Welcome!

Our coalition represents agencies, schools, government, businesses, families, and concerned citizens in Tompkins County, all working to reduce substance abuse among middle and high school youth through the use of effective, evidence-based programs and practices.

Raising teenagers today is full of challenges and rewards. This website offers information about local resources, advice for families, information for teens, NY laws on underage drinking, excellent web links, and more. Take a look around and consider signing up to stay in touch at Contact Us.

Upcoming events:

In the News:

Is Marijuana Good For You?

A study released this week suggests smoking pot doesn't harm the lungs. It's not telling the whole truth. (more)

NY Sen. Charles Schumer asks FDA to review the safety of new caffeine inhaler

Breathable caffeine dispensed from canisters that fit in pants pockets is a ‘club drug’ that may be dangerous to youth.  The inhaler is set to hit store shelves in New York and Boston next month. (more)

Release of Annual National Youth Substance Abuse Survey

Each December, the results of the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey are released.  MTF is a nationally representative survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders conducted by the University of Michigan and funded by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  The survey measures trends in youth substance use.  To read a summary report of the 2011 MTF results, click here.

Chewing Tobacco Not Allowed by Major League Baseball Players

This week, Major League Baseball announced it would no longer allow the use of chewing tobacco when fans are present, ending a longstanding tradition, but pleasing health advocates who say it’s a long overdue social norm change. (more)

Economic Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption in the U.S.

Excessive alcohol consumption is known to exact a substantial toll on health, causing more than 79,000 deaths annually in the U.S. But the economic toll is also high—an estimated $223.5 billion, or almost $2 per drink, in 2006 (the latest year for which data are available). (more)

President Obama declares October National Substance Abuse Prevention Month (more)

Next medication collection event scheduled for April 28, 2012.  Details will be available soon.  Oct. Medication Disposal Event yields over 400 lbs. of meds  (more)

Keeping Our Children Safe, Healthy, and Drug-Free in the New School Year

Substance abuse puts teens at risk for academic failure and for an array of health, social, and legal consequences.  The Office of National Drug Control Policy offers information for parents and educators.  (more)

Facts about Alcohol and Adolescent Health 

Summary prepared by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (more)

Social Networking Signals Increased Risk of Teen Substance Abuse

American teens ages 12-17 who in a typical day spend any time on social networking sites are at increased risk of smoking, drinking and drug use, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents, the 16th annual back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). (more)

Second Annual Project Sticker Shock in Trumansburg a success (more)

New York Bans Bath Salts

Certain items labeled as "bath salts" have grown popular as a legal substitute for cocaine.  But now, they can no longer be sold in New York State.  (more)

Summary of Highlights from 2010 Student Survey Released

In October, 2010, 4,788 students in grades 6-12 from all six Tompkins County School Districts participated in the second Youth Development Survey.  Data provide valuable information to schools, districts, the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth, Tompkins County Youth Services and other planning groups about youth behaviors and attitudes.  Click here for the summary.

"Safe Celebrations" letters sent to parents of county juniors and seniors

With support from Stop DWI, CCHY sent 1995 letters to parents/caregivers of high school juniors and seniors encouraging them to create safe, memorable opportunities for their teens to celebrate prom and graduation time. Each letter was signed by the student's high school principal, the Tompkins County District Attorney, the director of the Tompkins County Youth Services Dept. and the President of the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth.  (more)

Teens Who Drink with Adult Supervision Have More Drinking Problems, Study Finds

Teens who drink with adult supervision have more drinking-related problems than their peers whose parents don’t allow them to drink, a new study shows. (more)

NY Attorney General Joins in Effort to Shield Teens from Alcohol Advertising

Attorneys general from 24 states have asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to do more to shield teenagers from alcohol advertising. A letter, written by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and signed by colleagues from 23 other states, proposes a three-step plan to regulate teens’ exposure to alcohol ads.  (more)

Local Medication Event Collects Over 800 Pounds of Medicine

On April 9, our Coalition assisted with the third medication disposal event organized by the Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal.  At this spring's event, 823 pounds of medicine were collected from over 400 people.  This included over 17,000 doses of controlled substances!  Thank you to all who volunteered and who dropped off medicine.  This helps keep both our environment and young people safe. 

National Study Confirms Teen Alcohol and Drug Use is Increasing

Following a decade of steady declines, a new national study released this week by The Partnership at Drugfree.org indicates that teen drug and alcohol use is headed in the wrong direction, with marked increases in teen use of marijuana and ecstasy over the past three years. (more)

CCHY graduates from national CADCA Academy

The Tompkins County Community Coalition for Healthy Youth (CCHY) proudly announces its graduation from the National Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Coalition Academy. The graduation ceremony was on February 8th during CADCA's 21st Annual National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, MD. (more)

Tompkins County selected for Above the Influence National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

The TST BOCES Youth Development Program, in partnership with the Tompkins County Community Coalition for Healthy Youth, has been selected to be one of twenty communities in the nation to be a part of a new, localized approach that supports the message of Above the Influence National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.   The Campaign is managed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).  Grounded in research and implemented in collaboration with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign delivers anti-drug messages to America’s youth, their parents and other caregivers, and community organizations that are important influences in the lives of teens.  (more)

