Monday, December 6, 7:30 - 9:00a |
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| P1 |
Collaboration across sectors: A Canadian example of advocacy towards alcohol policy change |
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A grassroots effort initiated by concerned school administrators that included teachers, community health boards, health professionals and a cross section of government departments proved successful in ending an ineffective and inappropriate alcohol harm reduction program that had been in place in Nova Scotia elementary and junior high schools for ten years. Even though this program contained none of the benchmark factors for success, it continued in the school system because it was initiated by and had strong support from the alcohol industry, offered incentives and was never really questioned - until one year ago. At that time, it was determined that the program was in fact increasing the harms associated with alcohol use as opposed to reducing them. Through a deconstruction of the building and establishment of an advocacy network, examples of the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and how international best practice research was disseminated, audience members will learn how a tradition of ineffective programming was discontinued and new policies put into place. Coordination and collaboration at the individual, organizational and system level will be discussed and learnings from this Nova Scotia experience will be shared. |
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| P2 |
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Mass-media advertisement of alcohol influences adolescents’ alcohol use and abuse. This intervention was aimed to upgrade adolescents’ knowledge about consequences of alcohol abuse. South-Western Zone of Nigerian Network on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Professionals (NADAP), for which I am the coordinator carried out a campaign on the prevention of alcohol use and abuse among two selected high school adolescents in IBNLGA. One thousand students and their teachers participated in the programme. Factual information disseminated included effects of alcohol on academics, finances, health and risky behaviors as well as peer resistance skill and other interpersonal relationship skill needed to avoid alcohol use and abuse. An interactive session with the adolescents revealed that several of them abuse alcohol and many of them had misconception about alcohol. Listed misconceptions about alcohol use include misleading advertisement, poor regulatory activities and socio-cultural values. At the end of the campaign, authorities of the two schools requested for the assistance of NADAP in setting up a Drug Free club in their schools. A majority (60percent) of the student were willing to join if established. Alcohol advertisement in the mass-media is a factor in alcohol use among in-school adolescents and health education strategies are needed to protect them. |
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| P3 |
| New Tracking the Malawi alcohol policy: Lessons for future advocacy efforts |
| Rupali Limaye |
| Evidence from sub-Saharan countries suggests that alcohol use is high; drinking patterns in this region are ranked as the second highest detrimental globally. Public health problems associated with excessive alcohol use led the government of Malawi to recently (2009) draft a national alcohol policy. This policy was developed through the collaboration of stakeholders, including relevant ministries, legislature, NGOs/civil society organizations, and the alcohol industry. This qualitative research sought to examine how the collaboration among the various groups involved in the consultative process occurred, examining the assertion that the alcohol industry had a disproportionate influence on the document, and the controversy surrounding the policy regarding special interests reflected in the document. Interviews with key informants that were involved in policy formulation were conducted (n=15). Findings from this research suggest that power dynamics, community buy-in, and feasibility are integral variables in the policy formulation process in Malawi, and that perhaps this policy may not adequately address the issues of availability to stem alcohol-related harms. The implications of this work can be applied to other policy formulation settings; particularly the insights gained on how to maneuver through the politics of such an undertaking. |
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| P4 |
| Improving compliance on under aged alcohol sales legislation |
| Joris van Hoof |
| As in many countries, in the Netherlands, age limits for
alcohol sales are active. This legislation states that it is not legal
to sell low alcohol containing beverages (<15 percent alcohol) to
persons younger than 16 years of age, and high alcohol containing
beverages (>15 percent alcohol) to persons under 18 years old. Sales
personnel are obligated to verify someone's age (by identification card)
if there could be any doubt about the age of the potential customer.
Despite this legislation, our mysteryshop research (mainly in
cooperation with the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy (STAP) shows
that under aged youth can easily obtain alcohol and that related
compliance rates vary from 0 percent up to 50 percent maximum.
