Growing up and going to high school and college, my only reference to Spring Break was the movie “Where the Boys Are.” The movie featured George Hamilton and Yvette Mimieux among many, as well as a great song by Connie Francis (and as I type this I am wondering if any of the readers even know what I am talking about.) I did not know that an important part of college life for many was, and still is, the ritual of Spring Break. During this time, no classes are held on campus for at least one week. Students are expected to take a break from studies as a way to recharge for the rest of the academic year. Many students choose to travel away from campus, either back to their home, or to a number of popular locations throughout the world. Though there are some popular destinations for students during Spring...

As parents, certain stories catch our eyes and make us stop and think. Recently, a news story illustrated the link between underage drinking and sexual assault. Regardless of the final charges, this story provided a teachable moment for adults, an important reminder that there's a strong connection between alcohol and sexual assault. But first I need to make one statement -- I don't want to make conclusions that aren't supported yet about the woman's guilt or innocence or whether she used alcohol to aid the alleged sexual assault; she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Regardless of what she may have done, there is a strong connection between alcohol and sexual assault. Here’s one basic fact -- alcohol is the drug most used to facilitate sexual assault, and it's used in half of all sexual assaults. Additionally, it inhibits your teen child’s ability to: Think clearly,Set limits and make good choices,Think...

Written by Samantha Dolci, Wellspring Intern 2018 has set a new record low for underage drinking in the United States. According to the 2018 Monitoring the future survey (MTF), underage drinking among American youth continued to decline from previous years to the lowest levels recorded among 8th, 10th, 12th graders since the 1990’s. Additionally, drinking among 12th graders in 2018 reached the lowest level in survey history, with a significant decrease in lifetime, past month, daily consumption and binge drinking. Underage drinking statistics play an important role in encouraging governments and communities to step up their efforts for prevention and treatment. It is often used as a form of baseline data to determine the most highly affected demographics and areas in need. Approximately one out of every 10 alcoholic drinks in the U.S.A is consumed illegally. Though the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, children as young as...

Why Are More Women Than Ever Addicted to Alcohol? Despite health warnings 
and greater social awareness, alcohol use disorder has nearly doubled for 
women since 2002. What’s at the bottom of it?Learn More   Social media usage linked to underage drinking Penn Medicine research explores adolescent and young adult social media use and drinking patterns.Learn More   If Addiction Is a Disease, Why Is Relapsing a Crime? When Julie Eldred tested positive for fentanyl in 2016, 11 days into her probation for a larceny charge, she was sent to jail. Learn More   A growing number of sober programs support college students recovering from addiction “No one should have to choose between recovery and a college education,” said the director of the biggest college recovery program in the country.Learn More   As fatal overdoses rise, many Americans see drug addiction as a major problem in their community Americans overwhelmingly see drug...

Story prepared by Wellspring intern Melisa Damcevska On a recent afternoon, the auditorium of South River High School filled up quickly as first the freshmen and sophomore students, and later on, in a second presentation the juniors and seniors, filed in, unaware of the story they were about to hear. As the students finally settled into their seats, the opening activity was announced – a trivia game about underage drinking. Two students – one from each representing class– were chosen and called up to the front of the auditorium for a chance to answer a question and win a prize. The four students, two seniors and two sophomores, who worked hard with the South River SUDS (Stopping Underage by Students) group walked the aisles and were in charge of choosing which students would be called to the front. The fire of competition quickly blazed as the students vied for a win...

Grant Efforts Designed to Prevent Underage Drinking in County Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth, and drinking by young people poses enormous health and safety risks. The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone— regardless of age or drinking status. We all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern. In response, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the award and funding of new grants designed to prevent underage drinking through the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP ACT) grant program. Wellspring Center for Prevention was notified of the award for the STOP ACT grant program which provides funding for community-based coalitions throughout...

Guess what folks? It’s time for me to once again remind you that this is the time when high school students across the county are preparing for their Junior Prom, Senior Ball and high school graduations. We all know that this is an exciting time in a teen’s life. But it also presents an opportunity for parents to talk with their teen about underage drinking and substance abuse in general. Did you know that according to our 2014-2015 Pride Surveys, almost 56 percent of 12th graders in Middlesex County use alcohol during a 12 month period? Over 33 percent indicated they drank alcohol in the past 30 days. The same survey also shows that over 70 percent of 12th graders believe their parents would disapproved their drinking of alcohol. And finally, surveys show that majority of teens list their parents as the #1 influence on their decisions surrounding drinking, and teenagers...

Underage drinking is a risky behavior that is attractive to many teenagers. When young people try alcohol, they often don’t realize the harmful effects drinking can have on their own lives, their families, and their communities. The event is scheduled for Monday, April 11th at 6:00 pm. The Town Hall meeting will be held at the Dunellen Cinema Café. Fact: In Middlesex County, 11.6% of 8th graders, 19.5% of sophomores, & 33.4% seniors reported drinking in the past 30 days! The town of Dunellen will host a special Town Hall meeting, open to community members in Dunellen and surrounding towns, to discuss the many different issues and problems related to underage drinking. Parents, teachers, local officials, youth and other community members will be educated about the impact that underage drinking has on their community, with the goal of developing a plan to begin to address this issue. Titled “Underage Drinking: What’s...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Please note! NCADD's Weekly Addiction News & Policy Update will not publish for the holiday season beginning Friday, December 19 through Monday, January 5. We will resume sending our updates on Friday, January 9th. Thank you for your loyal support and Happy Holidays!  To Stop Teen Drinking Parties, Fine The Parents When it comes to teenage drinking, the typical venue is a party - where some teens play drinking games and binge. It may surprise you to learn that the majority of parents are aware that alcohol is flowing at these events. Please click here to continue reading.  Why Colleges Haven't Stopped Binge Drinking Despite decades of research, hundreds of campus task forces and millions invested in bold experiments, college drinking in the United States remains as much of a problem as ever. Please click here to continue reading. '60 Minutes' Shows Insurers Deny Mental Health Treatment Despite ACA Rules Despite...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;} The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by NCADD of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein.  Medicare’s Rising Costs for Drug Tests A Wall Street Journal analysis of Medicare billing data shows payments for high-tech drug tests to some doctors and laboratories have soared in recent years. The surge is a reaction to fears that pain specialists have overprescribed “opioid” painkillers. It is also a lucrative side...