COALITION NEWS

Many things around the house including prescription, over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins can be dangerous or poisonous if found by an innocent child, a beloved pet or used in the wrong way. Never underestimate the curious mind of a child or a dog’s keen sense of smell. Children and pets are the most common victims of accidental medicine poisonings, with pain medications being the single most frequent cause of pediatric fatalities reported to Poison Control.

Unintentional exposure to prescription medication has led to an increase in poison control center calls in recent years, according to the “Childhood Poisoning: Safeguarding Young Children from Addictive Substances” report by the Partnership to End Drug Addiction (formerly the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse). In 2019, the 55 United States poison control centers provided telephone guidance for over 2.1 million human poison exposures. That's about:

• 6.4 poison exposures/1000 population
• 37.4 poison exposures in children younger than 6 years/1000 children
• 1 poison exposure reported to U.S. poison control centers every 15 seconds

Furthermore, nearly 50% of all calls received by the Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications – both over-the-counter and prescription. Whether Fido accidentally chewed into a pill bottle or a well-intentioned pet owner accidentally switched medication (giving their pet a human medication), pet poisonings due to human medications are common and can be very serious. If you suspect that your pet has accidentally ingested medicine, call the 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center at 1-855-764-7661.

You can keep children, pets, and loved ones safe in your home by knowing the risks for accidental medicine ingestion, misuse, or overdose and by following prevention tips:

• Always keep medicines in their original containers and properly labeled. Be aware of all medicines in your home and how many pills are left in the containers.
• Children like to mimic adult behaviors, including taking medicine. If possible, take your medicine somewhere where children will not see you.
• Never tell a child medicine tastes like candy and never give medicine to a child in the dark. You could give the wrong dosage or even the wrong medicine.
• Keep medicine out of reach. Make sure purses and bags — yours and guests' — that could contain medicines are kept out of the reach of kids at all times. If your kids spend a lot of time at a relative's, know what medicines are there and help to get them out of your child's reach.
• Never assume your child can't open a medicine package or container. Child-resistant packaging does not mean childproof packaging.
• Don’t share prescription medicines. If you are taking more than one drug at a time, check with your health care provider, pharmacist, or call the toll-free Poison Help line 1-800-222-1222, which connects you to your local poison center, to find out about possible drug interactions.
• Store all medicines — prescription and nonprescription — in a locking cabinet, drawer or lockbox. Kids can climb up using the toilet and countertops to get to items placed up high, so using a lock is key. Purchase a cabinet lock or lock box online or at your nearest store to lock up all of your medications. Learn more at LocksSaveLives.org.
• Dispose of your unused medications at your nearest take back location. You can find your nearest drop box site at a Take Back Your Meds site near you.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction to opioids, now is the time to get help. Programs are available across Washington state to help you live an opioid-free life. Learn about overdose prevention, treatment, opioid misuse prevention, safe medication storage and disposal, and more at www.GetTheFactsRx.com.

Three months after a court-ordered deadline for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to decide what e-cigarette products can stay on the market, FDA delays have left e-cigarettes in kid-friendly flavors widely available across the country, according to a new report released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!

Join youth and adult prevention leaders from around the state as they talk about the importance of prevention in communities and schools with state legislators. The one-hour event is hosted by the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Preventio (WASAVP) and will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required (link is below). A short video and more about Prevention Policy Day can be viewed on the Foundation for Healthy Generations website.

Click on the image for a printable flyer!

WHEN: Monday, January 17, 2022, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Virtual Zoom Meeting

REGISTER HERE!

The 2021-22 Washington State Legislative Session continues. We encourage you to establish a connection with your elected officials, and share your voice for matters important to you.

