Internet Use Linked to Teen Drinking

Rachael Rettner

Are your teens online all of the time? Are you worried about their screen time? Teens who drink alcohol spend more time using the computer for activities such as social networking than do those who don't drink alcohol, according to a new study. The study found a link between recreational use of the computer (for non-school related activities) and teen drinking. The finding suggests certain online activities may influence teen drinking. For instance, it's possible references to alcohol on social networking sites or online advertisements may encourage teenagers to drink, the researchers say.

However, the study found only an association, and not a direct cause-effect link. This means it's impossible to tell which happened first: the computer use or the drinking. It could also be that teens who drink are prone to using the computer for longer periods of time. More research over longer periods of time is needed to better understand the relationship between computer and alcohol use, the researchers say.

"Children are being exposed to computers and the Internet at younger ages," said study researcher Jennifer Epstein, a public health researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. "For this reason it's important that parents are actively involved in monitoring their children's computer usage, as well as alcohol use.” The study is published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Epstein and colleagues surveyed more than 200 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 about their online activity and alcohol use. Teens who drank alcohol in the last month spent, on average, 16 hours online per week excluding schoolwork activities. Those who didn't drink alcohol in the last month spent 12.7 hours online per week excluding schoolwork. No link was found between playing online video games or shopping online and drinking. It's important that parents realize their children face enticements online that may encourage underage drinking, the researchers say.

The study adds to a growing body of research that has found both pros and cons to teen Internet use. A recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics described a new phenomenon known as "Facebook depression," in which children and teenagers spend too much time on social networking sites, and then develop symptoms of depression. And other studies have linked Internet use in general to an increased risk of depression and loneliness among teens. But Internet use can benefit adolescents as well. In addition to helping with homework, studies have found online activities help teens maintain ties with friends. And one study found those who did not spend time online were also at an increased risk for depression. "The Internet offers a wealth of information and opportunities for intellectual and social enrichment," Gil Botvin, a professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College, said in a statement. "However, it is becoming clear that there may also be a downside to Internet use.” More research is needed to understand these potential dangers and combat them, he added.

This story was provided by My Health News Daily, a sister site to Live Science. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/10/internet-use-linked-teen-drinking/#ixzz1PMeV9MyT. For additional information you may contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412, info@vbsafecoalition.com or check us out at www.vbsafecoalition.com and on Facebook.

JEL Members at Strawberry Festival

The JEL members from the Harmony High school made a presence at the Farmington Strawberry Festival over the weekend. On Friday the members visited with the vendors as they set up their booths and provided them with no smoking signs if they were interested. Many of the vendors were very appreciative of the signs and said that it was really helpful to have these available. One vendor said she is allergic to the smoke and this will be an easy way for her to remind patrons not to smoke in her tent. There were very few vendors who declined the signs and about 30 signs were posted at the vendor tents downtown. Large posters were also hung in various places around the downtown area to provide information about secondhand smoke, tobacco use and quitting smoking. The youth hoped to send a message that secondhand smoke in public places in dangerous not just for the smoker but for those around them.

Also on Saturday JEL members set up a booth with information. Their booth had a quiz where prizes could be won and information about quitting tobacco use for those interested. The members enjoyed providing the information about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

For more information the JEL program and activities please contact 319-293-6412.

Van Buren Community Middle School JEL Members Receive Awards

On Thursday, June 02, 2011 JEL Members were presented with Awards during the Van Buren Community Middle School Awards Ceremony.