In our presentation we will report on the effects of four different
interventions; (1) an individual intervention letter, (2) a local mass
media campaign in which the shops which complied were reported in the
media, (3) a technical intervention system which transfers age
verification from the shop floor to an external place, and (4) an
information campaign by the supermarket business organization in the
Netherlands aimed at the alcohol sales personnel. |
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| P5 |
| New Potent recipes: An update on the alcohol industries’ involvement in global trade agreements and what we can do about it |
| Donald Zeigler |
| Trade agreements are negotiated by governmental trade experts in consultation with corporate interests without significant public health input. Agreements often have provisions that challenge effective alcohol control policies which the alcohol industry sees as constraints on trade and that interfere with their commercial priorities and profit opportunities. The alcohol industry supports and influences trade policy that reduces tariffs, increases market access and competition, lowers prices, promotes alcohol marketing and consumption, and undercuts effective domestic regulations. The presentation is an update on trade agreements and the means and the extent of alcohol industry influence in their formulation and implementation. There will be discussion of possible counter measures by the public health community. |
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| P6 |
| Monitoring adverse effects of home made brew: Implications for policy; a case study of Uganda |
| Rogers Kasirye |
| In 2006 WHO ranked Uganda as number one in drinkers. Cheaply made alcoholic brew is available in Uganda at almost 60 percent alcohol content and continues to cause adverse effects. Overr 400 people have died since 2008. In spite that the Uganda economy is private sector driven and alcohol revenue is third. Serious concerns include packaging, advertsing, and a lack of regulation. UYDEL, an NGO, has been monitoring the trend sand has managed to bring them to attention of the decision makers. In a poor developing country, there are numerous hurdles to overcome for leaders to act. |
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Underage Drinking Posters
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| P7 |
Three degrees of separation: Network analysis as an underage drinking policy tool |
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Normal groups engaged in the prevention of underage drinking in Arizona are separated each other by an average of three other groups. Analyzing network functions has helped state organizers develop policies to assist those members on the periphery of the network to more easily gain access to information, resources, and other members. Network analysis is a particularly useful methodology for measuring, visually mapping, and understanding the dynamics and structures of relationships within complex systems such as state prevention networks. Three rounds of network analysis data were collected in 2006, 2008, and 2010 from state agencies, for-profit health care organizations, state-level national advocacy organizations, and community-based prevention coalitions in Arizona, each of whom were actively involved in underage drinking prevention efforts. This session will demonstrate the results of this study, showing changes in Arizona’s underage drinking prevention network and illustrating the network’s impact on state and local alcohol policy. Participants in this interactive session will leave with a clear understanding of how a focus on the network of community and state actors helps not only to explain and evaluate efforts, but further develops future policy direction. Recommendations and resources for those wishing to pursue a similar study will be provided. |
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| P8 |
| Using a social marketing approach to reduce high-risk and binge drinking among 18-24 year-olds |
| Penny Norton and Anne Hardison |
| Using research on low-risk drinking guidelines as a basis for content, this session will summarize the lessons learned from a small pilot implementation program designed to reduce high-risk drinking among 18-24 year-olds at Sienna Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. This pilot program was evaluated by the University of Michigan. Lessons learned will be reviewed as well as program revisions that resulted from findings in the evaluation. This session will also cover a brief overview of the next pilot program scheduled to begin in September 2010 in five counties in eastern North Carolina including Camp Lejeune Marine Military Base. This pilot is being evaluated by the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest. Participants will learn about the process involved in creating collaborating partners, identifying key spokespersons, unique aspects of the military community, implementation strategies and the evaluation process. Time will be allowed for questions from participants. |
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| P9 |
You can’t stop what you don’t know: Current youth alcohol and drug trends, clothing and concealment |
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This session will open your eyes to the many various clothing lines and items our youth are waring to identify alcohol and drug use. Also discussed will be the different concealment containers being used to hide alcohol and drugs along with other identifiers and terms that youth are doing and using. Finally, alcoholic energy drinks will be out on display and talked about in regards to youth popularity and abuse. So that you are guaranteed to walk out of the session with a strong knowledge of these items, over 50 of the various items will be on display for attendees to view. |
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| P10 |
| New You've come the wrong way baby: How the alcohol industry targets girls and women |
| Janet Williams |
| Underage drinking, college binge drinking and its associated risks are most often thought of as a male problem. On all youth surveys, teen males consumed more alcohol, consumed more alcohol at once, experienced greater secondhand harms and were the primary target of alcohol advertising. But while the public health community was focused on understanding the problems of teenage boys and young men, the alcohol industry had its sights on a vulnerable population of girls and young women. Today's surveys reflect the success of the alcohol industry with increased use by girls and in some categories, the girls are outdrinking the boys. Many of the secondhand effects and risks to girls and young women are obvious; violence, sexual activity, brain damage, yet others more far reaching such as heart disease and reproductive problems are rarely discussed. This panel presentation would look at alcohol marketing tactics aimed at young girls and young women and the consumption patterns and resulting health risks. The panelist will discuss the state and local policy implications and community organizing strategies to address the increase in alcohol use in teen girls and young women. |
