By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 25, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s microbreweries would be allowed to sell beer for takeout on Sundays under a bill approved by the state House.
The bill would limit the amount of Sunday carryout sales from microbreweries to about two cases per transaction. The 32 microbreweries across the state have limits on how much beer they can make each year.
The bill also would repeal a law that prohibits alcohol sales during voting hours on election days.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 25, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – A new report says the number of Indiana teenagers who were able to illegally buy tobacco products from Hoosier retailers hit an all-time low last year.
The state’s Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program enlists teens to test whether stores will sell them cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or cigars in violation of state law.
The program’s annual report released Wednesday found that illegal sales were made by retailers in only 5.6 percent of more than 9,000 inspections the program made last year.
When the inspections started in 2000, 40 percent of retailers sold tobacco to minors.
In Indiana it is illegal for a clerk or a retail establishment to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released its county by county health rankings. Each county is ranked within the state on how healthy people are and how long they live. They also are ranked on key factors that affect health such as smoking, obesity, and binge drinking. Other studies have ranked states on health factors, but this is the first time researchers have examined the multiple factors that affect health in each county in all 50 states. Tippecanoe County was ranked 12th out of all 92 counties in Indiana.
To learn more or view the results visit www.countyhealthrankings.org
February 19, 2010 – Katy Travis – Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County
(Lafayette, IN) While the big game itself is old news, the commercials are not: the impact of Super Bowl advertising is in full swing. And according to the 200 Tippecanoe County high school students who participated in the Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County Super Bowl Survey, while alcohol ads were widely remembered, they did not place in the top three favorites among youth, as in past surveys. The survey conducted is part of the Drug-Free Action Alliance of Ohio’s national Super Bowl study. DrugFree Action Alliance is a notforprofit organization that provides leadership to promote safe and drug free communities throughout Ohio. This is the first year that alcohol ads did not appear in the top 3 for the National results.
Doritos stole the show, with kids voting four different Doritos commercials as their top picks.
High School Results
#1 Doritos: Hands Off
#2 Doritos: Shock Collar
#3 Doritos: Stole Tim’s Doritos
#4 Bud Light: Clydesdale Bull and Friends
#5 Doritos: Coffin
Results based on 250 surveys given to high school students in Tippecanoe County
“It is refreshing to see youth choosing commercials promoting a snack product for their top three favorites, however, there were plenty of alcohol ads, and based on the survey, kids definitely took note of it,” said Patricia Harmon, executive director for DrugFree Action Alliance.
Not only did alcohol ads show up in the top five favorites, but when the students were asked about the products they remembered being advertised, alcohol was the second highest item recalled (following closely behind food items).
“The concern is the influence of alcohol advertising on young minds,” said Katy Travis, outreach coordinator, Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County “Considering youth, under the age of 21, make up about 18% of the Super Bowl viewing audience, we know there are a lot of underage people being exposed to alcohol advertising.”
Research shows that the more youth are exposed to alcohol advertising, the more likely they are to drink, drink more often and drink to excess. The effects of alcohol on developing adolescent minds and bodies can be devastating and long lasting.
Each day, 8,000 kids (between the ages of 1217) take their first drink of alcohol. Those who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life. Alcohol is associated with a variety of risky behaviors including teen violence, car crashes and sexual assaults (among many others) and can cause permanent damage to the still developing adolescent brain.
Though it is unrealistic to think parents could possibly shield their children from all alcohol advertising, there is something parents can do; talk to their children. Research reveals that kids whose parents talk to them often about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs are 50% less likely to use.
“The next time your children are watching TV, we encourage you (parents) to sit down with them, making it a teachable moment. Use the commercials as an opportunity to teach your children to read between the lines of advertisements, building their media literacy skills,” said Travis. “It’s an easy way to bring up the topic of underage drinking and to encourage your children to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors.”
The Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County brings together a cross-section of the community in a countywide effort to reduce youth and adult use and the negative impact of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) through multiple strategies across multiple sectors. For more information visit the resources link on our website www.drugfreetippecanoe.org
Cindy Houseman MS, NCC, LMHC, CADAC I – Executive Director – Tippecanoe County Court Services and Drug Court
I was born in 1952 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both of my parents were alcoholics and hence, my maternal grandmother brought me home from the hospital. As my maternal grandparents raised me, I was not aware of the problems alcoholism had caused in my family. My grandparents were very nurturing and protective and I had no idea my situation was different until I went to school.
I learned that other children were living with their parents, and slowly, I began to get the idea that our situation was different. My grandparents never allowed alcohol in the home and went to church regularly. They taught me to excel in everything I did and when I won the Spelling Bee at our school, my grandparents were there. When I began to perform in TV commercials for our local station, it was my grandparents who took me and praised me. For all my dance recitals, my grandparents were there. I always felt very lucky to have such a secure home. I remember wondering why my parents never came to these events, but my grandmother had me involved in so many things, I didn’t have time to think about what was lacking.
When I was seven, my mother gave birth to my little brother. He immediately came to live with us and I would see my mother sporadically, but I knew she had a problem and that I was to always listen only to my grandparents. I didn’t know who the father of my brother was; I am not sure my mother knew, but we loved him and my grandmother who was about 60 years old then, let me help out a lot with watching him. I didn’t mind. He was cute and fun to be around. Later on my mother would have two more children, a daughter and a son. My sister came and lived with us and again, I got to play “mom”. It was great to have a little sister and since I was 11 when she was born, I took over caring for her. I named her Sheila Dawn, the name of my favorite doll. She stayed in my room and I fed, changed her and nurtured her the way my grandparents had nurtured me. By now my grandmother was 63 years old. She took in laundry and ironings to help with the bills. We owned a rental property in Indianapolis and my grandfather worked at Block’s department store (he had retired from the railroad) and took care of the rental property. We were not rich, but I don’t remember us wanting for anything. When I was twelve, my mother’s brother, George brought his children to live with us. His wife, my father’s sister, had died giving birth to her seventh child. She was diabetic and neither she nor the baby lived.
My grandmother said the children would live with us until, her oldest son, George, could get his life in order. He too, was an alcoholic, and my grandparents took in the children, fed them and clothed them. My cousins were with us for three years. My uncle remarried; quit drinking and joined Alcoholic’s Anonymous. I did not know much about that group but realized it was my uncle’s salvation.
My uncle took back his children, except for my cousin, George who continued to live with us. My uncle realized that I didn’t have my parents around because alcohol came first for them and he decided to take me to some open AA meetings so I could understand what the ‘disease’ concept was about and that my parents loved me, but they were sick.
During this time, I got to see my father maybe three to four times a year. He would promise to pick me up and I would wait all dressed up and ready to go. Most of the times, he would not show up. This happened several times. As a child, I didn’t quite understand, I only knew that it hurt. Going to meetings with my uncle helped me see that my mother and father’s behavior was not about me; it was about them and their disease.
When I was fourteen years old, my grandparents decided to move to Lafayette, Indiana so that my cousin and I could attend Jefferson High School and go on to Purdue University. My grandmother was sure I would win a scholarship. So the six of us, my brother, my sister, my grandparents, my cousin and I embarked on a new journey. I loved school and always excelled; my cousin, on the other hand, hated it. He did enough to get by, but wanted to get out of school as soon as possible. When he was old enough, he quit school and enrolled in the Marine Corps. Before long, he was fighting in Vietnam. I wrote him often and was so scared that he might get hurt. By this time, he was like a brother and I missed him terribly. In the meantime, my mother got pregnant with another child. She married the nicest man, Lynn. He was not the father of the child but promised he would take care of him. I remember going to their apartment in Lafayette and really enjoying talking to Lynn. He seemed like the father that I didn’t have.
My father in the meantime, married a woman named Chris who had five children of her own. She was a career woman and had moved up the corporate ladder at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis. She was head of the legal department. I remember when I met her at sixteen; I had made up my mind not to like her. I was jealous that my dad could spend all his time with his stepchildren, but could not be there for me. It was impossible not to like her, respect her and later on love her tremendously. She, like my grandmother, was one of the strong women in my life and both had a profound influence upon the woman I was to become.
My grandmother insisted that I could do and become anything I wanted. She told me I would be the first one in our family to graduate from college and that she was so proud of me for my achievements. My stepmother, Chris, encouraged me to set my goals high and follow through. I loved both of them and wanted to please both of them.
My mother, over our objections, divorced Lynn and brought my little brother home. By this time, my sister, Sheila, was seven, my brother, Brian was eleven and Brad, the baby was about three months old. Brad moved into my room and I tried to take care of him. By now I was getting resentful of my mother bringing home her children and the taking off. My grandmother was getting tired and contacted the welfare for help. When she did, the welfare decided that my grandparents were too old to raise Sheila or Brad and so they took them from us and they were adopted. To this day, I don’t know where my sister is, but Brad was adopted by some people in our church and we got to see him periodically.
When I was seventeen, I met and fell in love with a young man that had just moved to Lafayette from Arizona. I thought he was so worldly and was so excited to be with him. My cousin had gotten home from Vietnam. He was sent immediately to a naval hospital in Chicago because he had broken his back while on duty. When we got the telegram, my grandmother made me open it. I was scared that he had gotten killed and when I saw that he was in Chicago, I was so relieved that he was alive and we would be seeing him soon.
My best friend, Linda, was our pastor’s daughter. She came over frequently and when George got back to Lafayette, they began dating. He proposed and later they were married.
By now I had won a scholarship, but in March of my senior year, I found out I was going to have a baby. The baby’s father, Jerry, wanted us to get married. I knew I couldn’t do that and finish school. In the sixties, it was not permitted to be pregnant or married and remain in school. I hid the pregnancy, and Jerry and I eloped secretly in April. I made it through my last semester of school and graduated with the rest of my class. My father was much more involved in my life, thanks to Chris, and later, I planned a big wedding on my father’s birthday, June 21st. We were married and not long after the marriage I realized my husband had a drinking problem.
Our son was born in December and in January, keeping the promise I had made to my grandmother, I began at Purdue University. I majored in teaching, math and social studies, secondary level. My son was two weeks old, and I began working when he was six weeks old. I was working full-time, going to school full-time and I had a newborn. My husband, due to his drinking, was not much help. That first year of school, I remember being so tired. My grades were not that good and I was so disappointed in myself. Motherhood was difficult and although I should have been used to it, I was only frustrated and tired most of the time.
I went to my grandmother and told her I didn’t think I could finish college. She told me that was my decision, but I could never blame my son and that if I wanted to continue, she would help. My grandmother and I came up with a plan. I was to quit my full-time job, work part-time, and she would watch our son while I was at school and two nights a week, she would keep him overnight so that I could study and get rest. My grades immediately came up and I graduated with honors. I couldn’t find a teaching job and so I continued waiting tables until I could break into that market.
Our daughter was born in July of 1976. I was so happy that I now had a son and a daughter, but my husband’s drinking progressed and life was not good at our house. My husband finally decided to go get help and went in-patient to Kettle-Moraine Hospital for alcoholism. That is when I found Al-Anon. Although my husband’s sobriety did not last long, Al-Anon, a group for families of alcoholics, helped me quit feeling guilty about my husband’s drinking and to concentrate on feeling better about myself. This group promised to help me, but the group never promised to save my marriage. I heard many times in the group, that “marriages made in sickness, many times did not survive health”. I joined Al-Anon when our son was seven and our daughter was two. After several years of going to Al-Anon, a group of us started an Al-Ateen group for children of alcoholics and my children began to attend that group while I went to my Al-Anon meetings.
