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PREVENTION / EDUCATION September 2003: Alabama Recovery Network/Friends of Recovery-Alabama (ARN/FOR-AL) Recovery Month In September 2003 we will celebrate the 14th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This month is set aside to highlight the strides made in substance abuse treatment, and to educate the public that addiction is a chronic, but treatable public health problem that affects us all. This year's theme "Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Health." Encourages everyone to help incorporate community treatment and recovery services as an integral part of the public health system. Activities will be conducted through out the state. You can check out "what's happening" on www.recoverymonth.gov. A state map will appear, click on the state map and activities, events, and points of contacts will be listed. Don't hesitate to call us at 334-262-1629 or email at csancadd@bellsouth. July 2003: COSA-NCADD conducted Positive Action training, a science-based curriculum, for the Tarrant City School System and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Incorporated of Central Mississippi. April 2003: Alabama Youth Summit: The Real Fear Factor: Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs! 896 youth and 171 adults from across the state of Alabama came together for a daylong summit. Participants attended sessions regarding the "reality of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs." Sessions also provided leadership, advocacy skills and information about how to make a difference in their communities. During lunch break, the youth conducted a Clean Indoor Air Rally. State ACATA spokesperson Ellen Brooks, Councilman Ben McNeil, Justin Jones and Elizabeth Pham led the rally. Several schools presented letters written by concerned students to the Governor. ACATA youth advisory board members will be presenting the letters to the Governor. March 2003: In Alabama, all agencies receiving Block Grant monies must be certified by the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services, Alabama’s Single State Authority. The Council on Substance Abuse NCADD received a perfect score - the highest attainable mark - and a two-year certification for compliance in programming and physical standards. February 2003: International Conference on Addictions: Helping Identify Addiction in Your Clients: This unique conference brought together approximately 400 medical and health professionals; legal and law enforcement professionals, and clergy and lay ministers to hear from sixteen renowned specialists the latest information and research in substance abuse screening and intervention for primary care providers. All three categories of professionals are viewed as primary care providers. Through their regular, long-term contact with these individuals and their families, they are in an ideal place to screen for alcohol and other drug use. Speakers for the conference were: Paula Barran, JD: Barran and Liebman, Attorneys; Anton C. Bizzell, MD, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); Geoffrey Laredo, MPA, NIAAA; Father Leo Booth; Lawrence S. Brown, MD, President of American Society of Addiction; Michael Cohen, JD, Florida Lawyers Assistance Program; Douglas Cook, MD, Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center; M. Deborah Corley, PhD; J. Anthony McLain: Alabama State Bar; Honorable Judge Miles Davis, US Magistrate Judge for Northern Florida District; Jerry Moe MA, Betty Ford Center; Merrill Norton, RPH, Talbott Recovery Campus; Joe Pursch, MD; Seddon Savage, MD, Pain Management Clinic, Manchester VA Medical Center; Jennifer P. Schneider, MD, Genetics, Arizona Community Physicians; Charles Whitfield, MD. 2000-2003: ACATA Youth across the state continue to work hard to promote the ACATA program, and to inform youth of the alcohol and tobacco industry's media ploys and advertising techniques. Throughout the state, the ACATA coordinators have held "What's the Message?" trainings creating new ACATA Youth Advisory Boards (YAB). These YAB members have stayed busy with "What's the Message?" presentations. YAB members actively assist in the planning of the annual Alabama Youth Summit. They have also been involved in cities across the state, working with city councilmen, mayors, business owners on implementing smoke-free ordinances. They have conducted business education, spoke at city council meetings, written editorials, spoke on TV and radio talk shows, sent out Action Alerts and canvassed the neighborhoods concerning this important public health issue. Several of the cities now have smoke-free ordinances and others are in the process of submitting changes to current ordinances. If you are interested in having a presentation provided for your group or getting involved in smoke-free advocacy, please contact your local regional coordinator. September 2002: Alabama Recovery Network/Friends of Recovery-Alabama (ARN/FOR-AL) Recovery Month In September 2002 we celebrated the 13th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month by hosting activities throughout the State of Alabama. March 2002: The theme for the 2002 Youth Summit on Preventing Teen Tobacco and Alcohol Use was "Building Survival Skills- Surviving Those Teen Years". Dr. Peter Debenedittis again presented challenging education and was followed by "Coming to Change Lives" presented by "Coming To", a teen recovery theatre group from Arizona. Breakout sessions included skill building on teen advocacy, "What's the Message?" presentation training, and peer-to-peer education training. Over 800 youth and over 200 adults attended in 2002. February 2002: International Conference on Addictions: The purpose of the symposium was to provide training for medical, legal, law enforcement, clergy and other professionals who were interested in the addiction field. This was the