Game Ideas : Game Review: This week in Coalitions Online 8-4-11

August 4, 2011

This Week In Coalitions Online...

Debt Ceiling Legislation Could Impact the Prevention Field

After months of negotiations, Congress passed legislation this week that would raise the debt ceiling and implement more than $2.1 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years. President Obama signed the bill into law on Tuesday.

Attitudes about marijuana are changing. Fewer 8th and 10th graders believe smoking marijuana is dangerous. These declines in the perception of harm invariably precede increases in substance use. Despite that, several states have medical marijuana laws on the books and more states are considering putting these types of initiatives on the ballot. During the next CADCA TV program, "The Blunt Truth: Communities Dealing with Marijuana," representatives from various states will discuss how medical marijuana laws and marijuana legalization efforts are impacting their communities, and what they're doing to tackle this issue. The show airs Aug. 25, from 1-2 p.m. EST.

Passing and adopting local policies contributes to comprehensive, environmental change, but can also present significant obstacles to community coalitions. To better understand this process, researchers Travis D. Satterland, Diana Cassady, Jeanette Treiber, and Cathy Lemp at the University of California Davis analyzed the major barriers and challenges associated with the California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) and its local projects that attempted to pass outdoor smoke-free ordinances. The researchers found that political polarization, local political orientation and organizational barriers presented the greatest challenges to local CTCP projects.

Did you know that one in 10 youth ages 12 through 17 has abused cough medicine to get high from its dextromethorphan ingredient, and one in 5 young adults has abused a prescription drug? Help raise awareness of the dangers of medicine abuse by participating in the CADCA 50 Challenge. By registering for the Challenge, you're automatically entered in a drawing for a free iPad.

Tuesday marked the 28th annual National Night Out, a unique crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. All over the country, in U.S. territories and military bases and in Canada, communities have enjoyed a night out together to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. The Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition in Carlsbad, N.M., a CADCA member, used this year's National Night Out to cultivate stronger community ties.

CQ Roll Call reported that lawmakers endorsed a ban on a host of "designer drugs" being marketed as the means to a safe, legal high.

Join us at our 13th annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner as we celebrate the work of thousands of community coalitions across the nation and world that are helping to keep kids safe, healthy and drug-free. Our Annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner honors individuals, businesses and organizations that help raise awareness and support for CADCA's mission to strengthen anti-drug coalitions.

Visit the Drug-Free Kids Campaign
website now!