American Lung Association Releases State Tobacco Control Report Cards for 2023
The American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates states and the federal government’s actions to eliminate the nation’s leading cause of preventable death—tobacco use—and to save lives with proven-effective and urgently needed tobacco control laws and policies. In the report, the Lung Association assigns letter grades, A through F, to the state and federal policies best proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
See what grade Washington State received and read the full State of Tobacco Control report by visiting www.lung.org/research/sotc.
Oregon Looks to Ban the Sale of Flavored Tobacco and Vape Products
To read more about this effort click here or on the image with this story.
Access to Mental Health Services Critical for Reducing Suicide Attempts Among LGBTQ College Students - Study
Click the image with this story to read the research brief produced by the Trevor Project.
Pro-Cannabis Social Media Linked to Youths’ Intentions to Use
Read the full story on news.wsu.edu.
Most Young Users Put Disposable E-cigarettes in Trash as Companies Fail to Take Responsibility.
Read the full story and more news on truthinitiative.org/press.
Reframing Language - Why Changing Our Thinking, Our Actions, and Our Language Matter
Developed by National Federation of Families, National Family Support -Technical Assistance Center, African American Behavioral Health Center for Excellence, E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, and Center of Excellence - LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity.
Making the Connection - Toolkit Now Available in Spanish
Prevent Coalition is pleased to offer a newly published full Spanish language version of the Making the Connection toolkit. Resources in Spanish now include all 16 modules, all handouts, speaker notes, ice breaker activities, as well as module guides. Each module is labeled for its intended audience: youth, caring adults, or parents.
If you are using the toolkit or have in the past, we’d love to hear how it’s working. Has it helped your community? What do you like about it? Contact matt.cox@esd112.org and share about your experience.
New toolkit users can watch an orientation video, create a user account and access all the resources at the following website: https://www.youthnow.me/providers/making-connections/.
The English and Spanish versions of the toolkit cover important issues affecting youth including:
- Toxic Stress, ACEs, and trauma
- Teen brain development
- Coping and risk factors
- Costs of early substance abuse
- Vaping, e-cigs, & marijuana
- Mapping your resilience
- What communities can do to help
You can help guide the development of a new Making the Connection module about vaping!
We’re growing the toolkit this year by adding another module specifically about commercial tobacco and vaping. If you live in Clark, Klickitat, or Skamania county and want to lend your voice to this committee, please email matt.cox@esd112.org.
CADCA's Research into Action Webinar Series - Fentanyl
CADCA, with support from partner agencies, also produced a publication, "Practical Theorist #13 - Fentanyl" with the most up to date information for coalitions and communities. Click on the publication cover image to download.
Parents Guide to Fentanyl
Visit www.addicted.org/news to learn more about the Parents Guide to Fentanyl and access a link to download the brochure.
Drugs of Abuse - A DEA Resource Guide
The latest edition of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s "Drugs of Abuse" publication is designed to be a reliable resource on the most commonly abused and misused drugs in the United States. This comprehensive guide provides important information about the harms and consequences of drug use by describing a drug’s effects on the body and mind, overdose potential, origin, legal status, and other key facts. The publication also offers a list of additional drug education and prevention resources, including the DEA websites.
Visit www.dea.gov/resources or click on the image with this story to view the publication.
Stopoverdose.org
Stopoverdose.org is a one stop source of overdose prevention information and what to do in the event of an overdose. You will find information about drugs commonly associated with overdose, how to get help, training for professionals, access to naloxone, answers to commonly asked questions, and other resources. It is a project of the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology, and Research (CEDEER) at the University of Washington Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) and funded by the WA State Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery.
Visit the Stopoverdose.org website to learn more.
The LCB has a YouTube Channel - Did You Know?
The Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board (LCB) YouTube channel has over 125 videos including agency meetings, trainings, and issues of interest to licensees and other LCB stakeholders. Now you can view recorded meetings and trainings whenever it is convenient.
To visit the LCB YouTube channel go to www.youtube.com and search for "WSLCB" or click the image with the story.
