76% have tried alcohol

54% have tried cigarettes

44% have tried marijuana

44% have been a passenger with a drunk driver

31% have had a binge-drinking episode

22% have tried chewing tobacco

Garryn Lindsay Crowder, a senior at Omaha North High School, and Clair Lynn Keene, of Bellevue East High School, have each been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship award.

Both seniors live, model, and promote a drug-free lifestyle by volunteering within their community and schools. They demonstrate a proactive approach to advocating a drug-free message.

The Karnes family and PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. congratulate all of the applicants on their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle.

Drug paraphernalia is again being sold in the Omaha metropolitan area. Pipes, bongs, and other tools used to facilitate drug use are illegal in our state.

However, more and more stores are now selling this paraphernalia. Convenience stores and gas stations are among those violating the law.

Marijuana use among adolescents in our community continues to rise. Part of the reason for this alarming increase of marijuana use is the fact that items used to facilitate drug use are openly sold in retail outlets. Youth perception of community acceptance of drug use can hardly be questioned when sales of these drug tools are allowed.

If you would like to remain anonymous, simply fill out the form below and mail it to PRIDE-Omaha, Inc., 3534 South 108 Street, Omaha, NE  68144.

The Nebraska Unicameral approved, and Governor Mike Johanns signed, legislation that allows the funding of $1.5 million per year from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement for tobacco prevention and control.

The legislation will be in effect for approximately twenty years.

Senators Jim Jensen of Omaha and Dennis Byars of Beatrice led the fight to re-fund the Tobacco Free Nebraska program. Under the program, tobacco use within the past 30 days by Nebraska teens declined from 39.2 percent in 1997 to 24.1 percent in 2003.

The floor debate was also led by several other senators. Senators Patrick Bourne, Ernie Chambers, Pat Engel, Joel Johnson, and Lowen Kruse all spoke in favor of taking the annual $1.5 million from the Master Settlement Agreement money that comes into the state each year.

While the annual allotment is still far short of the $13.8 million annual minimum recommendation for Nebraska from the Centers for Disease Control, prevention leaders hailed the passage of the $1.5 million. “Tobacco Free Nebraska has been an efficient and effective prevention program, and we thank the Nebraska Legislature for approving the continuation of this program.” states Susie Dugan, PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. Executive Director.

To contact state senators, you may write to them at:

(Senator’s name and district number)

Nebraska Legislature

State Capitol

P.O. Box 94604

Lincoln, NE 68509-4604

You can also contact senators by logging on to www.unicam.state.ne.us/senators/senators.htm. 

Grieving parents and friends met on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on April 19, 2004, to read aloud the names of 420 children who have died in drug-related incidents.

The parents stated that, for too many years, the date April 20 (420) has been used by the drug legalization movement to glamorize and promote marijuana use. Many in the drug culture refer to April 20th as “Marijuana Mayhem Day.” Four-twenty has become a code word, especially among adolescents, for smoking marijuana and getting high.

Those who would legalize drugs at the peril of society have even established a website at www.420.com. When young people log on to that site, they can then link to many other drug-glamorizing sites such as High Times Magazine.

“Our intent is to bring attention to the reality of the drug epidemic in America and help other parents avoid this tragedy,” stated Joyce Nalepka, President of Drug-Free Kids: America’s Challenge, of Maryland.

For more information on “420,” log on to the PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. website at www.pride.org or call our office at 402-397-3309.

Next year’s event is already being planned for April 20, 2005, in Washington, DC. If you would like to add a child’s name to be read that day, please send the following information to PRIDE-Omaha, Inc., 3534 South 108 Street, Omaha, NE  68144, fax 402-397-9924.

Nebraska Third District Representative Tom Osborne has introduced resolution H. Res. 575, calling for an end to alcohol advertising during radio and television broadcasts of collegiate sporting events.

Representative Osborne states, “The NCAA and its member colleges and universities cannot have it both ways. It is a complete contradiction for colleges and universities to continue to take money from beer companies whose ads glamorize drinking and target a youthful audience, and then devote time, energy, and resources in the fight to discourage the same students from engaging in underage and binge drinking.”

As reported by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth in 2002, alcohol producers spent $27 million (out of an annual total of $58 million) in advertising during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which had as many alcohol ads as the Super Bowl, World Series, College Bowl Games, and Monday Night Football broadcasts combined.

Representative Osborne can be contacted at:

On March 18, 2004, Idaho Governor Kirk Kempthorne signed into law a bill that eliminates smoking in all workplaces, except stand-alone bars and bowling alleys. The law will take effect on July 1, 2004.

Ten states now have smoke-free worksite bans—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, and Vermont. Six of the states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York—require all worksites to be smoke free, including bars and bowling alleys.

Each year, that last day of the school term seems to present greater dangers. The day has become a time for unsupervised parties and risky behavior. Students are often dismissed early, and parents are not always able to be home to supervise.

My parents would be so disappointed if I ever used drugs.

I had DARE in grade school and decided then that I would never use drugs.

I see so much trouble caused by drugs that I would never do them.

I want to be in control and be my own person.

Make plans now to attend the 2004 Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Walk & Rally on September 26, 2004 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Heartland of America Park, 8^th and Douglas Streets.

There will be games, booths, music, food, prizes, contests, and lots of fun for the whole family. Our goal is to remind the public that there is a great deal we can do to reduce the devastating toll drugs take, especially on youth.

This Walk & Rally kicks off month-long activities throughout our community regarding drug prevention. The Red Ribbon Campaign is a great opportunity for parents and others to talk to young people and to renew their commitment for drug-free children and communities.

Please mark your calendars and plan now to attend. All individuals, groups, bands, and drill teams are invited to participate in the Walk & Rally. Your group can sponsor a booth, game, or activity for younger children.

Listed below under Resources, PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. has a new video available. “Spin the Bottle” offers a unique opportunity for parents and college-bound students. It depicts the dangers of alcohol use on college campuses, noting that the first six weeks of college life is the most dangerous time for female students. An estimated 1,400 students die each year in alcohol-related incidents in the United States.

The video offers strategies for students to counter the constant alcohol promotions involved in college life. It challenges young people to take charge of their own lives and not be used by an industry that is manipulating young people.

We recommend parents and students watch and discuss the video together. Small groups of parents and students might wish to view this video and have discussions following each of the five sections.