In the News

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Students busted for alcohol, marijuana- Pittsfield girl apparently overdosed on peppermint schnapps
May 10, 2005

Students busted for alcohol, marijuana Pittsfield girl, 15, apparently overdosed on peppermint schnapps during lunch break Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - Bangor Daily News

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PITTSFIELD - Pittsfield police spent a good part of Monday dealing with a teenage girl who apparently overdosed on peppermint schnapps and two feuding teenage boys who were discovered to have marijuana and a pipe on them.

A 15-year-old Pittsfield girl collapsed at Maine Central Institute shortly after noon and was taken to Sebasticook Valley Hospital for treatment of alcohol poisoning, Officer Jeffrey Vanadestine said.

Vanadestine said the girl "was in rough shape" and was admitted for treatment.

The girl lost consciousness while in a class and struck her head on the floor when she collapsed, he said. MCI staff tried to revive the girl for nearly 15 minutes before calling police, Vanadestine said. Because both SVH ambulances already were transporting other patients, an ambulance from Clinton had to be called.

The girl will be charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor, Vanadestine said, and an adult companion, who provided the booze, was charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor and possession of alcohol by a minor.

Sarah Lapierre, 18, of Pittsfield, another MCI student, also was intoxicated, said Vanadestine, and provided the schnapps that the girls drank. He said the two females consumed more than three-quarters of a fifth of schnapps during their half-hour lunch break at a popular gathering place off Central Street by the railroad tracks.

Vanadestine was assisted in the investigation by Officer Michael Cote.

Just prior to the alcohol incident, police charged two teenage boys on their lunch break from MCI with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Vanadestine happened to spot two boys, one 14 and the other 15, going "toe to toe" at Manson Park just after 11:30 a.m.

"They were getting ready to fight," Vanadestine said. A quick search of the boys revealed a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana pipe.

The boys were released to go back to school at MCI and were formally charged later in the day.

Teens address peers' alcohol use
May 9, 2004

Teens address peers' alcohol use Friday,May7,2004,9:55 AM

By Katie Brace News 8 WMTW

PORTLAND -- It's prom and graduation season, and that can mean more parties.

One group is trying to reduce the number of teens that might drink by targeting adults.

Teenagers from Youth Build of Portland are putting stickers on alcohol containers, reminding adults that it's against the law to give alcohol to someone underage.

Portland's police chief, Michael Chitwood, says its a significant problem.

And, to help reduce the problem, these teens hope to have the stickers in 80 percent of the stores selling alcohol in Portland.

Youth Build's Frank Demelle says, "I've had friends that have died in drunk driving accidents and stuff, who they got the alcohol from older people. I just feel when adults buy alcohol for youth, it puts us at risk and you never know what can happen."

Providing alcohol to a minor is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine up to $2,000.

The project is sponsored by Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol. It runs through June 15.

Keys for Prevention program looks to prevent underage and binge drinking in southern Maine
August 25, 2003

By JEREMIAH ROOD

Democrat Staff Writer

ELIOT, Maine — Beginning this fall, a program will allow residents in Eliot, South Berwick, Kittery and York new ways to deal with alcohol and drug abuse prevention — particularly among youths.

The KEYS for Prevention group, a grassroots, regional substance abuse prevention coalition, is now offering programs with an emphasis on preventing and reducing underage and binge drinking.

Part of the One Maine initiative, KEYS has been awarded $153,000 per year for the next three years by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse.

Program director Paige Farmer said the group will organize and host two to three day prevention training institutes in June 2004 and will work to develop and support school-based Youth Advocacy Groups.

They will also organize regular school-based parent and youth education programs on topics such as links between alcohol use and sexual assault, risky sexual behavior and alcohol poisoning.

KEYS plans on working with youth and local media to develop a media literacy campaign to counter advertising for alcohol, similar to the one implemented to counter ads for cigarettes. Resources to local law enforcement for training and education will also be provided.

In May, the group brought together representatives from a variety of community groups including schools, police, and health professionals. The group then worked to decide how to deal with alcohol and drug problems in the four communities.

The group then selected several new programs set to begin from the KEYS for Prevention group for the fall, winter and spring. These include programs aimed at targeting areas in the larger community, schools and families.

KEYS has picked out some programs which have been effective across the nation and will begin some more homegrown programs.

