Let's Shatter the Myths About Drug Abuse

Every day, teens are bombarded with conflicting messages that may leave them feeling confused and unsure of who to ask for information about drug use. With 7.4% of teens reporting abuse of prescription drugs in the past year and 22.6% of 12th graders reporting using marijuana in the past month, it’s critical to reach teens with the facts.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is holding the third annual National Drug Facts Week from January 27 - February 2, 2014. Taking part in National Drug Facts Week means you have the opportunity to help shatter the myths about drug use for teens.

Wondering how you can take part? 

• TAKE! 
• the interactive 2014 National Drug IQ Challenge!
• RETWEET!
• our tweets from NIDA!
• LEARN! 
• more. Visit the National Drug Facts Week website!

Winnebago County's Heroin Task Force

Winnebago County has a problem, a heroin problem. But then again, heroin has been sneaking into communities all over the country. Why is this? For us, heroin has been migrating up from Chicago to Milwaukee and taking 41 up to Green Bay, stopping in all communities along the way. Nobody starts off using heroin. A lot of heroin users started abusing prescription pain relievers. While others started with "softer" drugs and moved towards the "harder" drugs.

In 2013, the Oshkosh Police Department, Winnebago Co Health Department, re:TH!NK, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, and Oshkosh Area United Way formed a partnership to address the heroin problem in the county. Thus, the Winnebago County Heroin Task Force was created. The Task Force focuses on a 4 Pillar approach, Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Law Enforcement. Each of these pillars created goals and are addressing them on a local level with local resources. 

We cannot arrest our way out of the problem and we cannot force those with heroin addiction into treatment. We need to keep those with addiction safe and meet them where they are at. We also need to understand there is no one size fits all approach to prevention and treatment. The work groups seek out evidence-based programming to address the issues.

The most recent general meeting, on January 15, brought together the Pillar work groups to report their progress. Douglas and Anthony from Rise Together were there to talk about how they overcame heroin addiction and what they are doing for prevention and the recovery community. There was a presentation about 2-1-1, an amazing resource to find assistance for substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and other services. Also, information about a mentoring program from Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh was given by Carlea Learman.

Addressing heroin addiction in Winnebago County will take time and effort. Together we can prevent heroin use and addiction, keep those with addiction safe, and help those who are addicted, get proper treatment.

For more information you can visit the Heroin Task Force's webpage. There are links to the minutes of the general meetings and pillar groups, as well as other information. 

Heroin Task Force Webpage

Rise Together: www.weallrisetogether.org

United Way 211: www.211now.org or call 211

Boys and Girls Club Mentoring: Email Carlea at carleal@bgcosh.org or call 920-233-1414

50th Anniversary of the Surgeon General's Historic Report

On January 11, 1964, the Surgeon General pronounced the health risks posed by cigarettes.
Fifty years ago tobacco ads featuring Fred Flintstone, athletes, and movie starts could be found all over in magazines and on TV. Smoke hung in the air of restaurants, bars, teachers lounges, offices, and airplane cabins. And there'd be a good chance that your family doctor was a smoker too. It's amazing how much we have learned in 50 years about the harms of tobacco products and smoking.

The turning point for tobacco prevention came on January 11, 1964 with the Surgeon General's Report. That Saturday morning, the U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released the official report linking smoking to illness and death - and suggesting the government should do something about it. 

In the decades that followed, warning labels were put on cigarette packs, cigarette commercials were banned, taxes were raised, and new restrictions were placed on where people could light up. 

Wisconsin has seen great progress in reducing tobacco’s burden.

• High school smoking dropped from 33% in 2000 to an all-time low 13% in 2012
• Wisconsin is healthier since the smoke-free law took effect in 2010
• Since the smoke-free air law, bars and restaurants saw a decrease in unhealthy air, bartenders experience a decrease in respiratory health symptoms
• The number of smoke-free homes in Wisconsin also increased from 74% to 80%
• The state’s Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line has fielded more than 200,000 calls

While great strides in tobacco prevention have been made over the last 50 years, tobacco's still a problem in Wisconsin, so we need to stay committed. More than 800,000 Wisconsinites are still smoking, and smoking kills more than 7,000 adults in Wisconsin each year. 

In order to prevent and reduce deaths from tobacco we need to reduce the amount of youth who start using tobacco. Each day about 14 Wisconsin kids become new smokers. Candy and fruit-flavored tobacco products that are more affordable are attracting the attention of our young people. 

Looking like candy, gum, and other products that appeal to youth these products have become much more popular among youth. A new CDC study found that nationally, 40% of youth smokers use flavored little cigars or cigarettes. 

These other tobacco products (OTPs) are harmful and addictive, plus they're marketed aggressively to youth and are inexpensive. The products hook youth early and keep them addicted. The candy and fruit-flavors disguise the tobacco underneath. But using any tobacco product has serious health risks, even if it is coated in candy flavors. OTPs are not safe, not fair, and not good for Wisconsin.


The blog post used info from this USA Today article for more info on the 50th Anniversary of the Surgeon Generals Report.