An Ounce of Prevention

Welcome to the fourth edition of An Ounce of Prevention. The

Indiana Prevention Resource Center is excited to bring you the

online version of our newsletter. Highlights from this issue include

newly released data about youth drug use in Indiana, a focus on

community coalitions and article four in a six part series about

mental health. The mental health focus this edition is stress and

anxiety.

Enjoy the issue!

This month, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA) published Celebrating Progress in

Behavioral Health-Special 20th

Anniversary Issue. This publication

documents SAMHSA’s 20 years of progress in the behavioral health

field while directing future development. The document’s audience

is intended for community coalitions, advocates, policy makers,

prevention professionals, care providers, program planners,

administrators, researchers and people with substance use or abuse

problems. The issue also describes a program to help diverse

populations access behavioral health care, an underage drinking

campaign and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.

Download a free copy here.

Our Mission

Strengthening a behavioral health

system that promotes prevention,

treatment, and recovery.

Our Vision

To promote and sustain healthy

environments and behaviors

across the lifespan.

Our expertise

We partner with state and national

agencies to provide training and education,

evaluation, special data reports, program

and curriculum selection and resource

materials….all tailored for your

community or organization’s

specific needs.

JULY 2012

Our staff!

Our goal is to provide substance abuse

prevention resources and services to help

you improve your community.

501 N Morton Street Suite 110

812.855.1237 office • 812.855.4940 fax

800.346.3077 toll free

www.drugs.indiana.edu

INDIANA PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

CECENTER

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An Ounce of Prevention JULY 2012

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is operated

by the Department of Applied Health Science, School of

Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana

University. Funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana

Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental

Health and Addiction, financially supported through Health and

Human Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse,

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.

Designer drugs: A wolf in

sheep's clothing

How could anything with such a benign

name as bath salts, spice or bliss be

dangerous? Think of these synthetic drugs

as ever-changing narcotic concoctions

designed to be easily available and one

step ahead of prosecution. The chemicals

in these drugs and their effects on the

human body have not been studied; many

of the dangers are not yet known. Parents

need to be aware and educated in order to

keep their kids safe.

Tips for parents:

Monitor and supervise youth activities.

Communicate with kids and ask them

what they know about designer drugs.

Become educated about designer

drugs.

Praise positive behavior and drug

refusal, express pride in children for

not taking drugs.

For more information including a podcast

and webinar about K2 and bath salts visit

the IPRC's website at:

http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/

Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana is an afterschool drug prevention

initiative for youth age 10-14. In 2011, there were 460 programs and

15,544 youth particiapted. Each year, data is compiled into an

evaluation report. View the report here.

Data from the 2011 Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana Youth Survey

demonstrate:

Alcohol was the most frequently used substance. Nearly 5% of

youth reported using alcohol before their Afternoons R.O.C.K.

in Indiana program began. Upon program completion, 3.1% of

youth reported consuming alcohol within the last 30 days.

Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana youth reported using inhalants

before any other substance. Youth inhalant use began at 9.6

years old on average. Youth report first using alcohol at 9.8

years old followed by the recreational use of prescription drugs

at 10 years old and tobacco cigarette use at 10.1 years old.

Average age of first substance use reported by

Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana youth in 2011

Brown, C.J., Flynn, C., Flynn, S.K., DeSalle, M., King, R., & Lee, J. (2012).

Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana: State evaluation results from an evidence-based

substance abuse prevention initiative for Indiana youth. Indiana Prevention Resource

Center: Bloomington, IN.

An Ounce of Prevention

JULY 2012

What are community coalitions?

Community coalitions are made up of individuals representing

various organizations and sectors, who come together to achieve a

common goal. Successful coalitions engage both influential leaders

and grassroots community members in identifying, planning, and

adopting prevention strategies that would not be possible through

the efforts of a single agency.

History

Since 1990, the federal government has funded coalitions to reduce

youth substance use. Through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC)

grant program, the Office of National Drug Control Policy in

collaboration with the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention is

currently funding 15 community coalitions in Indiana. A recent

study found that youth substance use rates in communities with a

DFC grant were significantly lower than the rates in comparison

communities without a DFC grant.

What are the goals of community coalitions?

Coalitions attempt to bring about new policies, programs and

practices that change the social and physical environment in their

community. Coalitions focus on factors in the environment (such as

availability, enforcement, or promotion of alcohol use).

What makes coalitions successful?

Six factors contribute to effective coalitions:

1. Formalization of rules and procedures. 2. Leadership style.

3. Member participation. 4. Membership diversity.

5. Agency collaboration. 6. Group cohesion.

Not signed up for the IPRC listserv? Sign up now!

You’ll receive:

Updates on grant and funding information

Upcoming trainings and events

Translation of the latest research

The IPRC will never share your email with other organizations.

Interested in quick, easy to

read drug information?

Check out the IPRC Factlines!

Factlines offer scientifically

defensible information on the most

common drugs used by Indiana's

adolescent population.

Each Factline contains information

about a specific drug, the incidence

and prevalence of use in Indiana,

and its effects.

To see all of the drug Factlines

click here.

Below is an expert from the

Heroin Factline.

How to join:

From our webpage,

www.drugs.indiana.edu,

locate this box on the

main page. Enter your

info and click Join Now

*This article is the fourth in a series of six that examine mental health.

Stress and anxiety are mental health conditions that can contribute to personal success or to negative health

outcomes. There is not a firm consensus among psychologists on definitions of stress. A traditional definition

of stress is “Stress arises when individuals perceive that they cannot adequately cope with the demands being

made on them or with threats to their well-being.” (Lazarus, 1966) Coping refers to the thoughts and actions

we use to deal with stress. Anxiety like stress is a normal part of life. Anxiety is defined by the Collins English

Dictionary as “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.” A certain amount of

stress and anxiety can actually be healthy. Work deadlines and school assignments are both examples of

situations that cause stress or anxiety. They also cause us to remember to stay focused on our jobs, school work

and other life commitments.

To read the full article and find resources please visit our website at:

http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/drug-info/featured-articles/169-stress-and-anxiety

For the fourth year, young Indiana filmmakers take action against prescription drug abuse by submitting video

public service announcements (PSA) for the Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s fourth annual

www.KeepRXSafe.com video PSA contest. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the

United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the 2011 Annual Youth

Survey conducted by the IPRC, 16% of Indiana 12th graders have used non-prescribed painkillers and nearly

15% of 12th graders have also used other prescription medications without a medical need. “Prescription drugs

continue to be an issue in our state. The contest gets students involved in prevention efforts. We know that young

people are influenced by their peers; the contest lets students take charge and make an impact. The students did

an excellent job expressing themselves and providing a strong message,” stated Mallori DeSalle, the

www.KeepRXSafe.com contest coordinator.

This year, Will Hanna and his classmate Mason Moody, both seniors at Jeffersonville High School in

Jeffersonville, submitted the winning entry entitled, “The Final Trip.” View all the videos here.

INDIANA PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

501 N Morton Street Suite 110 501 N Morton Street Suite 110 501 N Morton Street Suite 110

501 N Morton Street Suite 110

812.855.1237 office • 812.855.4940 fax

800.346.3077 toll free

www.drugs.indiana.edu

An Ounce of Prevention

NOVEMBER 2011

July 2012