It's summer - people are firing up the poolside grill, soaking up the sun and heading out to the beaches, lakes, and rivers.

Summer brings countless water activities including boating, jet skiing, swimming...and sometimes drinking alcohol.

Whether we like to admit it or not, many people make drinking a part of these activities, and are unaware of the increased risks.  Even one drink can make a difference.  Alcohol doesn't follow the normal digestive route; instead it is directly absorbed into the blood stream, altering brain chemistry.  This causes impairment in judgment, reaction time, balance, and vision.  These critical skills are required for safety in any water activity.  After consuming just one standard alcoholic drink--12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces of liquor--your risks of injury or death increase dramatically.  Exposure to noise, vibration, sun, glare and wind can intensify the risks.

Boating or operating any water vessel requires coordination, concentration and attention to detail, just like driving a motor vehicle. In New York, it's illegal to operate a watercraft under the influence of alcohol in public waters.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard,  "Alcohol is a major factor in approximately 23 percent of all recreational boating fatalities nationwide."  In 2019, 100 deaths occurred in boating accidents that directly involved alcohol.  Boat operators are not the only ones at increased risk when alcohol is involved, also consider their passengers.

About two-thirds of annual drowning victims never intended to go into the water.  The Centers for Disease Control estimates 3,153 injuries are associated with swimming.  Diving is a risky activity itself and mixing it with alcohol is a dangerous combination.  Diving accidents result in 5,000 deaths and 8,000 paralyzing spinal cord injuries annually. 

During the Critical Days of Summer, it's very important to keep safety in mind.  Following these safety tips can reduce the risks of injuries or death:

• Never drink alcohol before operating a boat, jet ski, or other watercraft.
• Learn how to swim.  Swimming classes are given in numerous locations in the area.
• Always use the "Wingman Concept" (looking out for or after the safety of those you are with).
• Know how to operate watercraft, including the safety and cut-off switch, etc.
• Know the laws and regulations.
• Always wear a life vest.

Reference: Staff Sgt. Cecillia Cardenas, 81st Medical Operations Squadron, Mississippi, U.S. Coast Guard, CDC

By: Liz Threehouse
Idea Girl Company and HCC Social Media & Marketing

Summer is here, and – this year more than ever – our children and teens will most certainly be eager to get out of the house and have some fun.  As such, we as adults and parents need to be increasingly aware of the potential pitfalls that can suddenly turn summertime fun into tragedy.  While we make sure our young children are hydrated, sunscreened, lifeguarded, etc., perhaps we should work in something about our teens and tweens being safe around alcohol. 

According to a report issued by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, on any given summer day, an average of over 11,000 teenagers drink alcohol for the first time, with the months of June and July having the highest start rates during the calendar year. 

This can lead to numerous long- and short-term consequences.  Initiating substance use during childhood or adolescence is linked to substantial long-term health risks. Early (aged 12 to 14) to late (aged 15 to 17) adolescence is generally regarded as a critical risk period for the initiation of alcohol use, with multiple studies showing associations between age at first alcohol use and the occurrence of alcohol abuse or dependence.  The overwhelming majority of substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18 to 30 with known age of initiation information (74.0 percent) began substance use at the age of 17 or younger; amazingly 10.2 percent initiated use at the age of 11 or younger. 

While many youth, unfortunately, tend to pay little attention to long-term consequences, the potential short-term consequences are more immediate and can be just as serious.  According to teen drinking and driving statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control:

• Youth in the 16-20 age group are 17 times more likely to die in a car crash when they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08 of 1% than when they have not been drinking.
• Teen drivers are three times more likely than more experienced drivers to be in a deadly crash when alcohol is involved.
• One in five teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had some alcohol in their system. Most of these drivers (81%) had BACs higher than the legal limit for adults.