first year to combine the different professional addiction symposiums. It was highly successful and provided an arena for addiction to be discussed by multiple sectors using multiple strategies on multiple levels. Speakers were Ray Baker, MD; Father Leo Booth; May Kay Burnette, R.N.; Gregory Skipper, MD; Richard R. Irons, MD; Mark Seltzer, Esq.; Michael Windle, PhD; Deb Beck; Ann Skipper, MD; Sandra Frazier, MD; Richard McKinley, MD; Judge Charles Hayden; Anthony McLain, Esq.; Michael Cohen, Esq.; Robert Albury, Esq.; and Paul Sheldon. March 2001: COSA-NCADD coordinated and organized the statewide "What's the Message?": Youth Summit on Teen Smoking and Underage Drinking. Three general sessions were held that included Media Literacy, "What's the Message?" curriculum training and Theatre in Education. Joint-sponsors include: Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD, Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA), Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation-Division of Substance Abuse Services, Governor's Office on Disability, Governor's Office on Drug Abuse Policy, Alabama Department of Education, American Lung Association, Alabama Department of Youth Services, Alabama Independent School Association, Alabama Department of Children's Affairs, Alabama Congress of Parent Teacher's Association, Alabama Department of Public Safety, Alabama Army National Guard, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board, State of Alabama Military Department, Alabama Department of Public Health, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, MADD-Mother's Against Drunk Driving, Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, Region Eight ACATA Youth Advisory Board (representing all eleven regional ACATA Youth Advisory Boards), Riverbend Center for Mental Health, Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, Inc., Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, Gateway, Indian Rivers Mental Health Center/Insight Center, Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention, East Alabama Mental Health Retardation Center. Yearly Symposia for Youth will be held focusing on issues critical to that age group. The youth summit is held annually in March. February 2001: The annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Medical Professionals was held at Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery. Attendees of this conference gave both the speakers and subject matter excellent reviews. Joint sponsors included the University of Alabama School of Medicine-Division of Continuing Education; Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alabama Board of Medical Examiners; Alabama Physician Health Program; Alabama State Nursing Association; Alabama Board of Nursing; Alabama Nursing Home Association; Alabama Dental Association; Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama; Alabama Pharmacy Association; Alabama State Board of Pharmacy; Alabama Psychological Association; Alabama Hospital Association; and the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association. July 2000: The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Substance Abuse Services Division received a site visit from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, (CSAP). The Executive Summary of findings from this site visit lists the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) as a "model (program) with the potential for replication or adaptation in other States". The ACATA initiative which addresses the hidden messages contained in alcohol and tobacco advertisements began it's statewide initiative in June 1994. May 2000: The Substance Abuse Symposium for Clergy of the millennium was held at the Montgomery Embassy Suites Hotel. Nationally-renowned speakers, John K. Rosemond, Cornelia McDonald, Trish Merrill, and Roger Svendsen, presented a day-long conference which was over-whelmingly positive in its reception. New joint-sponsors signed on, bringing the list to include Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions; Alabama District Council Assemblies of God; AME Zion Church, Alabama-Florida Episcopal District; Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile; Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama; The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama; The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, The Ninth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Southeastern Synod; Presbyterian Church of America-Gulf Coast Presbytery; Presbyterian Church of America-Warrior Presbytery; Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley; Southern District of the Lutheran Church: Missouri Synod; The Union of American Hebrew Congregations-Southeast Council; The United Methodist Church-Alabama-West Florida Episcopal Area; The United Methodist Church: North Alabama Conference; and The Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth. The Substance Abuse Symposium for Clergy is held annually in May. March 2000: COSA-NCADD coordinated and organized the statewide Youth Summit on Youth Crime and Violence. With approximately 700 participants, the event was an extraordinary accomplishment. Three specific tracks were offered, with parents, school and law enforcement professionals, and teens enjoying speakers appropriate to that audience. Joint sponsors included Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation-Division of Substance Abuse Services, Alabama Department of Education, Alabama State Department of Youth Services, Alabama Department of Children's Affairs, Alabama Congress of Parent Teacher's Association, Alabama Department of Public Safety, Alabama Army National Guard, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board, State of Alabama Military Department, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education-Cumberland School of Law, Governor's Office on Disability and Alabama