Relevant Prevention Policies:

Marijuana

• Allowing marijuana agriculture

• Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis
• Replacing the term "marijuana" with the term "cannabis" throughout the Revised Code of Washington
• Providing a tax exemption for medical marijuana patients
• Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission

Alcohol

• Concerning the creation of a limited spirits retail license
• Concerning taxation of low-proof beverages

Tobacco

• Concerning methods to prevent nicotine addiction
• Enforcement reform - possession of vapor products, tobacco, and tobacco products by minors
• Vapor product tax reform
• Vapor product flavors ban

Prevention System

• Providing behavioral health system responses to individuals with substance use disorder

Tools & Guides:

• Accessing the Legislature Remotely
• How to Testify or Submit Comment Remotely
• How to Locate & Contact Your Legislators
• Navigating the Legislative Website
• Session Flow
• Reading a Bill
• Crafting a Message

The statewide policy workgroup, Prevention Voices, has published a series of legislative 101 webinars to help prepare for legislative session. You may find some familiar hosts!

Click the links below to watch and learn. These videos will be archived in multiple places, including the Prevent advocacy page.

• Navigating the Legislative Website
• Session Flow
• Reading a Bill
• Crafting a Message

Find Your Legislative District (https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/)

Use this tool to find your LD and access a clickable map of all districts that lists legislators.

Roster of all members (https://app.leg.wa.gov/Rosters/Members)

Easy contact info for legislators & aides

House member list (https://leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/default.aspx)

Legislator photo, committee assignments, link to home page with bio and other info

Senate member list (https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/Pages/default.aspx)

Legislator photo, committee assignments, link to home page with bio and other info.

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.

Current Laws (RCWs) and Rules (WACs) (https://leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Pages/default.aspx)

Find RCWs or WAC by number or by title.

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.

Legislative Information Center (https://leg.wa.gov/lic/Pages/default.aspx)

Useful resource on the legislative website. 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)

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing released a new web-based Youth-Adult Partnership Guide that outlines how community-based organizations can partner with youth to improve access to youth mental health supports. Created by youth for youth, the guide provides information on the meaning and benefits of effective youth-adult partnerships, guidance and tools for youth-serving organizations that are striving to create youth-centered culture to support youth mental wellbeing, tools for passionate youth and young adults who are interested in inspiring others with their voice of lived experience, and tools for trusted adults who are partnering with youth to create change.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of nearly 3,500 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 1 million children, adults and families they serve.

To access the Youth-Adult Partnership Guide and other National Council resources visit their website:

CONNECTED - The National Council (https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/connected/home/)

Don't forget to add The Prevent Coalition Podcast to your new year to do list! There are currently six podcast episodes and more expected to come in 2022.

Insights, tips, stories and science on community prevention coalitions in Washington State. Hosts Jesse and Christopher share the inside scoop on engaging your community and reaching your organization's 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

Episodes archived at preventcoalition.org/events/news/.

SAMHSA's Harm Reduction Grant Program

Application Due Date: February 7, 2022

SAMHSA is offering these grants to support community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction services. Twenty-five awards of up to $400,000 per award per year, over a three-year period, will be granted.

The Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program

Application Due Date: January 20, 2022 at 5pm ET.

Grants of up to $20,000 annually are being offered to community colleges and minority-serving institutions to advocate for, adopt, and implement a 100 percent tobacco/vape-free policy. Grantees of the program receive guidance through webinars, an in-person training, and one-on-one consultations throughout the grant period. Institutions that have smoke or tobacco-free policies that do not include e-cigarettes may still apply. Full details about the program and information on how to apply are available on the Truth Initiative website.

Poll Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SLJ97GM

• Topic: What month should we host the Rural Network Conference? There will be a series of polls coming your way to pick a date.
• Context: We’re planning an in-person gathering for our network members and key partners for late 2022. We’re looking forward to connecting authentically in ways Zoom can’t provide with around 200 people or less, hearing amazing speakers, and doing collaboration tables and groups activities together. This would be the first time the network has ever met, and would be a statewide collaboration.

You may have received a direct email from SurveyMonkey that probably looked suspicious and went to your spam folder. That was us! Not a hacker! Christopher apologizes for how strange the automated email looked.