National programs the group selected include Parenting Wisely, The Leadership and Resiliency Program and Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol.

Parenting Wisely uses a CD program to illustrate common parenting issues and concerns. A multi-session version, with facilitated discussion following each section, will be offered through adult and community education programs in York, Kittery and Eliot/South Berwick in winter/spring of 2004. The program will also be available for home use through schools and the Family Resource Center at Landmark Hill on a rotating basis, according to Farmer.

Farmer said that the many of the parents she has talked to, would like to see programs which will allow them to meet other parents and begin a discussion about these issues.

The Leadership and Resiliency Program is an intensive, high school based program for at risk youth, which will be offered in Jan. 2004 in Marshwood High School, York High School and Traip Academy. The program includes weekly resiliency meetings for select students hosted at each school and facilitated by trained clinical staff. Meetings are complimented by weekly alternative activities, including working with abused, neglected or injured animals, community service projects and other activities, Farmer said.

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol targets the broader community. Farmer said the program is a public education campaign, which will examine various town ordinances around alcohol use and availability.

For example, Farmer said an ordinance requiring exterior lighting in parking lots might discourage alcohol purchases by adults.

Farmer said school officials are excited about this program, because prior to its inception there was no program which really met these students needs.

One homegrown approach, The Nurturing Program will begin in October. This program comes from the York County Child Abuse and Neglect Council. They will host the program for families for children ages 5-11 in York County. Subsequent nurturing programs for families with adolescent children will be held once each year in KEYS communities in fall 2004 and fall 2005.

To become involved or learn more about any of the above programs call Paige Farmer at (207)439-6504.

Democrat Staff Writer Jeremiah Rood can be reached at 692-3300, Ext. 5032, or jrood@fosters.com

© 2003 Geo. J. Foster Company

Foster' Daily Democrat

Campaign to curb underage drinking kicks off
April 7, 2003

BRUNSWICK - Community members from Bath, Brunswick and Topsham are invited to meet this week and next to develop effective means of curbing underage drinking. All area residents are urged to become active in the effort by attending a meeting in their community — Brunswick, today; Bath, Thursday; or Topsham, April 16.

The project's focus is to organize community resources, initiate strategies and communicate directly with middle and high school students. The project is funded by a grant from OneME (Maine Office of Substance Abuse) to the ACCESS Health Coalition with support from Mid Coast Hospital.

"This is not an isolated issue affecting only one community," said Patricia Boissevain, who is organizing the project. "It is universal and requires the involvement and valuable input of as many local school district residents as we can muster. The extent of underage drinking is alarming."

The meetings will be held in Brunswick at 6 p.m. today in the Morrell Meeting Room in the Curtis Memorial Library; at 6 p.m.; Thursday at Patten Free Library in Bath; and in Topsham at 6:30 p.m. April 16 in Rooms 201-202 at Mt. Ararat High School.

For more information, call Boissevain at 373-6957.

(Times Record http://www.timesrecord.com )

Good news Local initiative announced to reduce youth alcohol and tobacco use One Maine-One Portland to Help Distribute “Maine Parents’ Kit” Helps Keep Teens Safe
March 27, 2003

The Public Health Division of the City of Portland’s Health and Human Services Dept. announced today the development of a new initiative to reduce alcohol and tobacco use among young people in Portland. The One Maine – One Portland Coalition brings together many organizations working to promote health and prevent substance abuse among Portland youth. Under this project, funded through the Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA), five local coalitions and many additional organizations are collaborating to reduce tobacco and alcohol use among 12 and 17 year-olds in Portland.

The Public Health Division of the City of Portland’s Health & Human Services Department is the lead agency of the One Maine – One Portland Coalition. The five coalitions are Healthy Portland (convened by the City of Portland), the Co-occurring Collaborative of Southern Maine, the Children’s Leadership Collaborative (convened by United Way of Greater Portland), the Girls’ Collaborative (convened by Youth Alternatives) and the Youth Advisory Council of Portland City Council. Portland Mayor James Cloutier had this to say, “Finding the best practices and making a community-wide effort to deal with two persistent threats to public health—teenage smoking and alcohol abuse—are the goals of this groundbreaking coalition effort. The City of Portland and its Public Health Division are proud to be the lead agency in this effort—and we will derive great satisfaction in creating a knowledge base and useable means for improving our children’s health, for life, by combating the use of nicotine and intoxicants. Great credit and thanks is due to all the agencies and community groups contributing to this effort.”