Even without a crash resulting in serious injury or fatality, the potential negative consequences for alcohol-impaired teen drivers (and their parents) can be serious.  According to STOP DWI New York, the cost of a Driving While Intoxicated offense – including attorney fees, court costs, fines, mandatory ignition interlock fees, vehicle towing and storage costs, mandatory alcohol abuse assessment and treatment and/or drinking driver program, and DMV fees and penalties (not to mention increased auto insurance rates) can easily reach over $10,000.  This can very seriously dampen any fun summer vacation plans. Parents can have their insurance rates raised, or policy cancelled altogether, due to the DWI offense of a child living in their household.  Also, youth face lower thresholds, and additional penalties, for drinking and driving.  Any youth under the age of 21 found to be driving with a BAC of just .02 - .07 of 1% (lower than the legal limit for adults), faces a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months to a year in jail, a fine of between $500 and $1,000, and an automatic license or permit suspension of six months.
 
So what steps should parents take to minimize the risk of their teen children consuming alcohol during the summer? Here are some suggestions, from Next Generation Village, teen alcohol and drug abuse center in Sebring, Florida:

1. Take an interest in their day-to-day lives. It sounds simple, but asking kids what they did each summer day can give you some idea of whether they are having good, clean fun, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or doing absolutely nothing all day.    
2. Check yourself. Adults like to relax in the summer, too. If your habits pertaining to alcohol are less than exemplary, you may not be setting a good precedent, and your kids will pick up on that. Plus, be honest with your teens about any alcohol-related mistakes you have made in the past.
3. Do not serve alcohol to your kids at home. Instead of demystifying booze for them and training them to drink properly, studies show that such practices have the opposite effect on teens’ drinking behavior. Absolutely do not host a party for your teen where alcohol is present.
4. Monitor their nightlife. Summer curfews are perfectly acceptable, so do not hesitate to enforce them. If your teen is going to a party, ask whether there will be alcohol there (and check with the hosts if necessary). Also, make your teen stay home some nights during which you can plan family activities like games, a movie, or dinner at a restaurant.
5. Keep them busy. You know that old saying about idle hands? Combat boredom by assigning tasks or chores to your teen during the summer. If you want, you can pay them for some work either with money or extended privileges.
6. Keep track of money. If you give them money periodically, keep an eye on where it is going. If your teen spends it quickly, it may be going toward alcohol or drugs instead of food and incidentals. Definitely monitor any credit or debit card spending by your teenager.
7. Watch for clues. If your teen’s room smells like alcohol, he or she is probably drinking. If your teenager suddenly gets “sick” the morning after going out with friends or to a party, chances are good that alcohol over-consumption is the cause.

 
Enjoy a safe and happy summer!  
 
Michael Sharbaugh, Director
Cattaraugus County Probation
 

Summer is the perfect time to take a stroll through the park, have a family picnic or just enjoy the serenity of the beautiful parks our County has to offer. This summer, the CAReS Prevention Team is working with local parks throughout Cattaraugus County to promote awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder.

The Prevention Team has placed the first set of a series of informational yard signs in the parks. The Prevention Team has worked closely with the Mayors and leaders of the communities to get this project up and running. These signs were created by the Western Regional Addiction Resource Collaborative.

By: Erica Sebastian, Prevention Specialist
CAReS

On April 29, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that they will start the process to regulate menthol out of traditional cigarettes. Menthol was the last flavor left in traditional cigarettes. In 2009, the FDA restricted all other flavors in cigarettes citing that young people were more apt to smoke cigarettes with flavors. By not including menthol in the 2009 ban, many young people became new daily smokers, people were unsuccessful in their quit attempts, which lead to them having to live with a smoking related disease or even lose their life from a smoking related illness.

The banning of menthol will help stop young people from becoming new daily smokers and help current smokers to be successful in quitting. The Centers for Disease and Prevention Control states that, “while fewer people now smoke cigarettes than in years past, the percentage of people who smoke menthol cigarettes is going down more slowly than for non-menthol cigarettes.”1 From 2008-2010 to 2012-2014, the percentage of adult smokers who currently smoke menthol cigarettes increased.1 Furthermore, from 2011-2015, menthol cigarette sales increased while overall cigarette sales decreased.1
Menthol is a chemical compound found naturally in peppermint but can also be produced in a lab. Even though many brands of cigarettes are marketed as “menthol cigarettes,” almost all cigarettes sold in the U.S. contain at least some natural or lab-created menthol. Menthol in cigarettes creates a cooling sensation in the throat and lungs when the user inhales, making cigarette smoke feel less harsh. However, menthol cigarettes are not less harmful than other cigarettes. The truth is smoking any kind of cigarette, including menthol cigarettes, is harmful.

