E-UPDATE	3/2/2007
SUCCESS STORY A New Hampshire family with three adolescent children has helped change policy at the Ninety-Nine Restaurant in Londonderry. One night, as the family was being seated in the restaurant section, a waitress included Sam Adams beverage coasters at each place setting. When the family got home, the mother, a New Futures CLI Partner, looked on the restaurant's website for a way to complain. She was able to submit an electronic message to the company, which even called her. The message she shared with the company made it clear that she was concerned about a family restaurant apparently promoting alcoholic beverages to children. Someone was paying attention! On two subsequent visits to their local Ninety-Nine Restaurant over the next few months, Sam Adams coasters were still in use, but provided only to the parents. Imagine the impact we could have if we all spoke up when we saw things that didn't seem quite right! If you're interested in learning how to become a New Futures CLI Partner, contact Linda King at lking@new-futures.org. Back to Top ^ NEW FUTURES NEWS Two New Resources to Help Reduce the Availability of Alcohol to Youth Two new documents to accompany the State Strategy to Reduce Underage Alcohol Problems are now available in the publications section of our website. One provides a brief history and rationale for maintaining the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) at 21. The other provides a user friendly description of the Party Host Liability law in New Hampshire. We will have a limited supply of hard copies available for community use as well. Check them out at: http://www.new-futures.org/resources/publications.asp Back to Top ^ LEGISLATIVE UPDATE a. Update on the 2008-2009 Biennial Budget The Governor announced his budget to the legislature on February 15th. The Governor's budget funded the Alcohol Fund at $2.54 million for each year of the biennium. Although this amount represents a 10% increase in funding over the last biennium, it is significantly less than if the budget had fully funded the Alcohol Fund. Full funding of the Alcohol Fund would provide $5.6 million per year to support prevention and treatment services for those with alcohol and other drug problems. b. Public Hearings on the Budget According to the Vice-Chair of the House Finance Committee, "If you breathe the air, drink the water, drive on a road, run a business, go to school, or enjoy the scenery, the budget affects your quality of life. The budget impacts all of us, and we want to make sure everyone has a say." For the first time there will be 5 public hearings on the Governor's Budget scheduled across the state to gather public input. Please mark your calendar and attend a session in your area: March 5th, 4-7 pm, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Auditorium E and F, Lebanon March 6th, 5-8 pm, Alumni Recital Hall, Redfern Arts Center , Keene State College, Keene March 8th, 4-7 pm, Rochester Community Center , Rochester March 12th, 4-7 pm, PSNH Auditorium, Manchester March 15th, 4-7 pm, White Mountain Regional High School Auditorium, Lancaster c. HB 567 to Reduce the Legal Drinking Age to 18 Heard in House Judiciary Committee Last week the House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on HB 567 which would reduce the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 for all New Hampshire residents. Among those expressing strong opposition to HB 567 were the Departments of Safety and Health and Human Services, the Police Chiefs Association, the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association, representatives of the medical community, New Futures and legislators. Last year the House killed a bill that would have reduced the legal drinking age to 18 for members of the military. Back to Top ^ RESOURCES a. NH Inhalant Abuse On-line Training for Adults Educate yourself before your kids do. Free, at your finger-tips, easy 15-minute training for parents and guardians on the dangers, signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse. www.inhalantabusetraining.org b. 2007 Resource Guide for Alcohol and Drug Prevention & Treatment Services Hot off the press - 42 pages of state-funded alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and other resources related to alcohol and other drugs. The book includes: 12-Step Programs, Impaired Driving Intervention Programs, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Coalitions, New Hampshire Correctional Academies and their Providers, and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse-Related Web Sites. www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/ATOD/LIBRARY/Brochure/res-guide.htm c. "Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction" This new publication from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is a 30-page full-color booklet that explains in how science has revolutionized the understanding of drug addiction as a brain disease that affects behavior. To download your free copy, visit: www.nida.nih.gov d. NIDA Launches Drug Info 'Centers of Excellence' The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced four Centers of Excellence for Physician Information - these Centers will serve as national models to support the advancement of addiction awareness, prevention, and treatment in primary care practices. www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2007/nida-25a.htm e. ONDCP Prevention News Wire The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has launched a News Wire. This service allows any coalition, organization, or individual to automatically receive and display the latest ONDCP prevention headlines on their own Web site or blog. No programming is required. Just follow the instructions on this page: http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/categoryrssinstructions.aspx Back to Top ^ IN THE NEWS a. ADDICTION series on HBO HBO's groundbreaking 14-part series ADDICTION premieres March 15. AddictionAction.org is a grassroots partnership to help communities mobilize around it, bringing the hope of treatment and long-term recovery to individuals and families affected by addiction to alcohol and drugs. For more information, including how you can view the series for FREE visit www.addictionaction.org. b. Researchers Call for More Focus on Excessive Drinking Most alcohol-related problems in the U.S. are caused by excessive drinking, not by alcoholism, according to a new study. Binge drinking and other forms of problem drinking are far more common than alcoholism, researchers say. For more information, visit: http://presszoom.com/story_123480.html c. Number of New Methamphetamine Users Drops The number of U.S. household residents age 12 or older who used methamphetamine for the first time in the past year decreased significantly from 2004 to 2005,according to data from the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For more information, visit: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol16/16-06.pdf d. Wealthier Communities Experience More Youth Substance Use Kids in affluent areas have lower alcohol and other drug use rates