In addition to the five coalitions, many other organizations, including groups led by and focused on youth, are participating to bring a truly collaborative approach to this problem and make best use of local resources. According to Margaret Jones, Director of Prevention & Education for Day One, “What is really exciting about the One Maine- One Portland project is the unprecedented level of collaboration among different organizations. All of these organizations have worked together before in informal ways—now we will be combining our experience and resources to develop and implement a plan that is certain to have a great benefit for the young people of Portland.”

Along with these organizational partners, all members of the community who share a commitment to the health of Portland’s young people are encouraged to become part of the One Maine – One Portland Coalition. Fred Haynes, a Portland business owner, decided to participate in this new community effort because, “It is important for all of us to set the right example for our children.” Haynes believes that, “everyone in the community, business leaders, church members, parents, etc., everyone needs to join together to reduce underage drinking.” The importance of parents becoming informed and involved is a key element of this project. The Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) recently released the results of a survey showing that Maine parents drastically underestimate the likelihood that their children might be drinking alcohol. While only one parent out of 500 thought that their child had participated in binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row), a full 23% of 9th through 12th graders taking the survey reported having participated in at least one episode of binge drinking in the two weeks prior to the survey.

Maine Parent’s Kit Offers Practical “How-to” Resources for Parents Apart of this effort, the One Maine-One Portland coalition wants to provide every parent in Portland with resources to reduce alcohol use, says Lucky Hollander, Director of Youth Alternatives. “Empowering parents with practical information in one step. We want parents to reach their own kids, as well as to be involved in helping change the messages kids get about alcohol and tobacco throughout the community.” The Maine Parent’s Kit is a free guide that offers practical tips, useful facts, and valuable statewide resources to help Maine parents monitor and prevent alcohol use by their teens.

One goal of the Maine Parent’s Kit campaign, which includes high-profile television ad campaign is to heighten the awareness of Maine Parents that, when it comes to alcohol, their teenager is at risk. The campaign poses the question, “Your teen and alcohol: do you really know?”

The Maine Parent’s Kit includes practical advice in eight easy to read inserts on how to prevent teen alcohol use and abuse including:

Monitor Your Teen Effective parenting strategies to prevent underage drinking.

Signs to Watch For How to recognize the signs of teen drinking and substance abuse.

Maine Facts What you should know about teen alcohol use in our state.

Talk With Your Teen Tips for listening and talking with your teen – and what to say.

The Medical Impact Why delaying the use of alcohol improves your teen’s well being.

Maine Resources for Parents Where you can turn for additional assistance.

Maine Law The facts about underage drinking laws in our state.

Community Involvement How you can help fight underage drinking in Maine.

Self-assessment What messages are you sending to your teenager about drinking.

Maine Parent’s Kits are available through One Maine – One Portland, 576-8021, on the Web at http://www.maineparents.net/ by calling the OSA Information and Resource Center (IRC) at 1-800-499-0027 or 207-287-8900), or emailing (osa.ircosa@maine.gov). (Casco Bay Weekly)

Bucksport targets youth substance abuse
February 24, 2003

Bangor Daily News; Bangor, Me.; RICH HEWITT;OF THE NEWS STAFF;

Abstract: The grant - $76,500 a year for three years - comes from the state's Office of Substance Abuse through the One Me-Stand United for Prevention program and will be used to develop strategies to prevent substance use and abuse among young people ages 12-17, according to Bucksport health director Mary Jane Bush.

Healthy Acadia shares $153,000 federal grant
February 5, 2003

Bangor Daily News; Bangor, Me.;

Abstract: The Healthy Acadia coalition will use the money to pay for efforts coordinated by a substance prevention team that includes the Mount Desert Island Alcohol and Drug Abuse Group, Mount Desert Island Hospital Behavioral Health Center, the Mount Desert Island YMCA, the MDI Restorative Justice Program, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hancock County, Harbor House...

Alcohol's risks don't deter teens
January 22, 2003

AUGUSTA — Maine teenagers consume far more alcohol than their parents realize, according to a new study released Tuesday by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse.

As a result of this finding, Gov. John Baldacci has launched a $9.4 million campaign to provide parents with more information about the risks alcohol poses to their children.