In 1986, I learned that my brother had AIDS and in 1987, he died. He was 27 years old. This was the hardest thing I had ever faced, but Al-Anon helped me through the grieving. The following year, I decided to file for divorce. I knew at that point, that I did not love my husband any more and that as I had grown in the program, we were in two entirely different places in our lives and that it was time for me to move on. This was a difficult decision, and I counseled with a minister for three years, prior to making it. My children, Lee and Trina, were seventeen and eleven. It was not easy for them and I tried to explain why it was necessary. My daughter understood and wanted me to leave because she was so tired of our fighting and was fearful that it could escalate into violence. My son felt sorry for his father and for a time went to live with him. He was with his father for about three weeks and then decided to move back in with his sister and me. We were a family again and I was scared and excited at the same time. I had gotten a job with the state and was working on the Subaru-Isuzu of America project. I made enough to support us and was relieved that there was no more fighting or drinking in our home.
The next two years were a period of real growth for me. I had met a wonderful man and in 1990, I remarried. We were a family and everything seemed good. My son moved to California with his uncle and got a job there. Later they moved to Las Vegas, and my son met and married a wonderful young woman. They are still married. My daughter graduated from high school and married the young man she had been dating. The next decade was full of work, school (I had gone back for my Master’s degree in Mental Health) and being a grandmother to my daughter’s children. While back at Purdue, I concentrated on children of alcoholics, knowing that my life and my children’s lives had been totally affected by the alcoholism. One of the major papers I wrote summarized a lot of research on children of alcoholics.
The research showed very clearly that genetics played a much larger role in alcoholism than originally thought. One study compared twins that were adopted, some into homes where alcoholism existed, and some into homes where it did not exist. If the biological parents were alcoholics, the children were four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves regardless of whether the adoptive parents were alcoholics or not.
I learned that alcoholism is a disease –a progressive, treatable illness in which the use of alcohol interferes with health, social and economic areas of a person’s life. If untreated, alcoholism will result in mental damage, physical incapacity and/or premature death. It is the number one drug problem in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer. It is the third leading cause of birth defects connected with mental retardation.
Children of alcoholics (COAs), according to research, tend to have fear of and anxiety about losing control. Financial difficulties, violent quarrels, physical illness and possibly death of an alcoholic parent all contribute to the anxiety in COAs. Most COAs adopt roles of survival in the alcoholic family. COAs are typically expected to preserve the illusion that everything is under control thereby denying the alcoholism. If they can convince others that their life is normal, then it validates the COAs perception that their life is normal. COAs tend to suffer from negative self-image that stems from their rigid perfectionism. They have a difficult time settling on careers because they are always looking for “that perfect job” and their identity is what they do, not who they are.
The COA is brought up in a family where denial of the problems of alcoholism and reality in general is common thereby distorting the child’s beliefs about self, relationships and the world in general. The failure of a preoccupied alcoholic parent to provide adequate mirroring leaves the child with an inadequately consolidated sense of self. Studies have shown that appropriate development of interpersonal boundaries is an important factor in the development of positive self-concept. In an alcoholic home, where the boundaries are violated, the results tend to be shame and self-deprecation.
Studies showed that being part of Al-Anon, Al-Ateen or therapeutic counseling groups helped COAs with better coping strategies, higher self-esteem and better attitudes about life and the future in general. This provides hope for breaking the cycle of addiction that is so prevalent in many families.
Al-Anon helped me with better coping strategies, a feeling of serenity and better self-esteem. In 1998, I received my Master’s Degree in mental health. About three years later, I was approached regarding taking the position of Director of Court Services, working with people that have alcohol or drug charges. I knew I was ready and in 2001 began working in the field. Currently, I have been there eight years and there is not a day that goes by that I do not learn something new. I love the job, love the challenges and hope that in some way, my background can help me make a difference for some of the people we serve.