in the lower grades, but often catch up or surpass drug-use rates among poorer youth when they reach high school. Adults in many wealthy areas often are loathe to acknowledge that such problems exist in their world. www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/16732303.htm e. More U.S. Prison Growth Projected A new study projects that the U.S. prison population will grow by about 200,000 inmates over the next five years. The increase, tied to factors like three-strikes laws and "truth in sentencing" policies, is expected to cost states more than $27 billion. The report from the Pew Charitable Trusts' Public Safety Performance Project projects growth on a state-by-state basis, based in part on local criminal-justice policies and demographics. For more information, visit: http://www.pewtrusts.com f. Smoking Harms Financial Health Too Smokers can pay $2,000 in direct and indirect costs to support their addiction. Americans spend $80 billion annually on cigarettes. At $5 per pack, and considering other related costs, a pack-a-day smoker can spend thousands of dollars each year -- more than most Americans spend on clothing and almost as much as they spend on health care, entertainment and eating out. To read this article in the Chicago Tribune, visit: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-0702110019feb11,0,6227038.story?coll=chi-businessyourmoney-hed g. Teens Turn Away from Street Drugs, Move to Prescription Drugs The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is releasing an alarming new report showing that teens are turning away from street drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, and are now abusing prescription drugs to get high. For more information, visit: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/prescription_drugs.asp h. JOIN TOGETHER: Researchers Call for More Focus on Excessive Drinking Most alcohol-related problems in the U.S. are caused by excessive drinking, not by alcoholism, according to a new study. Binge drinking and other forms of problem drinking are far more common than alcoholism, researchers say. www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2007/researchers-call-for-more.html Back to Top ^ UPCOMING EVENTS See all this and more at: www.new-futures.org/calendar a. Working with Retailers: Self Policing Strategies and Collaborative Initiatives Teleconference March 15, 2007 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. This presentation will, from the retail perspective, highlight the barriers to gaining participation from the retail community and provide insights into proven ways to increase retail stakeholder involvement and increase self-policing efforts to reduce underage drinking. Participants will also learn strategies for addressing retailers who do not "get on board." Learn more and register at www.udetc.org. b. DATE CHANGE: Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, Intervention and Treatment New date: April 6, 9:30-11:30AM, Concord NH Attend this public meeting of the Governor's Commission from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., in Rooms 305-307 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord. c. Peer to Peer Parent Support Group Facilitator Training April 7 and April 14, 2007, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Concord, NH There is an expectation that trained Group Facilitators will establish a community based support group or join an existing one. The NAMI model is designed to furnish the fundamental structures and group processes which will enable peer facilitators to run meetings that are both empathetic, upbeat, and informative. The training is a total of 18 hours. For further information e-mail Denise Devlin at neias@mva.net or call at 642-8719. d. Alcohol and Crime Among Youth Teleconference April 19, 2007, 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. How strong is the relationship between youth alcohol use and criminal behaviors? Presenters for this call will discuss the relationship between alcohol and crime among youth and provide strategies for preventing alcohol-related criminal activity among youth. Learn more and register at www.udetc.org. e. Recovery as Prevention April 21, 2007, 1:00 pm via Telephone and Online RSVP by April 19 by emailing webinar@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org your full name, organization, and preferred email address. f. New Hampshire Initial Training on Substance Abuse May 11, 2007 August 10, 2007 November 9, 2007 This 6-hour workshop is designed to give participants the ability to recognize alcohol and other drug problems of their clients and to understand the holistic nature of the disease of addiction. It also presents information on effects on the family, intervention strategies, and recovery. To register, contact lois.a.davieau@dhhs.state.nh.us, (603) 271-5889, (800) 852-3345, ext. 5889. g. Student Athlete Codes of Conduct That Work Teleconference May 17, 2007 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Research shows that High School athletes drink more than other students. Call participants will learn about the purpose of alcohol codes for High School athletes, code components, and the positive results emerging from implementation of such codes. Learn more and register at www.udetc.org. h. Co-Occurring Recovery: Supporting Recovery from Substance Use & Mental Disorders May 24-25, 2007 North Haven CT This conference will highlight recovery-oriented and integrated care for people in recovery, particularly from co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. The call for papers, sponsorship, exhibit, and registration information are available at www.ctcertboard.com/details.aspx?n=24 i. The 38th Annual New England School of Addiction Studies June 11-15, 2007 at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The Summer School is an intensive week-long experience for participants to further their knowledge, skills, and experience in the field of substance abuse through in-depth coursework. www.neias.org/SS/SATSSCATTC06x.html j. Minority Women's Health Conference: Strengthening Our Communities by Strengthening Ourselves June 30, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nashua, New Hampshire. For more information contact the Office of Minority Health at 603-271-3986 or by email at marianela.ramirez@dhhs.state.nh.us k. The 9th Annual National Leadership Conference: Empowering Leadership to Enhance What Works August 2-4, 2007 in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Plenary sessions and workshops will offer guidance on how to establish, maintain and strengthen linkages between law enforcement and community agencies, including adult allies and youth. Go to www.udetc.org for more information. l. New England School of Best Practices in Addiction Treatment August 20-23, 2007, Waterville Valley The New England Institute of Addiction Studies is pleased to announce the fifteenth annual clinical and administrative skills program for people working in the treatment system. http://www.neias.org/BP/SATBPCATcover07xSTD.html Back to Top ^
8 Continental Drive, Unit G, Exeter, NH 03833