Menthol has always been thought of as a “Black” product, because that is who the tobacco industry targeted their marketing at or if you saw a menthol advertisement most of the time you saw them with African American/Black men or women in them. Even when I was in college in the early 2000’s, my friends who smoked menthol cigarettes were always mentioned as having or growing up with Black friends simply because they smoked menthol cigarettes. This was interesting to me, as I grew up with a father who only smoked Kool cigarettes, but that was the brand he received every month while serving in Vietnam. Looking at the following statistics you will see that menthol is now the most popular cigarette for all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and genders.

• More than half (54%) of youth ages 12-17 years who smoke use menthol cigarettes.1
  • Seven out of 10 African American youth ages 12-17 who smoke use menthol cigarettes.1
• The majority of African Americans who smoke use menthol cigarettes.1
  • A higher percentage of black adults who smoke started by using menthol cigarettes (93%) than white adults who smoke (44%).1
• Women who smoke are more likely to use menthol cigarettes than men who smoke.1
• A 2009-2010 study showed LGBT people who smoke are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than heterosexual people who smoke.1
• People with low levels of income or education are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than other cigarettes.1
• Adults who smoke and have mental health conditions also are more likely to use menthol cigarettes than those who do not have mental health conditions.1

To bring awareness to the issue of menthol a group of youth programs that focus on tobacco held a “Conversation on Menthol” with Michael Scott from the Center for Black Health and Equity and Josh Ching from the Hawaii Youth Council. Mr. Scott spoke that even though it is exciting that the FDA is working on banning menthol, for menthol to not be found in our local stores is probably years away and that is still important for local communities to be educated on the issue and look at options they may have to protect young people and vulnerable populations to menthol cigarettes. Josh spoke about how menthol is the number one product for native Hawaiians and discussed how he and other youth have been working on getting menthol banned in Hawaii and how the tobacco industry has lobbied to make him unsuccessful, yet. Josh mentioned how he is undeterred and will continue to work on the issue because he has a responsibility to his community.

To help bring awareness to No Menthol Sunday and the issue of menthol the Advancing Tobacco Free Communities grants released their It’s Not Just campaign. The campaign highlights how menthol has had a horrible impact on different populations, first focusing on the African American population and moving to LGBTQAI+, Latino, and youth populations. For more information on It’s Not Just visit notjustmenthol.org. For questions or more information about menthol and our local communities you can find Tobacco Free Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TFCCACoalition and Twitter @TobaccoFreeCCA or contact Community Engagement Coordinator Ken Dahlgren at kenneth.dahlgren@roswellpark.org .

1. “Menthol and Cigarettes” https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/tobacco_industry/menthol-cigarettes/index.html
   

Jon Chaffee
Tobacco-Free CCA Reality Check Coordinator
 

Could DUI’s be eliminated by 2024?
 
 
Now this is interesting…, I just read an article on the Car and Driver website that says we might be able to end Drunk Driving as soon as 2024. How you ask? Well to put it simply, there’s new technology that is being developed that will prevent your car from starting if your BAC level is 0.08 or higher.  Click here to read article   . There are several technologies that are being developed that are specific to the driver of the car. The technology is not perfected yet but they are getting close.
 
The Ride Act is bipartisan legislation that is going to require all new cars to have this technology installed by 2024. It was recently introduced in April. The RIDE Act is endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the National Safety Council, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), and Responsibility.org.
 
Isn’t it amazing how technology could be the answer to a problem that has caused tragedy for many years. Alcohol-impaired driving is responsible for one third of all highway fatalities in the U.S. every year. The Institute for Highway Safety found that more than 9,400 drunk driving deaths could be prevented each year if drunk driving prevention technology is made standard on every new vehicle. You can read the full text of the legislation here.
 