Know This About Cannabis
2023 Washington State Legislature is Currently in Session
Below are links to information and resources to help you get involved.
Bill Information (https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/)
Search by bill number, or list bills by many other methods from links. The bottom of each bill page has links to TVW video of hearings and floor action. See the Bill Report for a useful high-level summary of the bill policy, background, and hearing testimony.
Pre-filed Bills Page (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/prefiled.aspx?year=2023)
Budget Information on LEAP budget website (http://leap.leg.wa.gov/index.html)
Provides detail on budget proposals and links to Citizen’s Guides to WA State budgets.
Find your District & Legislators (https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/)
Election Results (https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20221108/legislative-all.html)
Washington Lobbying Rules (https://www.pdc.wa.gov/lobbyists/lobbyist-guide)
Current Laws (RCWs) and Rules (WACs) (https://leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Pages/default.aspx)
Find RCWs or WAC by number or by title.
Legislative Information Center (https://leg.wa.gov/lic/Pages/default.aspx)
Click on the Classes & Tutorials link to find great handouts and videos and live class info.
Committee Information (https://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/CommitteeListing.aspx)
Sign Up for Email Updates on Committee Hearing Schedules (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WALEG/subscriber/new)
Testifying in Committee or Submitting Comments (https://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Testify.aspx)
Watch Live Coverage - TVW (https://tvw.org)
See unedited coverage of committee hearings, testimony, floor debate, press conferences, and much more. Search the archive for recorded events or tune in live!
Training resources on the legislative process from Prevention Voices WA and Foundation for Healthy Generations (https://healthygen.org/resources/)
How to Read a Bill - Video (https://youtu.be/KFx0ONYSgqA)
Understanding the WA Legislative Process - Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfPXsGmKgLc&t=4s)
How to Use the Legislative Website - Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbuKisIUyLs&t=45s)
How to Use the Legislative Website Advanced Tips - Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKsj2zMQ-4Y&t=4s)
Prevent Coalition Podcast
Consider adding the Prevent Coalition Podcast to your playlist in 2023! We're sharing stories and strategies to help coalitions and organizations reach their full potential."
Listen at preventcoalition.podbean.com. The podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, the Apple Podcast app and other familiar streaming services.
- Episode 0 - Welcome
- Episode 1 - Rural Network
- Episode 2 - Policy Change
- Episode 3: Secure Your Cannabis
- Episode 4: "Better You Bingo" with special guests from Clark County STASHA!
- Episode 5: Sweet & Sour
- New --> Episode 6: New Coordinator Orientation
Episodes archived at preventcoalition.org/events/news/.
Rural Grant Progress
- Assess Data: We created a contract with Clark County Public Health to offer Epidemiology support and implement parts of the action plan. They will offer several data trainings to the network, build an online visual data portal, and more.
- Build Toolkit: In October 2023 we hosted a workgroup meeting to update the Find Your Good campaign with rural elements, captions, and images. We'll create a plan to survey rural youth for input.
- Change Policy: Our goal this year is to connect rural youth groups and coalitions to legislators during Rural Network meetings. November 2022 - February 2023 we'll focus on gathering youth volunteers, training on policy, and preparing for legislative meet and greets.
- Offer Training: Thank you for attending the Rural Conference! Access materials and slideshow PDF's at the website hub. You may also access the evaluation from this page.
- Offer Training: We hosted a virtual Youth Advocacy Training statewide again on December 7 and December 8, 2022. The event was coordinated in partnership with Teens for Tomorrow and Prevention Voices.
- Promote Equity: The Steering Committee has been reviewing assessment information and analyzing the network through an equity lens, creating goals for improvement and reducing barriers for participation with the goal of submitting an Equity Plan to funders.
Connection is the Best Prevention
Supported by the fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent is a regional coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration, awareness, and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington. Prevent also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington state. As a community mobilizer, the coalition creates a culture promoting healthy choices; advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empowers and nurtures youth; and facilitates positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive.