A training conference that emphasized the challenges of conducting youth prevention in rural communities.  The Coalition for Healthy Youth invites you to submit a proposal for presentation at the conference. The conference was founded by one of the most successful prevention coalitions in the country, in hopes of raising awareness of the plight that many rural communities face with regards to the growth of youth substance abuse.

If you have experience and would like to present, please complete the attached from and return by June 18th:  CALL FOR PRES FINAL 2013

For more information about the conference….

A smoking-cessation medication may be a viable option for the treatment of alcohol dependence, according to a study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The study found that varenicline (marketed under the name Chantix), approved in 2006 to help people stop smoking, significantly reduced alcohol consumption and craving among people who are alcohol-dependent. The findings were published online in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

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Drug- and alcohol-involved middle and high school students markedly reduced their substance use following two 60-minute sessions that combined motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy.  The students also reported significantly fewer substance-related symptoms of substance use disorders during the 6 months after the intervention compared with the 6 months before it.  Adding a separate 1-hour MI-based session with a parent or primary caregiver enhanced the beneficial effects.

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The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management (TCM) training is intended for professionals who want to become group leaders and train teachers in the empirically supported Incredible Years TCM Program. www.incredibleyears.com

Group leaders should have a background in child development, behavior management principles, and adult group leadership skills. Experience teaching young children is recommended and experience delivering another IY Program is beneficial. Agency directors and supervisors are also encouraged to attend to know how to best support group leaders and implementation of this model.

Registration must be complete by Friday, July 19. 

Training dates:  August 12 – 14, 2013; from 8:30 – 4:30 each day

Location: DPS Staff Development Center, Durham, NC (directions and travel information will be sent with confirmation)

For more information:  Training and logistical questions – Elizabeth Levene, elizabeth@cisdurham.org or 919.403.1936 ext. 21

IY TCM registration 2013

Have you seen the Prevention and Promotion Call to Action and Planning Guide

This 174 page document is a month-by-month interactive substance abuse and mental health promotion planning guide for communities.  This is an amazing community planning guide with all the resources you need to promote wellness in your community.

Nearly one-fourth (24%) of U.S. high school students reported using prescription drugs without a prescription in order to get high or change their mood, according to data from a recently released survey. Of these students, nearly one in five (18%) reported that the main reason they last misused a prescription drug was to help them relax, 16% reported it was to have fun, and 14% reported it was “because being high feels good.”

Check out the latest report…

Registration for the 2013 National Prevention Network Prevention Research Conference is now open.

Legalizing marijuana may have unintended consequences.  Since medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado, more than a dozen young children have been unintentionally poisoned with the drug, researchers report.   About half the cases resulted from kids eating marijuana-laced cookies, brownies, sodas or candy.  In many cases, the marijuana came from their grandparents’ stash, the investigators said.

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced the launch of MentalHealth.gov as an online resource for people looking for information about mental health.  This website provides information about the signs of mental illness, how individuals can seek help, and how communities can host conversations about mental health.  The website also features videos from a number of individuals sharing their stories about mental illness, recovery, and hope.