Drug Free Action Alliance – Columbus Ohio – Michelle Morse – February 10, 2010
While the big game itself is old news, the commercials are not: the impact of Super Bowl advertising is in full swing. And according to the more than 30,000 middle and high school students nationwide, who participated in the Drug-Free
Action Alliance Super Bowl Survey; while alcohol ads were widely remembered, they did not place in the top three favorites among youth, as in past surveys. Doritos stole the show, with kids voting three different Doritos commercials as their top picks.
NATIONAL RESULTS
Middle School High School
#1 Doritos: Hands Off Doritos: Hands Off
#2 Doritos: Shock Collar Doritos: Shock Collar
#3 Doritos: Stole Tim’s Doritos Doritos: Stole Tim’s Doritos
#4 Bud Light: Stranded Budweiser: Human Bridge
#5 Bud Light: Clydesdale Snickers: Betty White
Results based on over 30,000 middle and high school students within 38 states. “It is refreshing to see youth choosing commercials promoting a snack product for their top three favorites, however, there were plenty of alcohol ads, and based on the survey, kids definitely took note of it,” said Patricia Harmon, executive director for DrugFree
Action Alliance.
Not only did alcohol ads show up in the top five favorites, but when middle and high school students were asked about the products they remembered being advertised, alcohol was the second highest item recalled by both age groups (following closely behind food items). “The concern is the influence of alcohol advertising on young minds,” said Harmon. “Considering youth, under the age of 21, make up about 18% of the Super Bowl viewing audience, we know there are a lot of underage people being exposed to alcohol advertising.” Research shows that the more youth are exposed to alcohol advertising, the more likely they are to drink, drink more often and drink to excess. The effects of alcohol on developing adolescent minds and bodies can be devastating and long lasting.
Each day, 8,000 kids (between the ages of 1217) take their first drink of alcohol. Those who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life. Alcohol is associated with a variety of risky behaviors including teen violence, car crashes and sexual assaults (among many others) and can cause permanent damage to the still developing adolescent brain. Though it is unrealistic to think parents could possibly shield their children from all alcohol advertising, there is something parents can do; talk to their children. Research reveals that kids whose parents talk to them often about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs are 50% less likely to use.
“The next time your children are watching TV, we encourage you (parents) to sit down with them, making it a teachable moment. Use the commercials as an opportunity to teach your children to read between the lines of advertisements, building their media literacy skills,” said Harmon. “It’s an easy way to bring up the topic of underage drinking and to encourage your children to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors.”
DrugFree Action Alliance is a notforprofit organization that provides leadership to promote safe and drugfree communities throughout Ohio. Programs and initiatives include Know!, Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking, the Ohio College Initiative to Reduce HighRisk Drinking and DrugFree 24/7. For more information, please visit us online at www.DrugFreeActionAlliance.org.
The Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County participated in the Super Survey. Our results wil be published locally in a press release later this week.
This international event helps provide resources and strategies for youth who have or are experiencing the difficulties associated with growing up in a home where one or both parents are alcoholics. The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoa) supports efforts that eliminate harmful effects and consequences that COA or Children of Alcoholics face. This is done by raising public awareness, providing leadership at the international, national, state and local levels, advocating for education and prevention services as well as advancing knowledge and understanding around the issue of COA.
According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics website there are 28.6 million Americans who are children of alcoholics-11 million are under the age of 20. Some of the problems facing children of alcoholics include stress, depression, and embarrassment about their parents drinking, neglect and isolation. Children who grow up in these environments face issues such as building trust, maintaining healthy relationships and facing increased risks of physical and verbal abuse. Many of these children have trouble succeeding in school.
To discover ways that your community can reach out and help including ways to make donations, free posters and flyers for distribution and further information please visit the National Association for Children of Alcoholics website at: http://www.nacoa.org/help.htm.