Special Awards that were presented included a Most Active award for the members with the most points accrued during the year; An Above and Beyond award was presented to members who participated in an activity or event that was above and beyond the call of duty; Creativity awards were given to members who used their creative skills for JEL projects; You Rock Awards were given to JEL members who stood out during the year for their hard work; The Energy award was presented to a JEL member always excited to do things; and the MVP awards were voted on by the members for the person they felt had the Most Valuable Contribution to the JEL program during the year. Recipients of the Awards included:

6th Grade
Most Active: Aimee Simons, Hannah Sprouse and Grace Thomas
(15 points)
Above and Beyond: Tempis Rysdam, Aimee Simons and Grace Thomas
Creativity: Hannah Sprouse and Sarah Trent
Most Valuable Person: Hannah Sprouse

7th Grade
Most Active: Sabrina Countryman and Sheldon Dewitt (11 points)
You Rock: Carissa Kobelt, Emily Jester, Serena Riffle and Libby King
Energy: Will Mertens
Most Valuable Person: Jacinta Wenke

8th Grade:
Most Active: Hallie Whitten (18 points)
Above and Beyond: Hallie Whitten
You Rock: Mariah Giberson
Most Valuable Person: Madison Zimmer

Congratulations to all of the award winners! Thanks to all of the JEL Members for your hard work and participation this year! We hope you all have an amazing summer and we look forward to seeing and working with you again next year!

For more information about JEL and the SAFE Coalition please check us out on Face Book or at our website www.vbsafecoalition.com. If you have any questions please contact us by email at info@vbsafecoalition.com or by phone at 319-293-6412.

SAFE Coalition Offers Training Opportunities

Van Buren County SAFE Coalition seeks to stimulate community involvement to promote responsible behaviors among youth and adults, leading to SAFE and healthy communities. The coalition is made up of a variety of members from various sectors of Van Buren County.

Being a member of the coalition provides members with the opportunity to make a difference in their community. They can be a part of an initiative to keep Van Buren county youth free of drugs, alcohol and tobacco in turn making our community a SAFE place to live. Another benefit of being a coalition member is the wonderful training opportunities the coalition is able to afford to its members.

Upcoming coalition trainings include:

Cultivating Partnerships for County Growth Through the Strategic Prevention Framework - This training will provide an overview of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), detail the components of the Assessment and Capacity steps, and highlight key milestones. The SPF is a five-step process that assists states in developing a comprehensive plan for prevention infrastructure and supports selected local communities in implementing effective programs, policies and practices to reduce substance abuse and its related problems. CEU’s are available for this training. This training will be held on Monday, June 20th at the Honey Creek Resort.

Power of Parents- In response to scientific evidence that parental influence can reduce underage drinking, MADD began a parent initiative: Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ and partnered with Dr. Robert Turrisi from Pennsylvania State University to adapt his research – based handbook model to reach parents of high school students. The goals of MADD’s parent initiative are to influence parenting behavior to prevent underage drinking, maintain the 21 minimum drinking age law in all 50 states, and engage new supporters to carry on MADD’s lifesaving work.

MADD’s Power of Parents parent workshops are facilitated by trained and certified Power of Parents Facilitators. You can facilitate these 30-minute parent workshops in your community after you attend training and receive certification. Training includes a step-by-step Facilitator Guide and Resource CD that prepares you to begin facilitating workshops and training other facilitators immediately. This engaging and interactive training is scheduled for Monday, June 27, from 9 am – 3:30 pm at the Midwest CounterDrug Training Center (MCTC) in Johnston, IA

Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws- National Leadership Conference- The conference, held in conjunction with the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, includes distinguished speakers from OJJDP and other leadership in the field. The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center's NLC brings out some of the Nation's largest policy and public health funders including OJJDP, NHTSA, NIAAA, SAMHSA, DOE and the FTC. This extends UDETC's reach nationally to federal, state and local agencies as well as their outreach to state and local communities through their relationship with 51 EUDL Coordinators in each State, the District of Columbia and the US Territories. The NLC is a gathering for States, Territories and communities with interest in enforcing underage drinking laws and in sharing of resources. This training is being held August 9-12 in Orlando, FL.

These trainings will all strengthen coalition member’s skills in the work they do in the community with the coalition, their employment and/or everyday lives. All of these trainings are provided to active coalition members free of charge.

For more information on training opportunities through the coalition or becoming a member of the organization please contact the coalition office at 319-293-6412 or via email at info@vbsafecoalition.com.