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Other Poster Topics |
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| P11 |
Impacts of social host policies: Findings from a multi-city evaluation across Ventura County |
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Social host ordinances (SHO) are a rapidly growing approach for reducing the accessibility of alcohol to young people at “home parties” and decreasing associated harms and disturbances to surrounding communities. Across the U.S., numerous cities and counties are implementing SHOs, yet little is known about their actual impacts. Ventura County conducted what is thought to be one of the first SHO impact evaluations to help establish an evidence base for the implementation of these policies. The initial evaluation findings that will be shared during this session are promising. This workshop will provide: (1) an overview of the passage and implementation of the SHOs in Ventura County, (2) a description of the impact evaluation process including transferable evaluation approaches and tools, (3) systematic evidence about the impact that the SHOs have made in three jurisdictions thus far, and (4) evaluation lessons learned and recommendations for practice. We anticipate that attendees will leave this workshop with a better understanding of the evidence supporting SHOs in Ventura County, and strategies that can be implemented for measurement of policy-based solutions in their own communities. |
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| P12 |
| Effects of alcohol taxes on alcohol-related mortality in Florida: Time-series analyses from 1969-2004 |
| Mildred Maldonado-Molina and Alexander Wagenaar |
| Over a hundred studies have established the effects of beverage alcohol taxes and prices on sales and drinking behaviors. Yet, relatively few studies have examined effects of alcohol taxes on alcohol-related mortality. We evaluated effects of multiple changes in alcohol tax rates in the State of Florida from 1969-2004 on disease (not injury) mortality. The effects of alcohol taxes on reducing alcohol-related mortality in Florida were examined over the 36-year period. We found significant reductions in mortality related to chronic heavy alcohol consumption following legislatively induced increases in alcohol taxes in Florida. The frequency of deaths and the rate per population declined significantly. Results indicate that a 10percent increase in tax is associated with a 2.2percent decline in deaths. Therefore, increased alcohol taxes are associated with significant and sizable reductions in alcohol-attributable mortality in Florida. Findings indicate that 600-800 lives per year could be saved if real tax rates were returned to 1983 levels (when the last tax increase occurred). Findings highlight the role of tax policy as an effective means for reducing deaths associated with chronic heavy alcohol use. |
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| P13 |
| New An examination of the impact of alcohol taxation on drinking among pregnant women |
| Vinitha Meyyur and Heather Taylor |
| Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are 100 percent preventable yet as many as 40,000 babies are born with one of these disorders each year in the United States. According to the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, increasing alcoholic beverage taxes is a recommended strategy for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms is the U.S. To date, policy makers have yet to include increasing alcohol taxes as a strategy to prevent FASD. Prior research suggests that alcohol taxes have a significant and negative impact on maternal drinking, thereby reducing the prevalence of FASD. Although higher beer tax rates may motivate pregnant women to abstain from drinking, the impact of taxes on drinking among women of child-bearing age is not known. The study focuses the impact of alcohol taxes on drinking among women who may be at-risk for consuming alcohol before pregnancy recognition. Analyses will be conducted using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) published by SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies. The sample will be drawn among nonpregnant women aged 15 to 44 years. Excise beer tax rates will be obtained from http://www.taxpolicycenter.org. Cross-sectional analyses (e.g., descriptive, correlation, logistic regression) will be presented. |
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| P14 |
| Cultivating champions for change |
| Nicole Holt and Scott Montegna |
| Texans Standing Tall (TST) will share tools and processes they have developed that have resulted in increased organizational credibility and development of advocacy champions for local and statewide tipping points. Participants will learn methods for cultivating champions for local and statewide environmental policy change and enforcement. TST has enhanced their statewide and local coalitions’ ability to target alcohol policies associated with: community wellbeing, specifically regarding underage drinking, impaired driving, and high-risk consumption in higher education; for community organizing; and for enforcement campaigns. Presenters will outline tactics for creating community readiness and increasing capacity that result in the development of champions for effectively advancing environmental strategies that offset the public costs of alcohol use. The TST Regional Forums and Report Card models will be used as a framework for this presentation. Presenters will illuminate policy-making processes including strategies to establish and organize advocacy workgroups, tools to navigate policy strategy development, and understanding of policy process options such as state level Code revision studies or passing local ordinances. Participants will walk away with the ability to identify power brokers and primary/secondary targets for advancing change and to create an advocacy action plan to actualize the “tipping point” phenomenon through their constituent network. |
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| P15 |
Application of agent-based models to population-level drinking behavior |
