Wood County Prevention Coalition
Uniting For A Drug-Free Community Since 2004
WCPC Newsletter for February 2, 2016 Volume #2 issue #4
Europe has lower drinking ages than the US — and worse teen drinking problems
by German Lopez on January 26, 2016, 12:00 p.m. ET via vox.com
One of the most common arguments against America's legal drinking age is that Europe has a supposedly safer drinking culture despite its lower drinking ages. After I wrote an argument for keeping the US drinking age at 21, it's a question that readers raised in emails again and again: If a lower drinking age is so bad, why is Europe doing fine?
The answer, it seems, is that Europe is not doing fine. If you look at the data, there's no evidence to support the idea that Europe, in general, has a safer drinking culture than the US.
According to international data from the World Health Organization, European teens ages 15 to 19 tend to report greater levels of binge drinking than American teens.
This continues into adulthood. Total alcohol consumption per person is much higher in most of Europe. Drinkers in several European countries — including the UK, France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland — are also more likely to report binge drinking than their US counterparts.
To read the remainder of the article, view here: http://www.vox.com/2016/1/26/10833208/europe-lower-drinking-age
Safe Communities of Wood County
Safe Communities of Wood County was created in 2012 to establish a partnership of individuals from law enforcement, local governments, schools, businesses, health departments, and community organizations to collaborate; creating awareness and prevention of death and injuries caused by traffic crashes.
Safe Communities works to reduce the number of traffic related deaths and injuries in Wood County through analysis of problem areas, promotion, and education of proper safety.
Safe Communities works together with the community to promote traffic safety and program goals through activities including blitzes, fatal crash reviews, statistical analysis, and increasing traffic safety countermeasures. New members are always welcome who are interested in assisting with coalition goals!
To visit the the Safe Communities of Wood County website go to: http://www.bgsu.edu/traffic-safety.html
The Wood County Prevention Coalition has recorded two podcasts with the coordinator of the Safe Communities of Wood County, Sandy Wiechman, and they can be found here: http://www.podcastgarden.com/podcast/wcpc
Colorado vapers burned by exploding e-cigarettes
By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post Published January 26, 2016
Electronic cigarettes are being championed as safer alternatives to old-school tobacco, but some users - and one top Colorado doctor - say e-cigarettes can explode and cause serious burns.
Cordero Caples is recuperating at his Colorado Springs home after an e-cigarette blew up in his face in November. The 29-year-old suffered a broken neck, facial fractures, burns to his mouth and shattered teeth, said his sister, Colessia Porter.
Caples spent 10 days in a Colorado Springs hospital, and Porter is not sure when her brother will be able to go back to work as an automobile detailer.
"He has a hard time moving his body," Porter said. "How much of a range of motion he'll have is something we just don't know."
Alexander Shonkwiler is recovering in his mom's house in Colorado Springs after an e-cigarettebattery charred the 19-year-old's right leg so badly he needed skin grafts. Shonkwiler began using e-cigs to help him break his pack-a-day habit.
To read the remainder of the article, view here: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29450686/colorado-smokers-have-been-burned-by-exploding-e
2015 Year in Review Summary
Wood County Prevention Coalition Meeting
Friday, May 13, 2016, 08:30 AM
Wood County Educational Service Center 1867 N Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
About Us
Our Vision: Helping youth be drug-free, productive and responsible citizens.
Our Mission: We are a coalition of compassionate community members working together to coordinate high quality programs for the prevention of youth substance abuse in Wood County.
Email: mkarna@wcesc.org
Website: wcprevention.org
Location: 1867 Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: (419)-354-9010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPCoalition
Twitter: @woodpccoalition