Van Buren County SAFE Coalition Scholarship Awarded this Week!

The Van Buren County SAFE Coalition is committed to making Van Buren County a SAFE place to live. They seek to stimulate community involvement to promote responsible behaviors among youth and adults, leading to SAFE healthy communities. The youth of Van Buren County are key to making this happen.

The coalition works with the community to provide information and programming to help the members of Van Buren County understand the dangers of underage drinking, underage tobacco use, misuse of prescription medications, and illicit drug use. Thanks to the gracious gift of a former coalition member the SAFE coalition is able each year to award a graduating Van Buren Community School District Senior a scholarship. The recipient of the scholarship must be an active member of the youth coalition and have shown a desire to make a difference in their community. Graduating seniors must complete an application for the scholarship process and explain why they are deserving of the award.

This year the scholarship recipient is Alicia Schalla. Alicia has been a member of the youth coalition for her entire high school career. She has been active in numerous coalition activities and helped to orchestrate the cigarette butt cleanup on the school grounds. Her dedication to this project even reached national media where she was interviewed for an article in the National School Board Journal.

Not only has Alicia been active at the local level but for the last two years has been a member of the J.E.L. (Just eliminate Lies) executive council. This has given her the opportunity to have a voice at the state level on tobacco issues affecting the state. This opportunity has provided her with knowledge and skills that will last her a lifetime.

It has been an honor to have Alicia as part of the SAFE Coalition and Youth JEL/YLC Coalition, her work ethic and drive have been an inspiration to her peers and she will be missed. We wish her luck and much success in her future endeavors.

Congratulations to Alicia on her graduation and receipt of the SAFE Coalition Scholarship for 2011.

For more information about the SAFE Coalition check us out on Face Book or online at www.vbsafecoalition.com. You can also call the office at 319-293-6412.

Van Buren JEL Group Looking for Donations

The Van Buren High School JEL Members are going to be doing a beautification project this spring at the Keosauqua Basketball Courts. The JEL Members are looking for the community to assist them with this by donating flowers, plants and mulch. Maybe you need to clean out a flower bed or are going to be making a trip to the greenhouse. Think about picking up a little extra fro the JEL Members. If you are interested in donating to this project please contact Heidi Bainbridge by May 26, 2011 at 319-293-6412 or info@vbsafecoalition.com. The plan is for the project to be completed by the beginning of June.

Congratulations Graduating Seniors! Attention Senior Parents: Now is the Time to Talk to Your Graduate

Graduating high school is an important milestone in your child’s life, one which calls for celebration with friends and family. Though this is a happy time in life, it is also a dangerous time of year. Before sending your graduate off to celebrate, make sure they know the seriousness of underage drinking. Taking the time to simply talk to your child just may save their life.

The following are important points to stress when talking to your child about the risks of consuming alcohol:

• Legal Risks:
Consuming alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal. If caught by law enforcement, your graduate may be charged, which possibly will go on their permanent record. This in turn could affect the bright future they have worked so hard to achieve. Chances of financial aid are jeopardized, as well as a chance at certain careers. Getting caught consuming underage could also equal fines, court costs, and possibly even jail time. This does NOT sound like a fun way to celebrate such a great achievement.

• Health Risks:
Your graduate’s brain is still in a critical stage of development, which makes them even more sensitive to alcohol’s effects. Inhibitions are effected, which may cause your graduate to make regretted decisions. They are more likely to take risks, which could lead to serious injury and even death. Other risks of underage drinking include over consumption, which may cause your child to pass out, stop breathing, and even be poisoned by alcohol.

Research has shown that YOU as a parent can make a difference in your child’s decisions just by taking the time to talk to them. Set aside a moment and let your graduate know how you feel about them consuming alcohol, what the risks are, and that you want them to celebrate safely. Set the rules and stick to them. Let them know you are there for them, and answer any questions they may have. Taking these steps may affect your child throughout their entire life.

For more information on Talking to your kids about alcohol you may contact the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412 or on the web at www.vbsafecoalition.com.