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Agent-based modeling involves “growing” social systems and structures in a computer from the interactions of individual entities (called “agents”) that use local, simple behavioral rules to move about their simulated environment and to interact with one another. These modeling efforts enable researchers to test and develop theories in a way that might not be possible using analytic and experimental methods. The main attraction of agent-based modeling to the social sciences is that it provides a potentially powerful tool for understanding and constructing the mechanisms and processes that generate a specific macro level social form. Specifically, it does this through examining the local interactions of agents within an explicit spatial environment or landscape such as a grid or lattice. We present an agent-based model to study the population effects of episodic social interactions. We allow each drinker to possess its own vulnerability, thereby forsaking the tradition of classifying drinkers into a small number of categories in modeling drinking behaviors. Through simulation with NetLogo, we will explore how a heterogeneous drinking population evolves in terms of the distribution of vulnerability of the drinkers, particularly how this evolution is affected by a change in the proportion of abstainers randomly dispersed among the drinkers. |
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| P16 |
| Alcohol outlets and motor vehicle crashes: Estimating crash risks using Bayesian misalignment models |
| William Ponicki |
| Greater numbers of alcohol outlets have been associated with greater numbers of alcohol-related traffic crashes, but few studies have attempted to assess these relationships over space and time at a local level within states. Zip codes represent attractive spatial units for investigating these relationships because they are relatively small and data are widely available for these area units. However, frequent changes in zip code boundaries and locations make data from these units very difficult to analyze over time. The current study applies recently-developed Bayesian space-time misalignment models to the assessment of traffic crash risks across zip codes in California from 1995 to 2008, a period when the vast majority of the zip-codes in the state were redefined. These models enable us to control for spatial variation in underlying crash rates even in situations without stable geographic units, correct coefficient estimates for the impact of misalignment, and account for other spatial effects that arise in analyses of these data. The central purpose of these analyses is to provide policy analysts with estimates of the specific contributions of alcohol outlets (on-premise vs. off-premise, by beverage type) to traffic crash risks, thus enabling specific recommendations for the regulation of outlets in the state. |
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| P17 |
| New Prevention strategies in hospitality zones |
| James Peters |
| The moment of contact between a server in a nightlife venue and the patron is one of the most significant moments to prevent underage drinking and intoxication. For more than three decades, responsible beverage service training and policies have been implemented, tested and legislated in cities and states throughout the world. Today, as downtowns and Main Streets are revitalized, demographics change, and lifestyles support more evening and late-night socializing, hospitality zones are emerging with a concentration of outlets and activity. This session will trace the early evolution of responsible beverage service, expanded focus on the establishment, and finally introduce a broader prevention model that seeks to manage a hospitality zone or district with multiple outlets through improvements in zoning, policing, policy, practices and patron responsibility campaigns. |
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| P18 |
Responsible hospitality: Collaborative efforts in a university downtown |
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Like cities around the country, Ellensburg, WA grappled with balancing a vibrant nightlife with ways to ensure peace and safety for all. A split use of downtown juxtaposes the needs of the daytime business community, residents wanting peaceful nights, and those seeking a vibrant night life. While night life makes major contributions to social and economic vitality, it can also create the greatest concerns, including complaints about noise, litter, disorderly conduct, and vandalism. This poster session will show how Central Washington University's Campus-Community Coalition (CCC) partnered with law enforcement, city officials, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, and downtown Ellensburg alcohol license holders through its Hospitality Resource Alliance (HRA) - to reduce alcohol availability and service to minors and intoxicated individuals, and addressed complaints associated with over-consumption in the downtown. We surveyed the downtown regarding the scope of the problem, and will share pre and post data. We surveyed businesses regarding written alcohol policies for employees, and will present results and a template for developing a policy. Materials, experiences, successes, and evaluations will be shared, so that participants can replicate the collaborative, environmental management approach used by the CCC. |
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| P19 |
| Public health, state alcohol pricing policies, and the dismantling of the 21st Amendment: A legal analysis |
| Elyse Grossman and Jim Mosher |
| After the 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealed Prohibition, many states chose to regulate alcohol through the establishment of a three-tier system of alcohol producers, wholesalers, and retailers, thus strictly separating the production and retail tiers of the industry. These regulations often include specific wholesaler pricing restrictions. Public health advocates have in the past considered tied house provisions to be instruments of the marketplace with little or no connection to public health concerns. This perception is being reassessed. An analysis of the legal landscape regarding the validity of alcohol wholesaler pricing restrictions reveals that the courts appear to have largely abandoned what was the apparent initial intent of the 21st Amendment. Rather than continuing to endorse a broad interpretation and application of the 21st Amendment, the courts have shifted to curtailing the scope of the 21st Amendment in favor of protecting Interstate Commerce interests. The states, courts and public health community each have a role to play to restore the powers granted by the 21st Amendment and to enhance the public health benefits of wholesaler pricing policies while also protecting them from future legal challenges. |
