Educate. Empower. Advocate. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. Our Take Environmental Prevention Strategies Work. Why We Are Concerned By Fran Gerbig A recently published JAMA article, which reports an increase in alcohol-related harms and their association with increased consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides a real-time illustration of the importance of environmental prevention strategies and underscores the importance of prevention advocacy efforts to ensure that these strategies are maintained. The article observed that during the pandemic lockdowns, virtually every state —including Ohio—considered alcohol retailers “essential businesses” that remained open while bars and restaurants closed. The article noted that keeping alcohol retailers open during lockdowns unintentionally sent the message that alcohol is essential for life, encouraging consumption. A Harris poll found that 23% of adults reported drinking more during the pandemic. (The number jumped to 52% of those with children aged 5 to 7 years at home.) The changes to the policies that regulate and monitor alcohol purchases and the ensuing outcomes provides a teachable moment for us all. By increasing alcohol access, creating new opportunities for purchase and consumption, lawmakers unknowingly weakened proven prevention strategies that protect communities and individuals. Environmental Strategies Reduce Risk Prevention science tells us that if communities can change the context (the environment) in which substance use and abuse occurs, then the impact is far reaching and reduces collective risk. Implementing environmental prevention strategies can produce quick wins, instilling commitment toward long-term practice and policy changes within a community by influencing community conditions, standards, institutions, structures, systems and policies. By potentially reaching entire populations and reducing collective risk, these strategies influence community norms and systems producing widespread behavior change and, in turn, reducing problems for entire communities. Examples of environmental strategies are policies that serve to regulate substances and protect subsets of the population who are at greatest risk. Age restrictions for purchase and consumption, specific purchasing guidelines, safe consumption recommendations, fines for violations and seller server training are all examples of environmental strategies. There is ample evidence that well-crafted, implemented and enforced polices—local, state and national—can reduce population-based alcohol, tobacco and drug misuse. Is Legalization on the Horizon? This month saw announcements by both national and state lawmakers introducing legislation that would legalize marijuana. Recognizing the importance of maintaining established environmental strategies that protect youth and the greater population, Prevention Action Alliance remains concerned about the possible legalization, the impact on access and availability, the lack of understanding regarding risk of use and the predictable outcomes that would follow should the legalization of marijuana come to pass. We acknowledge the attempt by the state to place protective parameters around the use of marijuana as medicine through the establishment of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. The establishment of rigorous rules for the who, what, when and how of recommending and using marijuana are an example of environmental strategies placed to protect individuals and communities. Prevention science demonstrates that increased access to marijuana through legalization will increase use. It is imperative that environmental prevention standards be considered to protect developing brains and that any new legislation include robust and comprehensive environmental strategies to protect those at risk. Fran Gerbig is the executive director at Prevention Action Alliance. You may contact her at [email protected]. PAA Happenings PAA, SPCA Highlighted at Virtual National Coalition Conference PAA Executive Director Fran Gerbig represented Prevention Action Alliance and the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association at the recent 2021 Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Mid-Year Virtual Training Institute, which took place virtually July 9–July 15. General Barrye Price, President and CEO of CADCA, invited Fran to participate in a national panel of experts from Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio and Utah in a discussion of “Statewide Coalitions: Creating Collective Impact in Prevention." Fran shared how Ohio’s Statewide Prevention Coalition Association and its members have made positive changes across the state. “One of the added benefits of being a coalition leader in Ohio is the creation of collective impact in prevention: the mentoring and coaching provided by SPCA members, and the establishment of evidence informed, community-based prevention practices that protect and support the citizens of Ohio,” she said. The training session garnered the interest of both a national and international audience. Early Bird Special for Our Readers Save 10% Off of Parent Who Host Campaign With back-to-school right around the corner, now’s the time to start planning your fall Parents Who Host Lose The Most™ campaign. The Member Center contains all the digital resources you need to run a successful campaign during the fall homecoming season. Check out digital and printed resources at preventionactionalliance.org/pwh. Use code PWH10 to take 10% off your purchase. PAA Welcomes Three New Team Members As our prevention coordinator for community-based services, LeKeithia M. Miller brings a wealth of experience to PAA from the childcare behavioral and mental health sector. She will be coordinating the Problem Gambling program, Ohio Center for Coalition Excellence, the G.A.P. Network (Through Grief, Advocating for Prevention), Statewide Prevention Coalition Association and Know! Prevention Tips for Everyone. Previously, LaKeithia worked with youth and families in several areas of social work for 14 years as a clinician and case manager, including child welfare, human services, community outreach, crisis de-escalation and teaching. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Augustine’s College and her master’s degree in counseling from Bowie State University. Both her degrees focused on individuals across the lifespan. A native from Washington D.C. by way of Maryland, LaKeithia has been a resident of Columbus since 2015. Jacob (Jake) Marenberg is our newest civil operator as a member of the Ohio National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. In his role, Jake administers and practices drug prevention science to help create healthy communities in Ohio. Prior to joining us at PAA, Jake was deployed with the Ohio Air National Guard and was employed with its Counterdrug Task Force serving as the assistant operations officer. He has his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, with a focus in medical dietetics. Also, he is pursuing his Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant certification. Jake lives in Johnstown with his wife, Andi, and young daughter, Stella. Ashley McCray joined us as our education and events coordinator. She will manage PAA events, meetings and trainings, including those held at PAA's Matthew B. Schoonover Educational Center. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wright State University, her event planning skills began to take shape during her years in college as a volunteer Young Life leader. She furthered her professional development throughout her time in the Promotional Events department of the Cincinnati Reds, along with the Cincinnati-based mental health non-profit, 1N5. Coming from the Springfield/Dayton area, she is excited to be in Columbus and have a role in achieving our mission. Join Free Social Media Webinar, Aug. 26 Prevention Action Alliance ,with the support of the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, is pleased to offer a follow-up virtual session on social media marketing for organizations with Andy Duran. Last March, during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Andy presented on social media engagement. This time Andy will be doing a deeper dive into social media analytics, providing plenty of time for a Q&A session. All are welcome to this free webinar. You do not need to have attended the first session to attend and benefit from the presentation. The event will provide two (2) hours of Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board approved continuing education for prevention specialists (RA, OCPSA, OCPS, OCPC). Register Learn To Help Youth after A Suicide Loss Death by suicide is always a tragic event. It can trigger a host of complicated and confusing emotions for young people to understand why a friend or loved one chose to end their life. Read the current issue to earn how to help them move forward in a positive direction with information, guidance and continued support. Subscribe to Know! Tips for advice in promoting health and wellness for our youth. News You Can Use Study Aims to Reduce Opioid-Related Deaths Ohio has the fourth highest rate of opioid-involved deaths in 2019, according to most recent statistics from CDC. While this is an improvement from 2018 when Ohio had the second highest death rate, new data suggest overdose deaths were up more than 20 percent in Ohio in 2020 during the pandemic. Addressing this continuing crisis, the National Institutes of Health HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative has funded the Ohio HEALing Communities Study to understand the most-effective strategies to reach populations most at risk for opioid overdoses, to get those in need into treatment and to facilitate a healthy quality of life for people recovering from opioid use disorder. The study will assess the effectiveness of different interventions and compare results between 19 counties. These communities were divided into two groups and randomly assigned dates to start the interventions. Wave 1 communities began the study in December 2019, with Wave 2 communities to begin in December of this year. (See map below.) In addition to prioritizing which prevention and treatment strategies work best, the study will determine how to best implement and sustain effective programming within Ohio HEALing communities. Researchers also will learn how care and treatment can be integrated into different settings—ranging from jails and prisons to outpatient treatment—to decrease the economic and emotional toll of the opioid epidemic among Ohioans and the state of Ohio. The study is a collaborative effort between The Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio University, the University of Toledo, Wright State University, RecoveryOhio and several Ohio communities. To learn more about the HEALing Communities Study, find resources and to take action in your community, visit healingcommunitiesstudy.org. Ohio HEALing Communities Map Change the Game Wins National Award The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) recently announced the recipients of its 2020 and 2021 NCPG National Awards. Ohio's Change the Game–Youth Prevention Campaign won the 2020 Corporate People's Choice Award for the most popular print public awareness message. In order to win the people’s choice award, contestants needed to provide a problem gambling or responsible gambling public service or paid advertisement in print. The criteria for the winner was based on its ability to reach gamblers and their families. The campaign was created by Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio For Responsible Gambling to help parents, caring adults and educators work with youth who may be gambling, either through traditional gambling bets or within online gaming. Change the Game raises awareness of the sheer amount of gambling behaviors that our youth are being exposed to every day. Prevention Action Alliance works with OhioMHAS and our other partners in Ohio for Responsible Gambling to ensure the prevention campaign is effective, impactful and delivered statewide. For youth gambling resources, visit changethegame.org. Save the Date for Ohio FASD Forum, Sept. 17 The Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee 5th Annual Forum will be held virtually Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's theme is "Taking the Next Steps for Ohio Families." Larry Burd, Ph.D., director of the North Dakota FAS Center and a professor of pediatrics as the University of North Dakota, will be presenting the keynote address. The forum also will feature special guest Hope Taft, former First Lady of Ohio. CEUS will be applied for. Visit facebook.com/ohiofasd for more details and a registration link. Mark Your Calendars NAMI National Conference, July 27-July 28 NIAA Strategic Plan Comment Period, Through July 30 Mendez Foundation Training–Elementary School Level, Aug. 9 Mendez Foundation Training–Middle School Level, Aug. 10 Mendez Foundation Training–High School Level, Aug. 11 Social Media with Andy Duran, Aug. 26 Cincinnati Children's Pediatric Mental Health Symposium, Sept. 17 Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 5-Sept. 11 OFASD Forum, Sept. 17 Prevention Action Alliance | 6171 Huntley Road, Suite G, Columbus, OH 43229 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!