So, things are moving forward in the prevention of impaired driving and this new technology may play a big part of that advancement. Being an HCC member for several years now, I’m glad to see this seemingly bright light and the end of a long tunnel. I’m sure there will be bumps along the way, but this is the kind of technology that could really save lives and for that I’m encouraged.
 
Preventing substance use of underage youth is the goal of HCC and it is a long-standing mission. Technology like this can only advance our cause, and save lives for that matter. So, who knows what other type of technology may be developed in the future to detect and prevent impaired driving.  Until then we will be sending out our messages of prevention and trying to educate and reach families and the youth of our county.

By: Liz Threehouse
Idea Girl Company and  HCC Social Media and Marketing

 



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​March 17th is almost here, a day that many people will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  While the day is named after the Irish Saint Patrick and the celebration of Ireland’s culture and the arrival of Christianity, it has now evolved into a different type of celebration over the years (Bellum, 2012). 

Today, many honor St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, decorating with shamrocks, and drinking green alcoholic beverages.  St. Patrick’s Day is also regarded as one of the biggest drinking days of the year, and with that many adults who imbibe do so at dangerous rate by binge drinking.

When a person binge drinks, their Blood Alcohol Content or BAC is raised at a level above 0.08 grams (Watson, 2015).   For women, having about four drinks in two hours is considered binge drinking while it is five or more drinks for men (Watson, 2015).  One statistic found that in the United States, “one in six adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks per binge” (Watson, 2015).  In younger populations such as college-age students, binge drinking rates are alarming.  In 2019, it was reported that 52.5% of college students age 18-22 drank alcohol in the past 30 days (College Drinking Prevention).  Further information from the report indicated that in 2019, 33% of 18-22 year old college students were binge drinking in the past month (College Drinking Prevention).  Binge drinking has also led to more motor vehicle accidents and deaths.  In fact, drunken driving causes over 1,800 deaths of college students each year (Watson, 2015). 

During this St. Patrick’s Day, please remember that it is illegal to supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.  If you have a college student at home please discuss the dangers of binge drinking with them such as the risk of alcohol poisoning and overdose as well as never driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances.  It is also important to know that the brain is not fully developed until age 25, and that even one instance of binge drinking can create lasting damage to the brain (Bellum, 2012).

Please stay safe and well!

Tara Estright, Community Coalition Coordinator

References:
https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statistics/prevalence.aspx

Bellum, S. (2012, March 15). St. Patrick’s Day: Leprechauns, shamrocks, and…
    binge drinking? Message posted to https://archives.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/st-patricks-day-leprechauns-
    shamrocks-and-binge-drinking

​Watson, R. (2015, March 14). St. Patrick’s Day drinking: Facts, hangovers, and
    advice. Message posted to https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-and-gratitude/201503/st-
    patricks-day-drinking-facts-hangovers-and-advice

           
 
 

Teens, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Cardiovascular Disease
 
It’s February and that means it’s American Heart Month.  We generally don’t think too much about cardiovascular disease in relation to teenagers, but maybe we should. 
 
According to Dr. Stephen Daniels, chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, "When you're talking about the development of risk factors in teens, which include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, cigarette smoking and vaping, a lot of the emphasis really should be on lifestyle." 
         
In addition, nicotine increases blood pressure, increases heart rate – and therefore puts them at risk for not just heart disease, but obviously lung disease.
 
Alcohol is also factor. The cardiovascular system is affected by alcohol. At the time of drinking, alcohol can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure. In the long-term, drinking above the guidelines can lead to on-going increased heart rate, high blood pressure, weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeat. All of which can increase the risk of alcohol-caused heart attack and stroke.
 
The risk of cardiovascular disease is real for teens and according to Elizabeth Cespedes Feliciano, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, based in Oakland, California. "We do know from prior studies that habits formed during adolescence and also cardiometabolic risk factors established during adolescence can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life."
 
Taking all these risk factors into consideration, it’s imperative to set guidelines and clear rules when it comes to tobacco and alcohol use.  Parents are the greatest influence on a teen’s life and talking to them about the consequences of tobacco and alcohol use including the risks to their heart can set them on a course for a healthier future. 
 
