The Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce the newest members of our Board of Trustees!

Rick Oliver, Director of Programming & Station Operations for FOX19

&

Karen Murray, Director of the Butler County Drug-Free Coalition

By: Kara Apel

CINCINNATI - Since the summer months can produce a higher likelihood of drinking for teens, it may be time to have a talk with your child.

Summertime is a transitional period for teens and they have a lot more unsupervised time on their hands, according to Mary Haag, president, CEO and executive director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati.

"When they're in transition, they're changing social circles,” Haag said.

The coalition's survey results show that underage drinking is declining in Cincinnati since 2000. Haag said the decline stems from factors like collaborative efforts of local coalitions, media campaigns, education of parents and an increased awareness of laws.

Haag said one of the most notable changes has been a change in peer perception, meaning more peers are starting to show disapproval of drinking. According to Haag, this is a big factor in a teen’s decision to engage in underage drinking.

The D.A.R.E. Unit of the Cincinnati Police Department is inviting you and your youth, ages 6 through 12, to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 23rd D.A.R.E. International Training Conference on July 20, 2010.

Participating groups must arrive at the Duke Energy Center by 8:30AM on the above listed date. All youth participants and chaperones must attend the Kick International Presentation (a Kick Boxing Demonstration) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, the Retro Bill Presentation (The Official D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy) from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and the Opening Ceremony of the 23rd D.A.R.E. International Training Conference from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

Lunch will be provided and youth will receive a t-shirt and/or a backpack as part of their participation. There is not a cost to attend.

Groups wishing to participate are encouraged to respond early. Seating is limited. They must submit the required information by email to William.Bell@cincinnati-oh.gov or fax it to 513 352 4870 by July 8, 2010. “Opening Ceremony” should be the subject of the email or fax.

Transportation to and from the Duke Energy Center is the responsibility of the participating group. The D.A.R.E. Unit of the Cincinnati Police Department is unable provide transportation.

 As part of the 23^rd Annual D.A.R.E. conference, D.A.R.E. officers will give away 1,000 donuts on Fountain Square on July 19th from 11-1.

Tell all your friends to get down to Fountain Square - Cops Are Sharing Their Donuts!

CINCINNATI— On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, the Board of Trustees of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati officially appointed Mary F. Haag, RN, BSN, OCPSI, as the new President and Executive Director of the Coalition.

“The Board enthusiastically and unanimously appointed Mary Haag the Coalition's Executive Director. The Board believes that Mary possess the experience to spread the word of the Coalition's mission with passion and enthusiasm. Her tremendous experience in prevention and her network of local, state and national prevention and coalition-building professionals will enable the Coalition to further its goals” said  Jim Kennedy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Coalition and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for American Financial Group.

DRIVING:
Impaired driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. This weekend is an especially risky time to be on the roads. In 2008, while 32% of all vehicle fatalities in the U.S.

July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, giving families a three-day weekend to celebrate, which also means that more people will be on the roads. Coalitions can play a big role in helping to prevent impaired driving and underage drinking through environmental strategies, social norming activities and by working with local police on enforcement activities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed a 4th of July Impaired Driving Prevention Planner to help community organizations plan their prevention efforts.

The Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati's work on the STOP grant was recently featured in a newsletter from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA):

Ohio: Educating Adults

Cincinnati loves its festivals, says Mary F. Haag, R.N., Vice President for Coalition Strategies at the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati. But in addition to being celebrations of the diverse heritages on the Ohio and Kentucky banks of the Ohio River, the events also end up being “celebrations” of alcohol.

“These are family events,” said Ms. Haag. “But what kind of message was it sending when the norm is that every event has to have alcohol at it?”

Such norms had resulted in some shocking statistics: According to the coalition’s survey of 7th to 12th graders, on average children in greater Cincinnati have their first drink when they are just 13 years old.

On April 30, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati held its Community Awards Breakfast.  Hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Cincinnati, the breakfast is an opportunity for the Coalition to recognize the organizations, individuals and youth in greater Cincinnati making a difference in our community’s success with regard to substance abuse prevention and youth.