IN THE NEWS::  
TOWN HALL MEETING: January 21, 2010
Wyoming County Partners For Prevention, an alcohol and drug prevention coalition that promotes a healthy and safe community, is pleased to announce a Town Hall Meeting to address the issue of Youth Prescription Medication Abuse.  The meeting will host a panel of local experts to discuss not only the problems, but also effective responses.  The Town Hall Meeting will take place on Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 10:00 AM – 12:00PM at Hillside Children’s Center, 96 West Buffalo Street in Warsaw, NY.   

Julie Calvert, the Program Coordinator, states that “The public is not only invited, but is encouraged to join in the discussion and response to this growing problem of Prescription Medication Abuse.”  Ms Calvert is also pleased that Partners For Prevention will again be able to offer up to $700 to qualified Wyoming County youth serving agencies in the form of Micro-grants.  This is the seventh year that Partners For Prevention has collaborated with local agencies to work toward our common goal of making Wyoming County a safer place to work and live.  The grant requirements will be explained and applications will be available at the Town Hall Meeting, however attendance is required.  For more information contact Partners For Prevention at 786-8970.

To download the application for the grants, please click here ( user name and password are required for access)

TEEN PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE  
 While the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs is declining overall, a new threat is emerging; more teens are abusing prescription drugs than any illicit drug, except marijuana. Consider these facts: 1 in 5 teens (or 4.5 million) has abused prescription drugs. 1 in 3 teens report knowing someone who abuses prescription drugs. 1 in 3 teens surveyed says there is “nothing wrong” when using prescription drugs “every once and a while.” Every day, almost 2,500 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time. Prescription drugs are abused more than cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and methamphetamine combined. The abuse of prescription drugs may be as close as the nearest medicine cabinet.

The majority of teens (8 out of 10) get prescription drugs from friends or relatives by stealing, buying or simply asking for them. Less often they will get them from strangers, including drug dealers, or by purchasing them online through pro-drug or illegal Internet pharmacies.

Many teens incorrectly believe that prescription drugs offer a safer way to get high, cope with stress or perform better at school or on the field. After all, they’ve seen their moms, dads, grandparents and other family members taking these medications to treat various illnesses, so what’s the harm? What teens don’t understand is that when these drugs are misused or taken without a doctor’s prescription, they are just as harmful as illegal street drugs. And teens who abuse prescription drugs may mix multiple medications without being aware of the dangerous—and potentially deadly—consequences. Just imagine what taking a handful of uppers, downers and painkillers at the same time can do to your body and brain? The reality is bad things can happen when teens abuse these medications. 

For example:

• Increases in blood pressure or heart rate
• Organ damage
• Addiction
• Difficulty breathing Seizures
• Death

Why Teens are Turning to Prescription Drugs
Adolescence is no picnic. Teenagers find themselves on a road to self discovery, constantly comparing themselves to their peers and pushing the limits of their new-found independence. They want to fit in and be well-liked, while also balancing other personal goals and pressures like getting into a good college. It’s also a period of rapid physical and emotional development, not to mention changing body image and surges of hormones. And because the teen brain is not yet fully developed and they lack crucial life experiences, their judgment and ability to make sound decisions is not as good as they (or you) might think.

For more information about Prescription Drug use among teens please contact us at 585-786-8970. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who are Partners For Prevention::
We are a coalition or partnership of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We are directors of county and private agencies, county and private service provider employees, prevention specialists, mental health professionals, police officers, probation officers, ministers, teachers, nurses, youth leaders, community volunteers, teens, parents, grandparents, and family members. The partnership was developed from the Communities That Care model. All activities of this partnership are sponsored by the Wyoming County Mental Health Department. Activities are funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the federal Drug Free Communities Grant, and Wyoming County.

MISSION STATEMENT::
The most precious resource Wyoming County has to offer is our children. To maintain and promote healthy and safe communities in which they can grow and prosper are the responsibilities of all adults in all areas of our children’s lives. This goal will be achieved through the commitment of dedicated people working together to reduce alcohol and substance abuse among our youth.

OUR PURPOSE:: To encourage partnerships between groups in our Wyoming County communities such as youth clubs, school groups, recreational programs, youth-serving agencies, and faith-based organizations, parents, students and other concerned adults. Through these partnerships, we provide prevention strategies that target underage drinking, driving while impaired, cigarette smoking, and marijuana use. We bring scientifically-proven prevention programs delivered by professional prevention specialists to schools and communities, coordinate media campaigns to enhance public awareness, and promote local and national initiatives that impact and prevent substance abuse by addressing risk and protective factors associated with teen pregnancy, delinquency, school drop-out, and violence.

ACTIONS::
Learn about Risk Factors for Substance Abuse, and What is Being Done
View when the next Partners for Prevention meeting will be held.
Contact Partners for Prevention