Drug Free Wayne County is hosting a Professional Training for those who work with youth. Learn to understand the teen brain and how to respond to teen behavior. Join them for a lively discussion from our visiting speaker Dr. Ken Winters Ph.D. His presentation will discuss “How parents, teachers and youth service providers understand and respond to adolescent behavior.” Ken Winters, Ph.D. is a father, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and Senior Scientist at Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia.
The presentation is open to the public and highly recommended for those who work in the development of our youth.
Adolescence, Brain Development and Drug Abuse Vulnerability: Intersections on the Developmental Highway – March 12th at 8:30am – Goddard Auditorium (Earlham) – Richmond, IN
To register click HERE.
Michelle Trudeau- National Public Radio – January 25 2010
National Public Radio has posted an interview with University of California’s Susan Tapert, a neuroscientist who completed a recent study of the effects of alcohol on teen brains. In short, Tapert’s team found damaged nerve tissue in the brains of the teens who drank. The researchers believe this damage negatively affects attention span in boys and the ability to comprehend and interpret visual information in girls. You can listen to the audio interview online.
If brain development in adolescents is something that you want to learn more about please join the Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe in attending Indiana’s First Annual Youth Symposium: Brain Development It takes Longer Thank You Think! This event is being put on by The Division of Mental Health and Addictions and The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. The training is on Tuesday March 9th at 8:30am at the Marten House in Indianapolis. You can learn more about that information here.
Sophia Voravong – Journal and Courier – February 8, 2010
An ongoing focus on safety in West Lafayette neighborhoods near Purdue University’s campus likely contributed to a slight drop in alcohol-related arrests in 2009, according to the city’s police chief.
Last year, the West Lafayette Police Department made 599 arrests for minor consumption, operating while intoxicated and public intoxication — compared to 611 in 2008.
The difference is only 2 percent. But the drop is more dramatic when compared to previous years. Combined, alcohol-related arrests decreased 35 percent in 2008, compared to 2007.
The data reflect the department’s preventative-over-reactive approach, Chief Jason Dombkowski said.
“It’s not that we’re turning a blind eye,” he said. “I give credit to the officers’ efforts because they’re the ones out there making those decisions.
“The goal is to have a safe environment. … It’s not about making arrests. It’s about keeping students safe. It appears the more officer presence we have, fewer arrests.”
Purdue University junior Elizabeth Liu, who lives off-campus near Chauncey Village, supports the approach.
“If you’re 21, you should be able to go out with friends without being scared that you’ll get arrested,” she said, “so long as you’re not creating trouble.”
The change in philosophy began in 2008, when Mayor John Dennis took office and appointed Dombkowski the police department’s top commander.
For instance, Dombkowski and Purdue University police Chief John Cox have been teaming to speak with incoming students about Indiana’s alcohol laws.
Both chiefs also are part of the Campus Community Bar Retail Coalition, a group made up of Purdue officials, law enforcement and West Lafayette business owners that meets quarterly.
One recent initiative included efforts to help disperse people hanging outside of Village-area bars late at night — something that often led to rowdiness.
“The bar owners have stepped up,” Dombkowski said. “They’ve added more people to monitor front and rear exits.”
Carol Ben-Davies, an assistant dean of students at Purdue, said she hopes the decline in alcohol-related arrests is part of an ongoing trend.
She oversees Grand Alternative, a week of alcohol-free events that runs the same weekend as Grand Prix festivities in April. Grand Prix is an annual go-kart race and is also unofficially known as the largest party weekend of the spring semester.
Ben-Davies said Purdue was recently highlighted in a publication by the Alcohol Prevention Coalition for its safety and prevention efforts.
“Our goal is to show that there are other things going on as an alternative for drinking and drugs,” Ben-Davies said. “The assumption is that there’s nothing else to do at college. That’s not the case.”
Those efforts also helped the Dean of Students Office secure a larger grant than in past years — $10,000, compared to $5,500 in 2009 and $3,700 in 2008 — from the Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County.
The money will be divided among student organizations for Grand Alternative events.