Building Assets into Halloween

From the blog, Giving Youth the Asset Edge

"Halloween offers an opportunity to move beyond candy to old fashion porch sitting and friendship building. The list of 40 Developmental Assets provide guidelines for how this year’s Halloween experience can be enjoyable for the kid in all of us and help build a caring neighborhood (asset #4). Halloween is a great opportunity for getting to know neighbors, have fun and make the holiday last a little bit longer."

Click HERE to read more...

NIDA Reaches Out to Teens During "Talk About Prescriptions Month"

October is "Talk About Prescriptions Month," and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is launching a prescription drug abuse education video to promote the observance.

In the new video, NIDA scientists Cindy Miner, Ph.D., and Joni Rutter, Ph.D., explain the risks and dangers of abusing painkillers. By watching the video featured on the NIDA for Teens Web site, teens can learn about these dangers and some safety tips to keep in mind when they get a prescription from their doctors.

Every day in the United States, 2,500 American teens age 12 to 17 illegally take a prescription pain reliever for the first time. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem across the United States. According to a NIDA survey, more than 16 million Americans age 12 and older took a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative-just for the effect-at least once in the previous year.

In addition to the new painkillers video, NIDA offers teens other resources about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, such as the Sara Bellum Blog. For more information on prescription drug abuse, visit the NIDA Web site.

Portland collecting old meds on Thursday

Submitted by John Richardson (PORTLAND PRESS HERALD) on Wed, 10/07/2009

Old and unwanted medications will be collected for safe disposal at the Portland Expo on Thursday.

Portland officials are encouraging residents to sort through their medicine cabinets and bring in any over-the-counter or prescription drugs that are expired or no longer used by the household. Veterinary medicines also will be collected.

The event is intended to raise awareness about the risks associated with leaving expired medications in the home and the consequences of disposing of medications improperly by flushing them or throwing them in the trash.

If not properly disposed of, the medications can be used illegally or cause accidental poisoning. And, if flushed down a toilet or put in a landfill, they can eventually contaminate water supplies.

Medications should be brought in their original containers if possible. Individual privacy will be protected by removing any personal information. Labels should not be removed before drop-off, because they identify substances and drug classes.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Portland Exposition Building on Park Avenue.

Portland Celebrates National Recovery Month

9/22/2009 - NEWS ADVISORY
City of Portland
389 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
www.portlandmaine.gov
CONTACT: Nicole Clegg, 207-756-8173, 207-272-4477 (cell) nicoleclegg@portlandmaine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2009

Portland Celebrates National Recovery Month
The Overdose Prevention Project, a Program of the City of Portland, Health & Human Services Department, Public Health Division, holds 5th annual Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair

What: Tomorrow, the City of Portland Overdose Prevention Project’s annual Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair will be held for community members accessing Preble Street Resource Center’s many services. The Fair offers access to more than twenty area service providers, free food and a raffle to nearly one hundred people each year.

“We know that addiction is a devastating disease with significant costs to individuals and communities. Holding this event offers participants a unique opportunity to access services they may not use daily and also allows us to spread the message that recovery is possible,” stated Amanda Edgar, of the City of Portland (HHSD) Public Health Division’s Overdose Prevention Project.

National Recovery Month honors the millions of people who are in recovery and highlights that recovery works in our communities as the solution for addiction. This year, various service agencies across Maine will be hosting Recovery Month events. The events are scheduled throughout September and will be held in Bangor, Augusta, China Lake, and Portland.

For more information about the Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair, contact Amanda Edgar, Community Health Specialist for the Overdose Prevention Project at (207) 756-8053 or visit www.facebook.com/portlandprevention.

When: September 23, 2009
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Where: Wayside Soup Kitchen
252 Oxford Street, Portland

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FASD Awareness Day September 9th

From FASDay.com:
Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed. Proclamations are issued in countries, states, provinces, and towns all around the world. Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska. People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

The first FASDay was celebrated on 9/9/99. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol. Anytime is a good time to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

Learn more at: http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/pressroom/fasdcoming.cfm

Young People Invited to Submit After-School Projects for Do Something Grants

Do Something and JCPenney have teamed up to support youth-led afterschool programs and projects across the United States.

The program partners will award ten grants of $500 each and five grand-prize grants of $1,000 each to young people who have started afterschool activities that help youth in their community.

Visit the Do Something Web site for complete program information and project posting guidelines.

Our Pages Have Been Updated!

Check out our newly-updated webpages reflecting our commitment to supporting women who are pregnant and opiate-addicted as well as our area listings of National Recovery Month celebrations!

NEW! Portland, Maine Substance Abuse Prevention Page: Celebrating National Recovery Month

NEW! Portland Women's Task Force: Treating Opiate Addiction During Pregnancy