Independent School Association. October 1999: The Alabama State Bar, State of Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, State of Alabama Judicial College, District Attorneys Association, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, Alabama Lawyers Association, Alabama Sheriffs' Association, Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police, Alabama State Trooper Association, Alabama Peace Officers' Association, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Alabama Beverage Control Enforcement Division, Alabama Department of Public Safety, and Alabama Bureau of Investigation joined COSA-NCADD to co-sponsor the first annual Substance Abuse Symposium for the Legal Profession and Law Enforcement. It was held on October 1-2, 1999 at the Grand Hotel Marriott in Point Clear, Alabama. May 1999: The annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Clergy was held at the Montgomery Civic Center. Participants uniformly praised the conference, saying the speakers were "top-notch" and the event was "highly beneficial. " Co-sponsors of the Symposium were the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions; Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile; Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama; Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley; The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Southeast Council; The United Methodist Church Alabama, West Florida Council on Ministries; and The United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference; and the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA). February 1999: The annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Medical Professionals was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery. Participants praised the quality of the event and voiced approval of the high caliber of speakers and presenters. Joint sponsors included the Division of Continuing Education, University of Alabama School of Medicine; Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alabama Board of Medical Examiners; Alabama Board of Nursing; Alabama State Nursing Association; Alabama Dental Association; Alabama Pharmacy Association; Alabama Hospital Association; Alabama Nursing Home Association; Alabama Psychological Association; and the Alabama Veterinarian Association. October 1998: The Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD was featured in the Public Broadcasting System 1998 Annual Report as an example of agencies making a positive difference in the community. The publication cited the 1-800-SOBER-90 crisis hotline for its efforts "to do good and do it well" and for "enriching lives" of those who seek help for addiction. In a press conference announcing the publication, representatives of the Alabama Public Television pointed out with pride that an Alabama organization had been honored. September 1998: The Johnson Institute will no longer be providing intervention services on a national level. Vernon Johnson, founder of the Johnson Institute, has set up the National Intervention Network, a network of central referral agencies that will channel requests for interventions to appropriately trained individuals. COSA-NCADD will be Alabama's point of contact for this national effort. The Johnson Institute will continue to publish all of the books and materials as in previous years. COSA-NCADD sponsored the National Intervention Network training for over 48 attendees. A protocol for procedures within the state was established. July 1998: The Alabama State Bar, State of Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, State of Alabama Judicial College, District Attorneys Association, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, Alabama Lawyers Association, Alabama Sheriffs' Association, Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police, Alabama State Trooper Association, Alabama Peace Officers' Association, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Alabama Beverage Control Enforcement Division, Alabama Department of Public Safety, and Alabama Bureau of Investigation have joined COSA-NCADD to co-sponsor the first annual Substance Abuse Symposium for the Legal Profession and Law Enforcement. It will be held on October 1-2, 1999 at the Grand Hotel Marriott in Point Clear, Alabama. Michael Moore, Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, will be the keynote speaker. June 1998: Through an agreement between the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) in Washington and the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services, it was decided that Alabama would offer COSA-NCADD's Substance Abuse Crime Anger Reduction Education Curriculum (CARE) in grades K-4 to selected school systems throughout the state. COSA-NCADD will provide the training to all prevention specialists who are participating, and COSA-NCADD will compile and track outcome data for the initiative. Substance Abuse Services Prevention Chief, Rex Vaughn, noted that thanks to COSA-NCADD "prevention programs and measurement of outcome will be standardized." June 1998: COSA-NCADD was selected to be the conduit for computerized technology and information for all prevention providers in Alabama. The program, funded by CSAP and implemented by Dream Technologies, will bring to Alabama the latest research and computer technology for prevention through COSA-NCADD. May 1998: The annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Clergy was held at the Montgomery Civic Center. Participants uniformly praised the conference, saying the speakers were "top-notch" and the event was "highly beneficial." Co-sponsors of the Symposium were the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions; Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile; Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama; Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley; The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Southeast