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| P20 |
| Relationship between state-level adult binge drinking and individual drinking-related behaviors among youth, 1999-2009 |
| Ziming Xuan |
| The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between individual alcohol use behaviors among the youth and the state-level binge drinking prevalence among adults. Data were analyzed in 2010, using biennial data 1999 to 2009 from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. State level prevalence of binge drinking among adults was based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We found that one percentage point increase of state level binge drinking prevalence among adults was associated with 2% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02) increase of odds of binge drinking, 3% (95% CI: 1.03, 1.03) increase of odds of riding in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol, and 3% (95% CI: 1.02, 1.03) increase of odds of drinking and driving by the youth, adjusting for individual demographics and state-level covariates including the age, sex, and racial/ethnic composition, per capita income, educational attainment, religious affiliation, consumer price index, level of urbanization and alcohol treatment characteristics. State level prevalence of binge drinking among the adults population appears to be a strong determinant of alcohol-related behaviors among the youth. These findings suggest that efforts to address the drinking problems among the youth need to include broader social contextual factors. |
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Tuesday, December 7, 7:30 - 9:00a |
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Statewide Coalition Posters
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| P21 |
A statewide policy tool: Maine's report card for substance abuse services |
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Statewide alcohol policy development is critical in times of diminishing
state and federal resources. Come learn about the development and success of the first in the nation Substance Abuse Services Commission Report Card. The Report Card was modeled after a 2006 report, Blueprint for the States: Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment, published by Join Together, a program of the Boston University School of Public Health. This innovative policy tool is being used to educate the Maine state legislature, key decisions makers, state agencies and stakeholders to raise awareness of substance abuse, create accountability for the grades and work together with these groups to improve the grades based on a series of
recommendations. The presenters will review all the recommendations within the four categories which are Leadership/Structure and Sustainability; Resources; Legislative Initiatives and; Measurement and Accountability. One recommendation under Legislative Initiatives is "When drafting legislation consider the unintended consequences such as youth access to
alcohol and more availability to alcohol." Finally, participants will gain hands on understanding of how and why the Report Card was created and how other states can develop their own Report Card to move policy forward. |
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| P22 |
Guiding communities in environmental change: Kentucky's alcohol prevention enhancement site |
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Community coalitions across Kentucky are confronting head on the community norms and local and state policy gaps that have made underage access to alcohol easy and expected. With assistance from the Alcohol Prevention Enhancement Site (PES), local communities have passed over 40 ordinances to reduce youth social access to alcohol, and many more communities have begun to assess the effectiveness of current laws and regulations against available data. The primary duty of the Alcohol PES is to equip community members to pursue environmental change strategies. One of the biggest hurdles coalition members face is producing ordinances that are not merely words on paper. Well-prepared soil ensures that policy changes, once enacted, take root and bear fruit. This means cultivating the policy-makers, the policy-enforcers, and the policy-adjudicators, but it also means preparing the community at large so that they see the policy change as necessary and legitimate. In our presentation, we will explore data trends that indicate when good cultivation has taken place, and when it has not. We will also look ahead to how Kentucky communities are preparing for efforts at the local and the state level to address the latest industry products and practices. |
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| P23 |
| Oregon Partnership: A clear body, mind, choice |
| Judith Cushing |
| Oregon Partnership is a statewide non-profit promoting healthy kids and communities through drug and alcohol awareness, drug prevention programs, and 24 hour crisis lines for treatment referrals and suicide intervention. We work with schools and community coalitions statewide, and our resource library is open to all to educate on the dangers of substance abuse. The Partnership leads statewide efforts to reduce underage drinking. |
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| P24 |
| Create a vehicle to motivate communities for change: Regional forums |
| Nicole Holt and Scott Montegna |
| Texans Standing Tall (TST) Regional Forums have successfully created an economical way to bring state level and regional leaders together for collaboration on specific environmental strategies to reduce underage drinking and high-risk college drinking. Both community and campus focused forums offer a more in-depth agenda than the typical Town Hall in order to effectively identify youth alcohol problems and solutions, provide networking opportunities, and develop advocates’ skills to implement solutions and policy change. Participants will learn about key elements and tools that have made TST’s Forum process highly successful in increasing community readiness, as well as increasing capacity for the whole statewide coalition, resulting in creation of a Statewide Strategy Implementation Team. Presenters will share results of comprehensive evaluation of TST Regional Forums over the past four years indicating both knowledge gains (88.9 percent reported increased understanding of environmental strategies, 86.2 percent increased understanding of advocacy, and 87.9 percent increased understanding of how to achieve social change) and positive actions (85.9percent of respondents educated and disseminated information regarding environmental strategies, 73.7 percent increased community participation and involvement, and 53.1 percent sent a letter to a decision maker). Participants will learn how to adapt and replicate the TST Regional Form model. |
