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Parents and school personnel beware. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission (NLCC) lifted the year-long ban on Zippers at its August, 2003 meeting. Zippers may soon be here.
PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. had raised concerns in May, 2002 regarding the retail sale of the pre-packaged, alcohol-laced gelatin product. Zippers are easily confused with dessert snacks that thousands of children take to school in lunch boxes every day.
The packaging in 2002 employed marketing tools known to attract children, such as neon colors, funky fonts for the text, and humor. PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. was also concerned that clerks would not recognize the product as alcohol. Young children also might mistake Zippers left in refrigerators for regular gelatin snacks.
The NLCC lifted the ban after the manufacturer changed some of the packaging. Susie Dugan, Executive Director of PRIDE-Omaha, Inc., stated at this year’s hearing, “If Zipper sales could be restricted to bars, we might not object so strongly; however sales in grocery and convenience stores expose too many children to this confusing drug.” Ì
Bookstores Promote Illegal Growing Of Marijuana
The two Omaha Borders Books, Music & Cafe Stores are selling dozens of books promoting the illegal growing of marijuana. In August, a PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. volunteer found a display at the 72nd and Dodge Streets store with over 60 books that illustrate how to obtain the illegal seeds and how to grow and cultivate this dangerous, psychoactive drug. Topics also include how to avoid detection by law enforcement authorities.
(Thomas, Mel, 2002. Cannabis Cultivation: A Complete Grower’s Guide, 9-12.)When contacted by PRIDE-Omaha, Inc., the store stated they are not breaking any laws nor are they encouraging any illegal activity. The regional marketing representative supports the stores position to continue to sell the books.
A visit to the Dodge Street store on October 24th, found the number of books to now be 40. However, the Borders store at 13105 Birch Street has gone from having only a few marijuana-growing books in August to having 37 on October 26, 2003.
Marijuana use by children is skyrocketing in our community. A huge reason for this increased use is our culture’s acceptance of messages telling children that drug use is acceptable and normal. “Showing readers how to grow, use, and distribute marijuana does not help foster drug-free children and families,” states Tim Grollmes, Vice-President of PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. and the parent of a 14-year-old boy.
Parents and concerned citizens can send special postcards to Borders. These postcards are available from our office. Please call 402-397-3309. Readers may also telephone the manager of the Dodge Street store at 402-393-5576 or the Birch Street store at 402-493-9994.Contact Borders corporate headquarters at:
Gregory
P. Josefowicz, Chairman & CEO
Borders Group, Inc.
100 Phoenix Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-477-1100
ccare@bordersstores.com Ì
Now Available For Parents: Smoke-Free Child Care Guides
Tobacco prevention coalitions and agencies from Cass, Douglas, and Sarpy Counties have produced a Smoke-Free Child Care Guide that lists all day care programs that are 100% smoke free.
This 32-page guide includes all day cares that have a signed, written policy maintaining a healthy air quality for the children in their care. All Nebraska day care centers must be smoke free, but home-based day cares are not state mandated to be 100% smoke free throughout the home.
Secondhand smoke is the number one cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Children exposed to secondhand smoke have increased risk of middle-ear infections, lower respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal illness, pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and asthma. Children generally receive 50% more exposure to secondhand smoke than an adult because they have smaller airways, breathe more rapidly, and have more lung area per body size than adults.
There is no known safe level
of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Copies of the guide are available from PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. at 3534 South 108 Street. Parents can also contact Family Services at 402-734-3000, Extension 26 for the guide. Ì
~ “Facts About Secondhand Smoke”,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC
~ “Secondhand Smoke,” Environmental Protection Agency,
July, 1993, #402-F-93-004
Educating Voices, Inc., a national drug prevention organization, is now producing an excellent e-newsletter on drug prevention issues. If you would like to subscribe to this service, please e-mail your request to evi@educatingvoices.org.
ÌA new drug called “Foxy Methoxy” has emerged as a drug of abuse in some parts of the United States.
The synthetic drug (5-MeO-DIPT) is also called “Foxy” or alphamethyltryptamine (AMT). It is similar to the designer drug ecstasy. “Foxy” is a part of a class of chemical compounds known as tryptamines. It can produce hallucinations, talkativeness, and emotional distress. “Foxy” also diminishes user inhibition, often resulting in high-risk sexual activity.
“Foxy” can be found in pill or capsule form. It is also smoked or snorted. The “high” can last as long as three to six hours. Distribution appears to be limited at this time to areas around New York, Florida, Arizona, and California. However, reports now indicate that the drug is available on the Internet, so distribution could widen quickly.
The drug began appearing at all-night dance parties (raves) in 1999. Its use is currently primarily among teens and young adults, and can also be found at nightclubs where MDMA (ecstasy) is popular.
