Social Host Ordinance progress

The Advocacy Committee is moving right along with progress on Social Host ordinance development. Co-chairs Barry Busby and Joe Yana attended a conference with Nina Emerson and Julia Sherman to discuss statewide policy strategies on alcohol. They also attended the DA and police chiefs meeting for the county and sense the time is right for local leaders to consider this addtion. Stay tuned!

Good job Barry and Joe!

Lance Armstrong Visits Madison

Below is a link to the video of Lance Armstrong speaking in Madison about his support for Wisconsin's smoke-free law. This newest version cuts together media from different sources, including a picture of Lance's rally leading up to the law's passage.


You can get to the video by clicking this link.
http://vimeo.com/14820595

Bars vs Grocery Stores: See How WI Compares

A map was recently compiled of bars and grocery stores and WI as you can guess, falls into the "more bars than grocery stores" category.

To view the map, click the link below. Also, if you have a few moments, read some of the comments. Many are from people that used to or still live in Wisconsin.

http://flowingdata.com/2010/03/02/where-bars-trump-grocery-stores/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-emily and lisa

re:TH!NK's Good Drug's Gone Bad train-the-trainer presentation was a success!

Slick roads and blustery weather did not prevent 122 professionals from attending re:TH!NK's train-the-trainer presentation at Sunnyview Expo Center February 24. People came from both Winnebago County and all across WI to hear more about perscription drug trends and how they can team up to prevent it.

re:TH!NK's goals of the training were to provide knowledge, support, and resources to a target group of youth workers who could deliver a prevention message to youth on Perscription Drug Abuse. Good Drugs Gone Bad community toolkits were distributed free of charge.The training included a navigational session that taught attendees how to use it and they plan to. Coalition Coordinator Lisa Brown summarized, "100% of the people who attended and evaluated our Good Drugs Gone Bad training say they would recommend the toolkit presentations to a colleague. They are committed to returning to their school or agency and planning presentations themselves. This is a great start! Attendees shared they felt competent and empowered to deliver lessons on Preventing Perscription Drug Abuse to youth." For further information please contact lbrown@co.winnebago.wi.us

Presenters included Lisa Brown and Emily Dieringer re:TH!NK coalition coordinators who were joined by Brad Dunlap Project Director of the Lake Winnebago MEG unit,Fred Umland of Winnebago County Juvenile Intake, Steve Herman(Ret.)of Winnebago County Sheriff Office, Jason Weber Town of Menasha PD , and Aaron Zemlock of Menasha PD.

Creation of a WI Prescription Drug Monitoring Program One Step Closer

AB227 was heard Jan 20 during the State Legislature's Health Commitee meeting to consider moving forward with a statewide PDMP (Perscription Drug Monitoring Program). The Program would create a database that would track filled perscriptions in order to reduce "Dr. Shopping" and other diversion stunts.

About 10 people testified in favor of the bill or educated the committee including 2 members from re:TH!NK. Others present included concerned police, pharmacists, parents, and forensic pathologists from across the state.

WI is one of only a few states that do not currently have or are in the process of creating a PDMP. All surrounding states have enacted such a database to provide authority in the monitoring of specific controlled medicines. The lack of such a database/program could explain the increase in diversion practices and addiction of presecription drugs.

The committee said they will schedule a vote SOON.

Additionally, on Feb 24th the Pharmacy Society of WI will be holding its annual Legislative Day in Madison. PSW is the state organization that represents all Wisconsin pharmacists in all practice environments, hospital, chain, independent etc. On Legislative Day about 100-150 pharmacists from all over the state will meet in the morning to discuss and be briefed on various current government and legislative issues important to pharmacists and our patients.

One of the items that PSW has supported since it was first proposed is establishment of a controlled drug database to help us identify the drug seekers. In the afternoon of the 24th all of these pharmacists will be meeting with their individual Legislators and Senators and will be urging them to support passage of the drug monitoring database.

For more/current information on the status of AB227 click: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB227hst.html

or for more information on PDMPs click: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm

-Lisa