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| P25 |
| Succesful advocacy and policy change in New Hampshire |
| Linda King and Tricia Lucas |
| New Futures’ Community Leadership Initiative (CLI) identifies, recruits and trains citizen advocates and strategically mobilizes them to impact public policy in New Hampshire. Policy successes over the 10 years of this initiative have included keg registration, vertical drivers licenses, social host liability, maintaining the MLDA of 21, and most recently defeated legislation introduced by the restaurant and lodging association to allow “happy hour” advertising in the state – a significant victory for prevention, treatment and recovery in New Hampshire. These trained citizen advocates have been enormously successful in influencing policymakers at the state and community level. This “informal network of advocates” includes prevention and treatment providers, community coalition members, law enforcement, parents, persons in recovery, and their families, friends and allies. This session will share lessons learned in the development of this unique environmental strategy designed, in part, to focus on specific policy measures to reduce youth drinking /alcohol problems in communities. The one-day training curriculum provides information and builds skills designed to enhance the participant’s role as an effective advocate at the state level. |
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| P26 |
| Statewide state of mind: Building coalitions to address alcohol policy |
| Robert Pezzolesi, Diane Riibe, Rob Lillis, and Charisse Ma Lebron |
| Interventions that are effective in mitigating alcohol problems need to work through or with multiple statewide institutions. Considering the special role that states have in alcohol regulation, statewide alcohol policy coalitions should be a necessary component of constructive change. Accordingly, this session will encourage and inform participants toward the creation and strengthening of statewide alcohol policy coalitions. Discussion will center on the perspectives of two coalitions, a recently initiated coalition in New York (the New York Alcohol Policy Alliance) and an established coalition in Nebraska (Project Extra Mile). Panelists will address barriers to effective statewide action, such as political friction, shrinking resources, state preemption, and institutional inertia. In addition, the panelists will highlight strategies to overcome these barriers, including media advocacy and engaging non-traditional stakeholders. The Marin Institute will offer a brief overview of key statewide efforts across the nation. An open discussion will follow the panel presentations, whereby participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, questions, and concerns. Participants will be engaged and energized, returning to their home states with some of the tools necessary to begin advocating for state-level alcohol policies. |
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| P27 |
| Combating industry attempts to discredit research-based prevention |
| Diane Riibe and Cassandra Greisen |
| Project Extra Mile is a statewide network of community coalitions in Nebraska working to create a community consensus that clearly states that underage alcohol use is illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable. Since the organization’s inception in 1995, the coalition has worked to address policies to reduce youth access and availability to alcohol through local municipalities, the state’s alcohol control board, and the Unicameral. Nebraska is now at a critical time for its need to effectively begin addressing alcohol-related problems. This session will provide an overview of several years of specific policy objectives and the industry’s attempt to derail standards to prevent underage drinking and other alcohol-related problems. Additionally, coordinated industry efforts to damage the credibility of community coalition and prevention organizations will be discussed. |
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| P28 |
| Policy initiatives from Michigan |
| Mike Tobias and Marie Hansen (Poster 1, Poster 2, Handouts) |
| Michigan Alcohol Policy Promoting Health and Safety (MAP) incorporated in April 2009 in the state of Michigan with a mission to advocate for laws and policies that reduce the illegal and harmful use of alcohol. MAP’s vision to carry out this mission is to unite the community coalitions and build a statewide network of advocates that have strong relationships with their state legislators, US Representatives and Senators, and with commissioners from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. In this work shop participants will hear about some of the reasons that led to the formation of MAP as well as MAP’s organizing efforts toward: 1) raising the excise tax on beer, 2) advocating that alcopops be reclassified as “mixed spirit drink” and 3) advocating that alcohol energy drinks be de-registered in Michigan. Our plan and proposal to raise the beer tax will be shared with participants as well as numerous handouts from MAP’s policy initiatives. Additionally, progress, challenges, and lessons learned will be covered. |
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| P29 |
Policies and parents: A proven combination to prevent underage drinking |
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A critical key to prevent community alcohol problems is to prevent underage drinking. Our workshop will discuss five proven policies we’ve used in Utah to reduce the retail and social supply to kids (compliance checks, banishing alcopops to State Liquor Stores, banning energy drinks, social host law, state media campaign targeting parents) and one Community Initiative: widespread dissemination of the world’s best prevention tool: The Strengthening Families Program – a parenting program now available for free download via the Web. An Oxford University Cochrane Review of the best youth alcohol-prevention programs showed that the Strengthening Families Program, a series of family classes which trains parents in parenting skills and their children in pro-social behavior and peer-resistance skills, was the most effective tool to prevent underage drinking—even in a 5-year follow-up. For this reason, MADD-Utah and Karol Kumpfer, creator of SFP, joined together to create a Home-Use DVD version of the Strengthening Families Program which is being made available on-line at no charge to families. |
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| P30 |
| Finding the soul of persistence: What it takes to put knowledge into action |
