On December 16, 2003, the City of Ralston became the third city in Nebraska to pass an ordinance to put all retail tobacco and nicotine products out of the reach of children.

The ordinance, introduced December 2nd by Council member Maureen Konwinski, was the result of community involvement by youth, parents, and other concerned citizens.

The Drug Awareness Council then studied the information from PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. and our “Operation Storefront” findings regarding retail placement of tobacco products. Other community members soon joined the effort and approached Council member Konwinski.

The new ordinance places tobacco products behind the counter requiring the assistance of a store clerk. The ordinance also makes it unlawful to give away free samples of cigarettes or to sell single cigarettes.

The family of Dr. Liz Karnes and PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. have announced the establishment of the Liz Karnes Memorial Scholarship for Drug-Free Youth.

Omaha-area high school seniors who have lived, modeled, and promoted a drug-free lifestyle are eligible to apply for this $1,000 college scholarship.

Liz’s husband, former U.S. Senator David Karnes, and their four daughters have established this scholarship fund for students in Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska. PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. is assisting in the scholarship application and administration process.

Interested students should check with the college counseling department of their high school for application forms. Information and applications can also be obtained by contacting PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. or by visiting our website at www.pride.org.

Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered to PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 20, 2004. Scholarship recipients will be notified of their award through their high schools no later than April 1, 2004.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has released a study that finds American parents are far less likely to talk to their children about ecstasy than any other drug.

The 2003 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) surveyed 1,228 parents across the country. Ninety-two percent of them reported having heard about ecstasy and 90% see great risk in its use.

However, only 24% say they’ve talked to their children about the drug. Even though ecstasy use has been rising steadily among teens, Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership, stated that perhaps today’s parents are more comfortable talking about drugs they find more familiar.

A one-year study by researchers at Oregon Health & Sciences University found that random drug testing of high school athletes reduces drug use by students.

The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, compared one high school where all student athletes were subject to random drug testing, to a similar high school where they were not.

Starting in the Fall of 2004, St. Patrick High School in Chicago will begin mandatory drug testing for all students.

Parents will pay for the tests. The first positive result will be confidentially reported to parents and the student will not be disciplined. A second positive test could result in suspension or expulsion.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a designer steroid that has become popular among athletes.

New research finds that eliminating alcohol advertising would lower underage drinking and youth binge drinking.

The study, “Alcohol Advertising and Alcohol Consumption by Adolescents,” by Henry Saffer and Dhaval Dave also reported that doubling the prices of alcoholic products would lower underage drinking by 28% and reduce youth binge drinking by 51%.

The study’s economic analysis, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that alcohol advertising has a positive effect on whether youth drink at all and on how much young people drink—that is, it encourages underage drinking. Eliminating alcohol advertising would reduce adolescent alcohol consumption by 21% to 24%, the study concluded.

U.S. teenagers, who work more than ten hours per week, are more likely to drink and to drink heavily than those who work fewer hours or not at all.

A study of over 6,500 adolescents by Mallie Paschall, a University of California researcher, was published in the January, 2004 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

About 24% of teens who worked more than ten hours per week reported they had engaged in heavy drinking in the past year. Less than 10% of nonworking teens or teens working less than ten hours per week reported the same.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has launched a campaign to rid college sports of alcohol advertising.

The combination of television and sports makes a powerful impression on young people. Little leaguers mimic Barry Bonds’ home run trot. High school football players do a touchdown dance in the end zone. A pick-up game of basketball features big-league moves to the basket. Millions of young people get socialization cues from sports.

Alcohol advertisements also send powerful messages to young people. Youth see more commercials for beer than for juice, gum, chips, sneakers, skin care products, and jeans. Alcohol producers spent over $811 million to advertise alcohol on television in 2001, $491 million of that to promote alcohol in conjunction with televised sports events, and $58 million on advertisements during TV college sports.

CSPI has several suggested ways YOU can help:

New York City’s smoke-free workplace law took effect in March, 2003. According to Commissioner of Finance Martha Stark, “New York’s bars and restaurants paid the city 12% more in business taxes in the months since the law began than they did in the corresponding period in 2002.”

In addition to higher revenues, almost 10,000 new jobs were added to New York City’s hospitality industry, according to data from the New York State Department of Labor.

This report continues the trend found across the nation—when actual sales tax revenues are tabulated and compared to previous years, cities that have passed ordinances to ban smoking in workplaces are experiencing no drop in bar/restaurant revenue. Most have experienced increases in business.

Teens ages 13 through 18 are asked to log on to www.champss.org and explain in 100 words or less what they did or plan to do to help their parent, or another adult smoker in their lives to quit. Submit your idea and possibly win a scholarship.

Health advocates who proposed a 100% smoke-free workplace ordinance in Lincoln, NE are criticizing the final law that passed on December 22, 2003.

The Lincoln City Council overrode a veto by Mayor Coleen Seng and passed a complicated workplace smoking ban. Mayor Seng had vetoed the ordinance saying it was not fair to all workers, not fair to all business owners, and unenforceable.

The Lincoln Police Department, Law Department, and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department warned that the law does not protect all workers, that it will be difficult to enforce, and that it could leave the city vulnerable to legal challenges.

According to the Omaha World Herald, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Director Bruce Dart, who supported the original 100% smoke-free workplace ordinance, criticized the final law because it is unfair to say that some employees and patrons must breathe secondhand smoke while others don’t.