Council; The United Methodist Church Alabama, West Florida Council on Ministries; and The United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference; and the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA). February 1998: The third annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Medical Professionals was held at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Participants praised the quality of the event and voiced approval of the high caliber of speakers and presenters. Joint sponsors included the Division of Continuing Education, University of Alabama School of Medicine; Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alabama Board of Medical Examiners; Alabama Board of Nursing; Alabama State Nursing Association; Alabama Dental Association; Alabama Pharmacy Association; Alabama Hospital Association; Alabama Nursing Home Association; Alabama Psychological Association; and the Alabama Veterinarian Association. October 1997: September 1998: COSA-NCADD continues to publish and distribute an informational fact sheet on drug abuse to the Alabama legislature. The weekly publication, Capitol Info: Substance Abuse Update was given to each member in an effort to counteract the misinformation which was offered during testimonies and lobbying. September 1997: The Washington-based musical review, Capitol Steps, appeared at a fund-raiser to benefit the COSA-NCADD. July 1997: The annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Clergy was replicated in two cities in Alabama on subsequent days. Main speakers were Dr. Burns Brady of the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation and James Copple of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. April 1997: COSA-NCADD escorted winners of the statewide ACATA poster contest to Washington, DC where they met with the Alabama Congressional delegation. The posters were judged by representatives of the Governor, the Lt. Governor and Treasurer. February 1997: A press conference was held at the Scott Street Grocery in Montgomery decrying the use of alcohol ad tobacco advertising in a place where students of Baldwin Junior High School gather. Members of the ACATA Club at the school offered works of art to replace the ads, and the owners, who were happy to accept the replacements, gave a cash prize to the best of the works of art. November 1996: The COSA-NCADD received the prestigious 1996 Prevention and Education Meritorious Award naming its program as the best prevention/education program in the nation. The award, given by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, cited the program as being "well-organized and conceptually sound." Further, the initiative was praised for its "clear evaluation criterion and its multiple strategies for different target groups." February 1996: COSA-NCADD hosted the first annual Substance Abuse Symposium for Medical Professionals. Dr. Jerry Summer, of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, stated that it was the "best such conference I have attended in Alabama." 1995 - 1996: COSA-NCADD continue to gain praise from officials in the juvenile justice system, law enforcement agencies, and public education for on-going anti-crime and violence programs in the alternative schools, the Montgomery Youth Facility, and other sites where high-risk youths are served. July - August 1995: In conjunction with the National Youth Sports program, we conducted an extensive six-week substance abuse prevention program with youth, ages 13 - 18. This program provided youth with facts and information on the tactics used by the alcohol and tobacco industry to influence them to begin to use their products. The program concluded in a four-hour "TOO COOL TO BE FOOLED" rally. June - August 1995: Our summer youth program reached over 2,500 youth. This program was conducted through weekly sessions and day camps with the theme of "TOO COOL TO BE FOOLED" being the main message. Youth created their own anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco slogans and posters, wrote public service announcements, and became aware of the many myths used in advertising by the alcohol and tobacco industry. They learned of the dangers of these "gateway drugs." June 1995: We conducted a statewide workshop for AMERICORP employees. The workshop covered topics such as drug-free workplace, understanding and identifying the disease of addiction, what to do if you believe a co-worker or friend has the disease, understanding the 12 steps process and breaking through denial. This was a most successful seminar. In the words of one of the attendees: "Today has opened my eyes to this disease you called addiction. I now know what to do if I suspect someone has the problem and have a better understanding of the impact it has on, not only my family and the workplace, but other individuals this person's life touches. Thank you very much!" October 1994 - May 1995: COSA-NCADD introduced its comprehensive Substance Abuse Crime Anger Reduction Education Curriculum (CARE) to the Montgomery County Alternative School. This all-inclusive curriculum focuses on conflict mediation and violence reduction. The program meets daily with high-risk youth that have been removed from regular public schools for disciplinary purposes. The principal, counselors, and teachers have all expressed strong support and positive evaluations of the program. January 1995 - May 1995: COSA-NCADD conducted training for the Montgomery County School Nurses on working with cocaine-affected children in the classroom. This training was so well received that we were asked to present the training to the school counselors at their annual training. This training has been extended to the teachers in several elementary schools. October 1994 - September 1995: COSA-NCADD was asked to present an on-going parenting program at the Maxwell