American Heart Month is a great time to turn over a new leaf and start living a healthier lifestyle. Start with  a healthier diet that's heavy on whole foods, with lots of veggies, whole grains and healthy proteins like nuts or fish. Then get moving with exercise or outdoor activities.
 
"When implementing these kinds of healthy lifestyle factors, we get the best success when the entire family is working on this together," Dr. Daniels says,  and when parents get involved – not just talking the talk, but walking the walk – experts say, it can be a boon for the heart health of the whole family.
 
Excerpts taken from:
US News “Why Teens Should Be Healthy too.” By Michael O. Schroeder
Alcoholthinkagain.com “Alcohol and Cardiovascular Disease.”

By: Liz Threehouse
Ideagirl Company and HCC Social Media & Marketing

A new year a new you?  Let’s not get carried away.  How about we take things a bit slower.  A new year is a great time to take a good look back and appreciate all that you have accomplished; it’s also a great time to set some goals for your future.  Many times adults focus on resolutions that rarely if ever are followed through on.  How about this year we leave the resolutions in the past and focus on a more long term change not just for us but our kids too.
I don’t know about you, but I normally take my vacation time with great ideas of all I’m going to accomplish, and then the day before I have to go back to work I look around and realize I didn’t get anything done!  I feel like many people feel this way when the New Year comes and you look back and think where did the time go and what did I accomplish?  This year let’s make it so when we look back on January 1, 2022 we can see just what we accomplished, not with resolutions, but with goals!
Goals can be separated into two categories, short term and long term.  Short term goals are the things you want to accomplish in the near future and many times these short term goals help us on our way to accomplishing our long term goals.  Long term goals are things we want to accomplish in the distant future by accomplishing our short term goals as stepping stones along the way.   For example you may have a long term goal of purchasing a new home.  Your short term goals may be things like saving money, making more money, and raising my credit score.  These short term goals help you build up to your long term goal.  Goals help keep us going in the right direction, towards our hopes and dreams. 
One of the greatest lessons we can teach our children is goal setting.  Children of all ages can and should set goals.  When we get in the habit of goal setting at a young age it sets us up for a brighter future.   Teens who have goals are less likely to partake in high risk activities such as substance abuse and sexual activity.  Having goals helps you stay on a path and avoid situations and behaviors that may take away your opportunities to achieve your goals, or at the very least make it much harder to achieve them.   Teach your kids about the power of decisions and consequences.  We make thousands of decisions every day, most of them don’t really impact us but others have huge consequences.  Consequences are not always bad, they can be great.  Saving money while making more leads to paying off the bills you have which raises your credit score and all of these consequences lead you to your new home!  But don’t forget to talk about the decisions which have consequences that can take us off of the path to our goals too.  When kids have goals it can make the tough conversations easier to have.  Explain how drinking or drugs can keep them from getting into the college they want or how a social media post can keep them from getting a job years from now.
Here are a few tips to help you and your kids start your goal setting path.

1. Think big while starting small.  Break that big goal up into manageable smaller steps.  It helps us to stay on track and keeps motivation up when we are able to check off our smaller accomplishments leading us to our big goal.
2. Be realistic.  While it is wonderful to have dreams of what you would do after winning the lottery, your chances of this happening are virtually impossible.  Dream big but keep it achievable. 
3. Work hard.  Understand that the things worth having are worth working for.  It’s not going to be easy but the payoff will be worth it.
4. Your goals may change and that’s ok.  As we grow we find new goals and the old ones may change or no longer be what we want.   Change is a good thing as long as you keep working towards a bright future.
5. Never give up.  There will be hiccups along the way.  Understand that things will go wrong from time to time but don’t let anything stop you from achieving your goals.
6. Be your child’s champion!  Show your child that goals can be accomplished by sharing you goals with them.  Remember the world today is filled with people who will tell them they can’t, it’s your job to tell them they can!  Don’t forget to celebrate the achievements, this will keep them on the path towards their long term goals!

For more information on goal setting and to learn how to make a vision board with your children go to www.ydc4all.com and check out Kam and Ky’s Teen Tips for videos and activities to help you and your teens prepare for a happy healthy future.

Tara Leonard
Reproductive Health Educator
​Cattaraugus County Health Department