The effort involves a $400,000 television and print ad campaign and the dissemination of free "Maine Parents' Kits," which provide resources to parents about teenage alcohol abuse.

The campaign also consists of $9 million in "One ME — stand united for prevention" federal grants, which have been awarded to 23 community coalitions for substance abuse prevention.

One group awarded a grant is Mid Coast Hospital's ACCESS Health Coalition, which will receive $76,500 a year for three years, to develop a community program to prevent alcohol abuse by students in Bath, Brunswick and School Administrative District 75. The program is expected to begin in July.

"One of the things we're concerned about is that (teenagers) seem to know what they're doing is risky," said Patricia Conner, who is organizing the ACCESS Health program. "The solution is not going to be as simple as just providing education."

This, she said, is why improved communication between parents and teenagers is a crucial part of solving the underage drinking problem in Maine. And as the Office of Substance abuse research shows, the need for improved communication between parents and children is great.

The office last year conducted two surveys — one given to parents and one given to teenagers — to determine just how much teenagers abuse alcohol and other drugs, and how aware parents are of the problem.

The 2002 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey was administered to more than 50,000 students in grades 6 through 12 in February. The parent survey was administered via telephone to 500 randomly selected parents during the second half of 2002.

While only one parent in 500 thought his or her child had participated in binge drinking, which is defined as five or more drinks in a row, 23 percent of high school students reported at least one episode of binge drinking in the two weeks prior to the survey.

In Brunswick, 37 percent of high school seniors said they had participated in binge drinking in the two weeks prior to the survey. At Morse High School, 22 percent did and at Mt. Ararat in Topsham, 23 percent did. Statewide, 29.5 percent of high school seniors reported binge drinking two weeks prior to the survey. Parent data specific to Mid-coast communities was not available.

The Office of Substance Abuse survey also showed that 98 percent of parents believed their teen had not consumed any alcohol in the month prior to the survey. The data, however, revealed that 41 percent of Maine teens said they had consumed alcohol during the same period.

Additionally, 90 percent of parents statewide believed they would find out if their teen had been drinking, but two-thirds of teens said their parents would have no idea.

"We don't want to tell anybody they're bad parents," said Conner. "Oftentimes they don't know what to look for."

The parents' kits provide information on warning signs for alcohol abuse, advice on parenting strategies to prevent underage drinking, facts about teen alcohol use in Maine, tips for better communication with teenagers and other information.

"Parents play a critical role in reducing teen use of alcohol," said Gov. Baldacci. "If we can get in on the front end of this to work together, we can make a difference."

Lynn Duby, commissioner of the Maine Department of Behavioral and Development Services, said it's important to remember that even though binge drinking remains a problem, survey results since 1995 indicate that fewer students are drinking overall and fewer students reported drinking in the 30 days prior to the survey. Tobacco use is also down enough that marijuana has surpassed it as the second most used drug by Maine youth, she said.

"We have made some significant progress, especially with middle school students," she said. "One of the important messages out of that is that prevention is working. Most kids do not drink, and we don't have to accept underage drinking as a right of passage."

Conner thinks these non-drinkers will be key to reducing teenage alcohol consumption.

"You've got to let kids do what they think is going to work with their peers," she said. "There are a lot of kids that aren't drinking. Why aren't they more vocal?"

Conner wants to involve these students in the program she is developing locally. Currently, she is looking to hire a project coordinator to oversee the prevention efforts in the three communities. She also seeks volunteers from the communities to participate in the program.

Conner invites anyone interested in learning more about the project to attend an informational meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Mid Coast Hospital conference room. For more information, call 373-6950.

MAINE PARENTS' KITS are available for downloading at www.MaineParents.net, or by calling the Office of Substance Abuse Information and Resource Center at 1-800-499-0027 or 287-8900, or by e-mailing osa.ircosa@maine.gov. http://www.timesrecord.com

State gets funds for anti-drug programs Baldacci announces 3-year federal grant
January 22, 2003

Bangor Daily News; Bangor, Me.; MICHAEL O'D. MOORE;OF THE NEWS STAFF;

Abstract: AUGUSTA - Gov. John Baldacci announced Tuesday that 23 community coalitions, covering 160 Maine cities and towns, will receive money from a three-year, $9 million federal grant intended to prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

Baldacci cautioned that many parents don't recognize the warning signs related to a child's substance abuse.

For older items, see the "In the News" Archive.