Federal Prison Camp. This on-going program afforded us the opportunity to test a new Parenting Program for Men authored by COSA-NCADD. The program was lauded by the prison officials and inmates as being a program that truly met the needs of the participants. We were subsequently offered a federal contract to continue the program. May 1994: COSA-NCADD, in conjunction with Troy State University Nursing Department, presented a workshop on the effects of alcohol and other drugs on the urban child and the addiction process. Over 60 nurses were in attendance. Attendees rated the workshop as outstanding. September 1993: COSA-NCADD was recognized as a "Shining Star - A Prevention Program that Works" at the Drug Free Schools and Communities fall conference in Nashville, Tennessee, with Alice Murphy accepting the award on behalf of COSA-NCADD. May 1993: COSA-NCADD was notified of the selection of the Lowndes County comprehensive substance abuse education program as a "Shining Star" by the Drug Free Schools and Communities. This was the third year that the Council provided this comprehensive program for grades K-12 that included every child in the Lowndes County School System. Outcome evaluations were conducted during the program and compared year to year to see if prevention programs work. This program was given the designation of "A Prevention Program that Works" by the U.S. Department of Education, and was cited in their fall publication "Shining Stars; Prevention that Works." January 1993: COSA-NCADD was selected to be an integral component of an experimental weekend internment program for youthful minor offenders at the Montgomery Youth Facility. The council presented education/prevention/intervention sessions to the youth, and met with the parents to offer programs on parenting skills, intervention, drug information, and the relationship between substance abuse and crime. September 1992: COSA-NCADD began an extensive cooperative effort with the Juvenile Justice System and the Montgomery Youth Facility to offer youth being served by the courts, and their parents, a comprehensive fifteen-part program on substance abuse. Jack Hunter, Director of Education Services at the Youth Facility, praised the all-inclusive nature of the curriculum. November 1991: At the Fifth Annual Conference of the Drug Free Schools and Communities sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, COSA-NCADD was recognized for it's Lowndes County Board of Education project. The Substance Abuse Crime Anger Reduction Education Curriculum (CARE) was presented as a successful example of a complete program, with its accountability component, provided at a rate affordable under the Drug Free School funding. October 1990 - September 1994: The Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD began a comprehensive prevention/education/ intervention program in the Lowndes County public school system which was funded through an agreement with Drug Free Schools and Communities. This substance abuse, crime, anger, violence education program is unique in its scope and universal nature, as every student in the system receives access to a tested curriculum with a strong no-use message. Another distinctive feature of the COSA-NCADD program is the testing and computer reporting capability. Students' intentions, attitude, knowledge, and values were compiled and tracked year after year to show changes in attitudes and cognitive learning. In addition to the school-based lessons, and above the agreement with Drug-Free Schools and Communities, substance abuse programs were presented to pregnant women in public health clinics, to elderly citizens in community centers, to parents, church groups, and school administrators and support personnel. |
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REGION III RESOURCE CENTER June 1998: The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services has increased the scope of the clearinghouse to include technical assistance. COSA-NCADD not only will provide this technical assistance to the fifteen counties in our region, but will also be training the clearinghouse coordinators for the other three regions as well. October 1994: The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services requested that COSA-NCADD assume the responsibility of the Region III Clearinghouse. This Clearinghouse has the responsibility of providing brochures, pamphlets, posters, videos, books, and other alcohol and drug information items to a 19 county area in Alabama. Since assuming the clearinghouse, COSA-NCADD has increased and updated available inventory and has designed and implemented a computerized usage tracking system. Utilization of the clearinghouse has increased significantly since October 1994. |
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INFORMATION / REFERRAL 1999-2003: 1-800-SOBER-90 receives continued funding in recognition of its service to over 35,000 calls since its inception, and the professional, efficient assistance it offers to the citizens of Alabama. Stigma is often a hidden, toxic condition that works to paralyze those in recovery, their families and the practitioners who treat them. In order to reach a better understanding of stigma, heal the effects of stigma and explore options for reducing stigma in society. The first annual Alabama Hearing On Stigma was conducted January 3, 2002 in Montgomery at the Civic Center. This highly successful hearing provided individuals from Alabama with the opportunity to present their concerns and issues regarding stigma and addiction in Alabama. Addiction is a potentially lethal disorder, but that lethality is dramatically amplified by the social stigma attached to the disorder. Stigma exists to divide people. Stigma's greatest enemy is knowledge. Healing the Stigma of Addiction will help open the doorway to such knowledge. It is time we all walked through that doorway. Public