Coalitions Online

“Talk. They Hear You,” a new national public service announcement campaign that empowers parents to talk to children as young as nine years old about the dangers of underage drinking was recently launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers a major opportunity for people with mental health and substance abuse needs to obtain health insurance coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace. Open enrollment begins in October and continues through March with coverage beginning Jan. 1.

Whether you’re interested in innovative strategies to address drug-related issues in rural or urban settings or ideas on how to work with law enforcement to change local policies, CADCA’s 2013 Mid-Year Training Institute is the one training you won’t want to miss. Held in Austin, Texas July 21-25, CADCA’s Mid-Year is a one-of-a-kind intensive training opportunity offering 75 half-day and two-day courses for new, established and veteran drug prevention professionals.

Decades of research strongly support Screening and Brief Intervention as an effective means for identifying and reducing unhealthy alcohol use and related consequences among adults. More recent explorations into the use of SBI for children and adolescents indicate similar benefits and in 2010 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that health care providers of children and adolescents conduct screening for alcohol, tobacco and other drug use during all office visits. A recent study using a national survey of students in the 10th grade found that a significant number of health care providers do not follow these guidelines as recommended.