Drug-Free Action Alliance Announces Marcie Seidel as new Executive Director



Seidel has served as the assistant director for Drug-Free Action Alliance since 2007. Her role has been focused primarily on the Ohio College Initiative to Reduce High-Risk Drinking, communications and public policy.

"The decisions you make today greatly impact the opportunities you will have tomorrow."
Campaign Spokesman, Clark Kellogg


With prom and graduation season upon us, Campaign Spokesperson Clark Kellogg (basketball star and national sports commentator) addressed parents and students at the Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking campaign kickoff. Kellogg told parents and students alike, "The decisions you make today greatly impact the opportunities you will have tomorrow."

Kellogg talked about the important and influential role parents play in their children’s decisions surrounding alcohol. He discussed the health and safety issues that accompany underage drinking and encouraged parents to talk to their children so that they, in turn, may be empowered to make healthy and responsible choices for themselves.

Drug-Free Action Alliance Coalition Spotlight



Featuring:

Butler County Coalition for Healthy, Safe, and Drug-Free Communities and Dublin A.C.T.
(Adolescents and Community Together) Coalition

The focus of this month’s Coalition Spotlight is on the importance of youth engagement. To be successful, coalitions must have an inclusive and broad-based membership; therefore, youth inclusion is vital to success. Effective planning is crucial; therefore, youth perspective is vital to success. Any individual’s involvement in a coalition must be meaningful; therefore, youth leadership is vital to success. True partnership is the cornerstone of coalitions; therefore, youth/adult partnerships are vital to success.

This month’s Spotlight shines on two coalitions for their success in outstanding youth engagement.




KNOW! Parent Alert: Lazy Cakes are NOT for Teens

From the laid-back Lazy Larry character to the colorfully-packaged sweet chocolate, this product screams of youth appeal. Lazy Cakes, at a glance, appear to be a single-serving, gourmet-type brownie dessert; a treat you wouldn’t think twice about if you saw your teen eating. But parents beware, this is no typical brownie. When you take a close look at the label, you will see this product contains a variety of herbal ingredients along with the caution, “recommended for adults only.”

Time to Re-enroll in Kroger Community Rewards:
Where Shopping = Supporting Drug-Free Action Alliance



If you’re a Kroger shopper, there’s no easier way to support the statewide prevention efforts of Drug-Free Action Alliance than using your Kroger Plus Card to earn funds for the organization. Please keep in mind, it will not affect your personal shopping savings or Kroger fuel rewards.

The Kroger Community Rewards program started a new year as of April 1, 2011. If you’ve participated in the past, we thank you and hope that you choose to re-enroll in the program. If you have not participated previously, we invite and encourage you to join. In either case, please visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com.

Once you are on the website, click on "Ohio" to sign up for a Kroger.com account. You will be prompted to enter the Drug-Free Action Alliance agency number which is 83515 or you can just type in Drug-Free Action Alliance and it will suggest our account.

We encourage you to share this information with your family and friends throughout Ohio and we thank you again for your support.

(The Cincinnati area is unable to direct funds to Drug-Free Action Alliance because it is considered a separate Kroger district.)


News of "Substance"


Hip-hop rapper and Blast promoter, Snoop Dogg

Ohio Attorney General Takes a Stand against Youth-Targeted Alcohol Marketing

The alcoholic beverage ‘Blast’ is being blasted by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. In a statement made April 21st, DeWine referred to this beverage as “binge in a can,” and said that just one can has the alcohol equivalent of four regular beers. DeWine, along with attorney generals from 15 other states, also believe this product is being directly targeted at youth, based on its colorful package, sweet-taste and use of popular celebrity endorser, Snoop Dogg. DeWine is urging manufacturer Pabst Brewing Company to change its marketing tactics and is attempting to stop this new product from ever hitting store shelves in Ohio.


Drink your way to "skinny?"



Being called the new spirits, “thin-dustry,” the Skinnygirl Margarita is just one example of the many alcoholic beverages that are on the market that have recently become popular for their association with weight loss.

The Skinnygirl Margarita was created by Bethenny Frankel, a natural foods chef, who is better known for her star role in Housewives of New York City. Frankel is touted as a chef and mixologist, known for taking unhealthy foods and cocktails and making them healthy and low-calorie.

According to Marin Institute, also known as the alcohol industry watchdog, “Skinnygirl's marketing carefully stops just short of claiming the product actually causes weight loss.” Marin Institute claims this product, “Exploits the physical insecurities of American women for financial gain, by encouraging them to buy a product that will do nothing but harm the very thing they worry about most.”


Events/Trainings

FREE Training Opportunity



Addiction & The Brain and
Adolescent Prescription Drug Abuse Training

Brought to you by:
Prevention Works for a Drug Free Fairfield County & The Recovery Center

Friday, May 20

Ohio University (Lancaster Campus, Rm. 211)
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Cost: FREE!

For more information, please call 740-681-5542