| Jenny Haubenreiser |
| The use of public policy in addressing collegiate alcohol abuse remains the foundation of any sound comprehensive strategy. Issues associated with alcohol abuse extend well beyond campus borders, yet college prevention staff typically stay busy providing education, early intervention, social marketing and other more individual interventions. While important, these measures remain limited in shaping cultural norms and behaviors. Efforts must also target the legal socio-cultural environment, namely community and state policy. This is a particular challenge for college prevention staff who often work in isolation with few resources available to influence community change. Moreover, prevention staff who are able to join or even lead coalitions or other community efforts soon realize how efforts are stymied by more powerful state and local interests. Managing these types of political obstacles can be daunting, calling for creative and strategic collaborations, and most importantly, persistence. This session will discuss specific challenges faced in working with community and state policies, including lessons learned. Participants will be invited to share their own experiences putting knowledge into action and how others have successfully negotiated the many roadblocks in the creation and implementation of effective policy. |
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| P31 |
| Implementing communities mobilizing for change on alcohol in five Indiana counties |
| Harold Kooreman and Marion Greene |
| In July of 2005, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention awarded Indiana with a Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant. The SPF SIG is a new type of prevention grant that incorporates a five-step planning framework which encouraging recipients to collect and use data about substance use and substance use-related consequences in making prevention-related decisions. Additionally, the SPF SIG requires recipients to focus on using evidence-based programs, procedures, and practices (EBPPP) as their primary methods for prevention. In July of 2007 and after a careful review of available epidemiological data, Indiana awarded SPF SIG funding to 12 counties. Eight counties chose to address binge drinking in 18 to 25-year-olds and/or underage drinking. Of these eight counties, five elected to implement Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) as their EBPPP. CMCA is a community-driven process that emphasizes policy change as the primary method for reducing all forms of risky alcohol consumption and its consequences. The current study will describe the CMCA approach, present how counties in Indiana are implementing CMCA, discuss the policy changes being developed and put in place, and present the outcomes which communities have noticed since they began working on the CMCA process. |
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| P32 |
| Town hall meetings: Mobilizing communities to prevent and reduce underage drinking |
| Emily Novick |
| Town Hall Meetings (THMs) to prevent and reduce underage drinking (UAD)
have taken place in 2006, 2008, and 2010. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) sponsors THMs and surveys community-based organizations that hosted the events to evaluate the effectiveness of THMs in raising public awareness of UAD and in mobilizing communities around prevention.
The THM initiative has been growing over time, as communities realize
the potential of THMs to stimulate community-based awareness of UAD and
its prevention. The number of THMs held throughout the country increased
33 percent between 2006 and 2010. Nearly 20 percent more THMs were held in 2008 than in 2006; approximately 11 percent more THMs were held in 2010 than in 2008. THMs have been held in every State, five U.S.
Territories, and the District of Columbia.
THMs for all three rounds have mobilized members from the community to
take action on UAD. Stakeholder involvement has included: prevention
specialists, community leaders, law enforcement, youth, parents,
education professionals, local elected officials, medical professionals,
health officials, business leaders, and the media.
Feedback and evaluation findings will illustrate the effectiveness of
this prevention communications effort. |
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| P33 |
Nova Scotia's provincial alcohol strategy: A first to connect research and practice in alcohol policy |
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The goal of the first provincial alcohol strategy in Canada: Changing the Culture of Alcohol use in Nova Scotia, is to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm and costs. The Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection and the District's Addiction Services are collaboratively working towards increasing awareness and support for healthy public policy initiatives that will reduce alcohol-related harms. The Alcohol Task Group - experts in addiction prevention, health promotion, early intervention and treatment best practice - was created to identify key policy initiatives that would help change the culture of alcohol use in Nova Scotia. A benchmark survey of the cultural dynamics of alcohol consumption found that there is a level of readiness among Nova Scotians to accept alcohol policies. In December 2008, a minimum price for alcoholic beverages was set: an example of best practice research informing policy and practice. To promote a comprehensive approach to reducing alcohol-related harm, it is imperative that learnings are shared among allied health professionals and beyond. The exchange of knowledge regarding challenges faced and opportunities taken in the development and implementation of Canada's first provincial alcohol strategy will be instrumental in forwarding others' work and in connecting research, policy and practice. |
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| P34 |
| New Planning for and managing large university events where alcohol is present |
| Leo Sokoloski |
| Bloomsburg is located in northeast Pennsylvania and is host to Bloomsburg University. The town has a history of college related problems, acute alcohol poisoning and deaths that revolve around an event called “Block Party.” The event has grown exponentially during the last several years and so have the problems associated with the event. The catalyst to many problems revolves around the excessive consumption of alcohol. Hundreds of students gravitate to this event that is promoted as a day long beer party. As a direct result of the problems associated with the event and the inordinate costs to police and manage the event, elected officials of the town revised the town’s Social Host Ordinance.