• Conference: Members and the planning workgroup put forth ideas for a location, and you all voted to host the conference in Moses Lake, WA. Stay tuned for more polls regarding the date of the event, which we plan to decide by the end of January.
• Policy: Attend our meeting on January 25 for a roundtable event. You'll leave the meeting with talking points for specific items in the legislative agenda.
• Toolkit: The February meeting is dedicated to the You Can campaign. We're holding a listening session to find ways this campaign can include more rural voices. This will fall in the category of our toolkit for the workplan.
• Training: In February we're hosting a data training in advance of the Healthy Youth Survey data release (expected in March or April based on previous years pattern). See the events section below.
• Recruitment: We published a recruitment kit on the rural toolkit page and it's been working! We have new members each meeting. We expect to host a New Member Orientation in the first quarter of the new year.
  
• Photo Toolkit: Published! You may still submit more photos.
  
• Story Toolkit: Published! You may still submit more stories.

For a full grant progress timeline visit www.preventcoalition.org/rural/our-work/.

Connect with other rural Student Assistance Professionals (SAP's) to share and brainstorm ideas for Prevention Clubs!

WHEN: Tuesday, January 18, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Virtual Meeting on Zoom

• This virtual Zoom meeting is scheduled for one hour.
• Registration is required (link is below)
• A Zoom meeting invitation will be sent plus tips on how to set up your space in a way that is conducive to virtual online success.
• Bring your ideas and best practices to share!

This meeting is open to all, but designed specifically for SAPs in rural Washington school districts or communities to help prioritize projects, create innovative ideas, and re-engage prevention clubs. The host will facilitate an engaging and interactive meeting that will allow participants to learn from each other. Please bring and share your ideas, and we encourage those simply looking for ideas to attend too! It will be a powerful opportunity to connect and collaborate.

REGISTER HERE!

Contact Christopher Belisle for more information or inquiries. christopher.belisle@esd112.org.

2022 Washington State Legislative Session

Monday, January 10, 2022

First day of regular session for the Washington State Legislature.

Prevent Coalition Office Hours

Tuesday, January 11

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call.

For coalition members and partners to receive Technical Assistance and consultation.

Prevention Policy Day

Monday, January 17

12:00-1:00 p.m.

Online conference call.

For coalition members and partners to receive Technical Assistance and consultation.

Locks Save Lives Home Stakeholder Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 19

10:00 -11:30 a.m.

Online conference call.

For stakeholders of the campaign and opioid prevention partners.

Data Training by Clark County Public Health

Thursday February 24

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Online interactive webinar, free.

Registration coming soon.

Click for full calendar of coalition and community events.

Rural Office Hours

Wednesday, January 5

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Online conference call.

For members to receive Technical Assistance and consultation.

Rural Steering Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 12

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Online conference call.

Rural Student Assistance Professional Roundtable

Tuesday, January 18

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Online conference call.

Open to all, but specifically designed for rural Student Assistance Professionals to connect and share ideas for prevention clubs. REGISTER HERE.

Rural Network Meeting: Policy Roundtable

Tuesday, January 25

2:00-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call.

For rural volunteers, representatives & leaders across Washington.

Rural Office Hours

Wednesday, February 2

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Online conference call.

For members to receive Technical Assistance and consultation.

Rural Network Meeting: "You Can" Listening Session

Tuesday, February 22

2:00-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call.

For rural volunteers, representatives & leaders across Washington.

Click for full calendar of coalition and community events.

Relevant events not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

On-Demand: Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners

3-part, 4.5 hour self-paced course that provides important information on what prevention professionals need to know about cannabis. Other courses also available!

VISIT COURSE WEBSITE.

1/7 @ 9am-10am PT: "Evaluating the Impact of Regulatory Policies Using Tobacco Sales Data"

Webinar by Alex Liber, Georgetown University. REGISTRATION WEBSITE.

1/31-2/3: CADCA 32nd Annual National Leadership Forum

Learn More About CADCA's 32nd Annual National Leadership Forum | CADCA

2/8: Virtual Legislative Education Day

Learn about legislative process and educate lawmakers about the importance of public health.

REGISTRATOIN WEBSITE.

Prevent appreciates your volunteerism and enthusiasm as the New Year begins. Thank you for being a reader and supporter of this important work.

Supported by the fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent is a community 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.

Email: preventcoalition@esd112.org
Website: www.PreventCoalition.org
Location: 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-952-3457
Facebook: Facebook.com/PreventCoalition
Twitter: @supportyouthnow