Michael Howells, the Pembrokeshire coroner in Haverfordwest, West Wales, told The Daily Telegraph that the death was caused by cannabis toxicity. The man was free from disease and had not drunk alcohol in over 48 hours. Ì

Research led by the Washington University School of Medicine studied 300 sets of same-sex twins and found that the twins who first smoked marijuana before the age of 17 were twice as likely to use opioids, three times as likely to use sedatives, three times as likely to use cocaine or other stimulants, and nearly four times as likely to use hallucinogens. Ì

An in-depth report by Felicia Thomas-Lynn for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that, of Wisconsin youth, ages 12 to 17 entering substance abuse treatment in 2002, more than 1 in 3 had marijuana as their primary substance of abuse. Ì

~ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 13, 2003

~ Lincoln Journal Star, January 14, 2004

Editor’s Note: PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. applauds the enforcement of our state and federal laws concerning drug paraphernalia. The availability of items that can only be used for drug use sends the wrong message to our youth. It tells them that drugs are acceptable and normal in society. If you would like a definition of drug paraphernalia and how it differs from tobacco pipes, please contact our office at 402-397-3309. Ì

Smoking marijuana may decrease fertility in men, according to a study released at the annual conference of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The study by the State University of New York-Buffalo found that the sperm of marijuana smokers can swim erratically and fail to attach themselves to female eggs. Ì

“It is vital that young people understand the dangers of both cigarette and cannabis smoking since these habits can start having a serious impact on their lungs at an early stage,” stated Dr. John Harvey of the British Thoracic Society. Ì

~ Reuters, December 5, 2003

heightened adult supervision of children.

responsive alcohol and entertainment industry efforts shielding young people from unsuitable messages about alcohol consumption.

raising alcohol taxes significantly by federal and state governments.

increasing retail alcohol compliance checks.

enhancing efforts to prevent and detect false I.D. distribution and use.

national public awareness campaign informing youth of the dangers to themselves and others caused by the consumption of alcohol. Ì

Children who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until the age of 21. Children often drink to get as drunk as they can, as fast as they can, with 92% of the alcohol drunk by 12- to 14-year-olds and 96% of consumption by 15- to 20-year-olds occurring when drinkers are having five or more drinks at one time. Ì

• who reported that their households do not allow smoking anywhere in the home increased from 71% in 2000 to 76% in 2003.

• who reported that they were no longer exposed to secondhand smoke at work also increased, with 77% reporting that their workplace did not allow smoking in any area in 2003, compared to 65% in 2000.

• who reported that smoking should not be allowed at all in workplaces increased from 65% in 2000 to 81% in 2003.

The TFN program has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a model program. Funding for the program was cut 94% by the Nebraska Unicameral in 2002. Ì

The smoke-free policy will include bars and restaurants. Sweden will join Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, and Bhutan as the world’s first smoke-free workplace countries. Ì

“State leaders pledged to use the money coming from the tobacco companies to adequately fund programs that work to reduce tobacco use. We in the faith community believe state leaders have a moral obligation to keep that pledge in order to save countless lives from the horrors of tobacco-caused death and illness,” stated the Faith United Against Tobacco Coalition. Ì

As noted on page one, David Karnes and his four daughters have established the Liz Karnes Memorial Scholarship for Drug-Free Youth in conjunction with PRIDE-Omaha, Inc.

PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. is assisting with this project for several reasons. Liz Karnes was a former Board member who strongly supported drug prevention and was a friend to many in our organization. This scholarship provides incentives and encouragement for young people to stay drug free. Executive Director Susie Dugan states, “We are grateful that the Karnes family has dedicated the resources to honor Liz by establishing scholarships that will help support our goal of drug-free children.”

If you would like to help this fund grow so that drug-free high school seniors will continue to have the opportunity to apply for this college scholarship, please send your donation to:

For the 20^th year, PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. is working to coordinate efforts to make the prom and graduation season a safe, drug-free, and enjoyable experience through our Project Prom/Graduation.

In the past, too many lives have been lost or negatively impacted by the combination of teens with alcohol and other drugs.

Project Prom/Graduation is a drug prevention awareness campaign aimed at encouraging students, parents, schools, businesses, and other concerned citizens to actively participate in fun activities that are free from alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use during this special time of the year. The primary goal of this Project is to save the lives of young people.

Each year PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. contacts high schools throughout the metropolitan Omaha area for dates and locations of prom and graduation activities. This list is then shared with other schools, hotel/motel management, media, limousine services, and law enforcement so that all can take extra care to assure safe, healthy, and memorable celebrations.

Youth-led volunteer projects are eligible for $250-$500 mini-grants to be awarded for Join Hands Day, which is May 1, 2004.

Youth who are affiliated with a nonprofit group can apply for the grants from the Points of Light Foundation. Grants will go to programs that have strong youth-adult partnerships, mobilize youth, positively impact the community, and are well-planned and achievable.

GHB, a designer party drug sold for only $5 a dose, is causing teen deaths in the U.S. and throughout the world. A new national study, “The Party Drugs Initiative Study,” found that GHB, also known as “Liquid E,” “blue nitro,” or “fantasy,” is being used in every state in the Union.

Overdose problems occurred during festivals, concerts, and at dance clubs. GHB is a designer drug that can slow breathing rates and decrease heart rates. Users can collapse and go into a coma with respiratory failure or the user can choke on vomit.