In 2010 officials believed the leading method to best minimize risk to all involved was to make this event an enforcement event. Police worked together to develop a pro-active enforcement plan to combat the Block Party. Bloomsburg is not touting this success though without noting some significant partnerships developed to make this effort positive. Bloomsburg may never know what specifically worked to prevent a tragedy, police feel confident that by developing a multitude of partnerships to work together works better than trying to tackle this problem alone. |
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| P35 |
| New Impact of a medical amnesty policy and an educational video on college students’ intentions to seek help in the presence of alcohol poisoning symptoms |
| Laura Oster-Aaland and Myron Eighmy |
| In an attempt to alleviate potential deaths due to alcohol poisoning and increase helping behavior among peers, many institutions of higher education have implemented medical amnesty policies, which promise students amnesty from campus judicial sanctions in cases where a student calls for help for a peer who has consumed a dangerous amount of alcohol. This session will present findings from a study that tested the impact of a medical amnesty policy and an on-line alcohol poisoning video on students’ self-reported likelihood of seeking help when witnessing alcohol poisoning symptoms at a mid-sized land grant research university. Findings showed that a medical amnesty policy when coupled with an on-line alcohol poisoning video was effective in elevating help seeking intentions with the policy being the most influential factor. Females, abstainers, and students not exposed to a prior alcohol poisoning situation were also more likely to report seeking help. The findings suggest that college administrators should consider implementing medical amnesty policies and educational campaigns about alcohol poisoning and that educational efforts should be especially targeted to men, heavy drinkers, and students experiencing prior alcohol poisoning situations. |
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| P36 |
| Alcohol abuse by college students: Environmental management approaches to prevention and treatment |
| Eric Klein |
| This presentation will provide participants with an understanding of campus-based and environmental management approaches to alcohol abuse prevention and treatment. Recent research clearly demonstrates that the promotion of multiple prevention strategies that affect the college environment as a whole can have a large-scale impact on the entire campus community. This approach, based on Environmental Management Theory, represents a shift in thinking about prevention. Moreover, the Environmental Management Model influences how practitioners, researchers, and policy makers can impact the problems associated with college student alcohol abuse. In this poster presentation, the importance of integrating policy, education, training, prevention research, public health, and case law will be emphasized. In addition, the presenter will outline evidence-based, best-practice strategies for improving the campus and community environment in which college students make decisions about alcohol use. |
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| P37 |
| Alcoholic energy drink and other alcohol brands consumed by injured persons in the ER |
| David Jernigan, Syed-Rafay Ahmed, and Michelle Simon |
| Alcoholic energy drinks have raised concern among policy makers and researchers, but there is little evidence on the prevalence of their consumption prior to actual injury events. This presentation describes the piloting of a survey of alcoholic brands consumed prior to injury presentations at a large urban emergency department on weekend nights. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate that alcohol brand data could be collected in such a setting, and to explore the degree to which alcoholic energy drink consumption was reported in those presenting with injuries. Forty cases were collected over several months, and prevalence of brands reported was compared to their prevalence in the marketplace in general. While the small sample precluded statistical analysis, numerous lessons were learned about collecting brand data in emergency room settings, and impressionistic data were collected regarding the presence not only of alcoholic energy drinks but of other particular product types and brands. Data from the forty persons surveyed are provided, and recommendations are made regarding both the need for further emergency department-based research based on the pilot phase experience, and for greater surveillance and regulation of specific products in the marketplace with a disproportionate relationship to injury events. |
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| P38 |
| Alcoholic energy drinks: A dangerous buzz |
| Raimee Eck and Jim Mosher |
| Alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs) are relatively new products that are causing a serious buzz amongst underage drinkers. In the last month, several college campus newspapers have reported that Four Loko, a popular AED has become the latest craze among students that is associated with serious public health and safety problems, including assaults, alcohol poisoning and drunk driving. Often containing as much alcohol as over 4 beers, these products come pre-mixed with high levels of caffeine and can create the effect of a “wide-awake drunk.” Research demonstrates that while the intoxicated person subjectively feels the effects of the alcohol less, they are still objectively highly impaired. Teenagers are more vulnerable to negative outcomes as they are less experienced with alcohol use and its effects. AEDs are marketed heavily towards young people, using advertising that mimics non-alcoholic energy drinks and focuses on risk taking and high energy activities. In response, advocacy groups are calling for a ban on products that mix alcohol with high levels of caffeine. This late-breaking poster will analyze the public health and safety problems associated with these products, discuss marketing tactics that target youth, and report on advocacy and regulatory efforts to restrict their availability. |
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