held every Wednesday during 1st and 2nd lunches in the library. YAK focuses on helping students live a safe, healthy, substance free life.

YES—Youth Empowerment Squad is open to all Ilwaco Mid-dle and High School students. Meeting are held once a month. For more information contact Mrs. Kelly or Well-spring Administrator Monica Younger at 360-783-1090

P r e v e n t i o n C e n t e r

YAK members plan to serve pizza, snacks, drinks, cake and ice cream. The gym at the Black Lake Campus will be open for badminton and other games. Video games, board games, card games, and music will also be available.

YAK members are very ex-cited to be able to partner with The Boys’ and Girls’ Club again this year. Stu-dents enjoy being able to use the space at the Black Lake Campus. Thank you Boys’ and Girls’ Club!

Members of Ilwaco’s Youth Ac-tion Klub (YAK) have been busy preparing for YAK night!

YAK night is an activity night for all Ilwaco High School students. This year the event will take place on November 30th from 7:00 PM until 11:00 PM at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club in Ilwaco. Admission will be $3. For this price, students will receive a t-shirt to decorate and keep, food, games, prizes, and more. Tickets will be on sale during lunches the week before YAK night.

All Ilwaco students in grades nine through twelve are welcome to participate in YAK night. Don’t forget to buy your ticket!

Students decorating t-shirts at last spring’s YAK

night.

Ilwaco Middle/High

School

PO Box F Ilwaco, WA 98624

Phone: 360-642-1244 Fax: 360-642-1224 E-mail: sarah.taylor@oceanbeachschools.org

We’re on the web

ocean.k12.wa.us

YAK Night is Coming—November 30th