Though often promoted as legal, “Foxy” was classified as a controlled substance through emergency scheduling in April, 2003. Ì
~ Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Intelligence Brief
~ National Drug Intelligence Center, Foxy Fast Facts, 9/03
~ New York Times, June 6, 2003
Hundreds Drawn To Red Ribbon Walk & Rally Celebration
Over 900 people of all ages attended the Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Walk & Rally at Heartland of America Park on September 28, 2003. The event featured a “Walk Against Drugs” led by Nebraska National Guard Adj. General Roger Lempke. A rally filled with music, fun, games, drug-free pledges, and remarks from Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey followed. The event kicked off our community’s month-long drug prevention campaign. Ì
State Tobacco Control Programs Cut Sales
A landmark new study finds that cigarette sales dropped more than twice as much in states that spend more on comprehensive tobacco control programs than in the United States as a whole.
The decade-long study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that significant tax increases lead to the largest and most immediate decline in cigarette sales, but that this effect erodes over time. The study, released on September 18, 2003, found that investments in tobacco control programs also have a strong effect that appears to grow as programs continue to dedicate resources to curbing tobacco use.
In Nebraska, funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention programs was cut by 94% beginning January 1, 2004, even though tobacco revenue from the Master Settlement Agreement and taxes brings in over $100 million in revenue each year. Ì
You Can Nominate A “Youth Advocate Of The Year”
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is sponsoring a “Youth Advocate of the Year” award. Winners will be announced at a gala event in Washington, DC on May 5, 2004.
One national winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and a $500 grant. Four regional winners will each receive a $2,500 scholarship plus a $500 grant. A group winner will receive a $2,500 grant and one international winner will be awarded a $2,000 grant. All winners will also be invited to participate in the third annual Youth Advocacy Symposium held May 1-6, 2004, in Washington, DC.
Judging will be based on advocacy experience, initiative, impact of activities on protecting youth from tobacco, leadership (ability to mobilize peers and involve them as advocates), creative thinking and problem solving, and ability to communicate ideas effectively. Youth must be in their junior year of high school or younger.
Nomination forms are available from PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. or visit www.tobaccofreekids.org. All entries must be postmarked by February 6, 2004. Ì
The Omaha ordinance to put all tobacco/nicotine products out of the reach of children was passed over a year ago by the Omaha City Council and signed by Mayor Mike Fahey. It has been in effect for over nine months.
No real problems have emerged. Stores are in compliance and children no longer have easy access to this addictive drug. The ordinance drew national attention from tobacco prevention organizations.
Other towns and cities are now showing interest in a similar ordinance to protect the children in their communities. Parents and other concerned citizens can contact PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. at 402-397-3309 for copies of this model ordinance. Ì
Help Promote Smoke-Free Restaurants And Worksites
Have you seen the ads? Restaurant workers are shown donning gas masks just to work in environments that allow smoking. This ad campaign illustrates the danger secondhand smoke poses to employees and patrons in businesses that allow the use of cigarettes.
Secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable death. No worker should have to choose between employment and health. Yet far too many do. Many workers are young people attending school and needing to work in the hospitality industry, such as bars and restaurants. Research shows that the fewer public places that allow youth to smoke, the more likely young people won’t smoke.
Contrary to tobacco-industry propaganda, cities and states that go 100% smoke free do not lose business. Study after study finds smoke-free worksites are good for people and good for business.
If you wish to help promote smoke-free restaurants and worksites, please pick up a smoke-free window cling from the PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. office at 3534 South 108 Street in Omaha. To request a cling be mailed to you, simply call 402-546-1099 or log on to www.regionsix.com/mask. Display these clings in your car, in your office, or in your home windows. Ì
PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. Celebrates 25 Years Of Service To Youth
On October 9, 2003, PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. celebrated 25 years of drug prevention service to youth, families, and communities. An awards luncheon was held at the Westside Community Conference Center. Twenty-five individuals and organizations were honored for their outstanding efforts in drug prevention.
The celebration drew people from many parts of the country. The volunteers and staff of PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. thank the many individuals and organizations that made this event so memorable. Ì
High Times
magazine has published its list of top ten “counterculture” colleges in its October, 2003 issue.The magazine, which is devoted to marijuana promotion, was careful not to call the colleges “pot party” schools. Instead, the authors noted that these universities are places where students can find sympathetic local communities and encounter an on-campus activist network.
The schools are:
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of Oregon, Eugene
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Florida State University, Tallahassee
University of Montana, Missoula
University of California, Berkeley
New College, Sarasota, Florida
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
University of Colorado, Boulder
Clemson University, Clemson
Honorable mentions as listed in High Times: San Francisco State University, University of Michigan, SUNY New Paltz, Antioch, Reed, Hampshire, University of Iowa, Eau Claire, Bowling Green, University of Central Florida, and Humboldt State University.
ÌAs parents consider college choices for their students, with concern over the reality of student danger posed by alcohol and other drugs, a second list might be considered. According to the April, 2003 Princeton Review listing, the top ten “Party School Ranking” of colleges is:
Indiana University ~ Bloomington
Clemson University
University of Alabama ~ Tuscaloosa
Penn State ~ University Park
University of Florida
SUNY at Buffalo
University of New Hampshire
University of Colorado ~ Boulder
Florida State University
University of Wisconsin ~ Madison
Ì
DID YOU KNOW...
College students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol each year.
Young people need to hear the truth about marijuana.
For a valuable new resource, log on and print out this web page.http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/mj_rev.pdf
© 2003 PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. All rights reserved.