National Youth Surveys Shows Increases in Youth Marijuana Use

The 2010 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey, released today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the University of Michigan, showed an increase in marijuana use rates among all grades measured in the survey – 8th, 10th and 12th graders.  (more)

Producers of Alcohol Energy Drinks Cease Product Shipment

Four small brewing companies have heeded warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and have agreed to stop shipping their seven alcoholic energy drinks. (more)

Synthetic Marijuana Becomes Illegal

The Drug Enforcement Agency has taken emergency action to outlaw five chemicals that are used to make synthetic marijuana, meaning it will be illegal to possess or sell them in the U.S. for at least one year. (more)

Teens are Using Marijuana at Younger Age

Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Policy, alerted parents to the heightened dangers of marijuana use that has risen sharply, with kids starting to use the drug at a younger age.  (more)

How Does Marijuana Affect Driving?

Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time. (more)

Governor Paterson and Chairman Rosen Announce Four Loko to Stop Shipping Alcoholic Energy Drinks to NY

Gov. Paterson and State Liquor Authority (SLA) Chairman Rosen announced that the SLA has reached a voluntary agreement with Four Loko producer Phusion Products to stop shipping alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine and other stimulants to New York State by Friday, November 19, 2010. (more)

Doctors Say Alcoholic Energy Drinks Dangerous

Some doctors say drinks that combine alcohol with caffeine should be banned because they're dangerous. (more)

U.S. Drug Czar:  Parents Must Talk to Kids

Parents must take personal responsibility for reversing increases in young people's drug use in the United States. (more)

Synthetic Marijuana Use On the Rise

While national surveys have shown that marijuana use is on the rise, a synthetic version of the drug, known as K2 or Spice, is also causing problems throughout the country. (more)

White House Drug Policy Director Urges Parents to Take Action to Prevent Youth Drug Use

In light of recent data revealing troubling increases in youth drug use in America, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), today urged parents and community leaders to take action to prevent and reduce drug use. (more)

Ads for Alcohol, Tobacco and Prescription Drugs Hurt Kids, Pediatricians Say
Saying the measures could help reduce adolescent substance abuse, the American Academy of Pediatrics has called for an end to all tobacco ads, limits on alcohol and prescription drug ads, and for the entertainment industry to stop glamorizing smoking and drinking. (more)

Reduction in Smoking Shown in Movies; More Restrictions Needed

Depictions of smoking in top-grossing U.S. films decreased by about half between 2005 and 2009, but more than 50 percent of PG-13 movies still show characters lighting up, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (more)

Coalition, Teens Partner to Provide “Sticker Shock” GrassRoots Weekend

During the recent GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg, visitors and residents got the message that it’s illegal for adults to buy or provide alcohol to anyone under 21.  (more) 

 

 

1 in 5 U.S. High School Students Have Abused Prescription Drugs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (www.cdc.gov/yrbss) found that 1 in 5 high school students in the United States have ever taken a prescription drug, such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Adderall, Ritalin, or Xanax, without a doctor’s prescription. Details.

With Teen Drinking, Parent Rules Do Affect Teens' Choices

Researchers say that parents' approach to addressing teen drinking does influence a teen's behavior.  Details.

A Cigarette a Month Can Get a Kid Hooked

A study of adolescent smokers in the journal Pediatrics tracks the course of addiction to nicotine among a group of sixth-graders. After following 1,246 middle-school children for four years, researchers say a pattern emerged of occasional smoking that led to an addiction to tobacco: A cigarette a month will do it.  Details.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Policy Statement on Teen Drinking

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement underscoring the critical role that pediatricians play in discouraging children and teens from drinking alcohol.  Details.

Partnership for a Drug Free America Warns Parents about Prescription Drug Abuse

Abuse of prescription drugs is an emerging trend.  Details.

Teens Who Drink With Parents May Still Develop Alcohol Problems

Many parents take the approach of trying to teach responsible drinking by letting their teenagers have alcohol at home. However, a new study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, shows that this approach is ineffective.  Details.

Adults Largely Responsible for Underage Drinking

According to a nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 40 percent of the nation’s estimated 10.8 million underage current drinkers (persons ages 12 to 20 who drank in the past 30 days) were provided free alcohol by adults 21 or older.  Details.

More People Killed by Drugs than by Car Accidents in New York

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concluded that in more than 16 states, including New York, more people were killed by drugs than by auto accidents. The study, which was reported by the Associated Press, found that the majority of drug-related deaths were caused by the abuse of painkillers.  Full report.

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Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu's Call to Action on Underage Drinking

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Free brochures and booklets:

Click here to send us an e-mail with your name and address and we can send you free materials.

What to do about an underage drinking party:

Do you know of a party where underage youth are drinking? Does this worry you?   You can call the NY State Police at 1-866-UNDER21 to make an anonymous report for any "field" party or "house" party or instance of someone purchasing alcohol for use by a minor. The NY State Police will contact local law enforcement to check it out.

For more information on what the laws are in New York, go to Know the Law.