Awareness Campaigns and other stigma-reduction efforts are designed to reduce this division and to create greater unity. October 1998: The Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD was featured in the Public Broadcasting System 1998 Annual Report as an example of agencies making a positive difference in the community. The publication cited the 1-800-SOBER-90 crisis hotline for its efforts "to do good and do it well" and for "enriching lives" of those who seek help for addiction. In a press conference announcing the publication, representatives of the Alabama Public Television pointed out with pride that an Alabama organization had been honored. September 1998: The Johnson Institute will no longer be providing intervention services on a national level. Vernon Johnson, founder of the Johnson Institute, has set up the National Intervention Network, a network of central referral agencies that will channel requests for interventions to appropriately trained individuals. COSA-NCADD will be Alabama's point of contact for this national effort. The Johnson Institute will continue to publish all of the books and materials as in previous years. COSA-NCADD sponsored the National Intervention Network training for over 48 attendees. A protocol for procedures within the state was established. August 1996: COSA-NCADD was asked to join in a Social Security Administration-sponsored project bringing to a close the system of payment for substance abuse as a disability. The project, headquartered in Washington and named "Maximus," was a short-lived national project aimed at placing SSA recipients who listed substance abuse as their secondary disability into appropriate treatment. The SOBER-90 Registry System was perfectly suited to this mission, and in the few months COSA-NCADD worked Maximus for central Alabama, the agency was rated as having an excellent rate of placement into treatment, and received bonus points for successful referrals to treatment. February 1990 - October 1992: In February, 1990, COSA-NCADD was given the task by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services to create the first computerized tracking system in the state of Alabama to track federal dollars coming into Alabama for substance abuse treatment. From February 1990 to October 1990, COSA-NCADD worked to create The Computer Tracking System for Treatment Services or SOBER-90 Registry System and have every client who would be in treatment as of October 1, 1990 entered into the computer system for the official start date. Two weeks after the official start date of October 1, 1990, COSA-NCADD found that the state of Alabama was paying two, and in some instances three times, for assessments on the same clients. COSA-NCADD recommended the state of Alabama adopt a standardized assessment to be used and accepted by all public treatment facilities. This system saved the taxpayers dollars that would have otherwise been wasted. February 1992: COSA-NCADD created and initiated The Centralized Waiting List for Residential Treatment, offering an efficient way for the state to count those waiting for treatment, determine the length of waiting period for treatment in Alabama, ease clients through the treatment process, and help treatment providers constantly operate at full capacity. First envisioned as a "measurement of demand," the waiting list was easily incorporated into the existing SOBER-90 Registry System, and gave clear and sometimes surprising indications of the actual needs within the residential treatment system. During its operation, the centralized waiting list shortened the waiting period from eight weeks average to a 7-10 day wait. February 1992: On February 25, 1992, a technical assistance team representing the Federal Office of Treatment Improvement initiated their annual visitation program with an inspection of Alabama's Substance Abuse Services. In their outbriefing, the team members cited SOBER-90 Registry System as one of the major factors in the state's federal compliance status. According to a memo from James V. Laney, Director of Substance Abuse Services Division, the central tracking through SOBER-90 is listed as a "positive finding" of the team's outbriefing. The memo states, "In addition to providing the 1-800 number for information and referral, SOBER-90 provides a central registry service which allows for the accessing of clients from one service to another." This could be accomplished 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. October 1990: At the request of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services, COSA-NCADD began operating the 1-800-SOBER-90 Crisis Line in the state of Alabama. The crisis line continues to provide information and referral services 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. |
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ADVOCACY / PUBLIC POLICY July 2003: COSA-NCADD conducted Positive Action training, a science-based curriculum, for the Tarrant City School System and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Incorporated of Central Mississippi. July 2003: ACATA Youth Advisory Board of Wilcox County planned and held a Youth Summit attended by approximately 150 youth and 20 adults. This board worked with local organizations to coordinate the activities for this successful half-day event, and worked with the community to educate the youth on issues related to substance abuse prevention. June 2003: COSA-NCADD conducted five workshops for the National Youth Sports Program held at Alabama State University. May 2003: Mayor Bobby Bright and City Councilmen Willie Cook, Tracy Larkin, Terance Dawson, James Knuckles and Pep Pilgreen asked COSA-NCADD to assist in providing prevention and education information for the city-wide Stop the Violence Rally held at the Montgomery Civic Center for approximately 600 youth. April 2003: Alabama Youth Summit: The Real Fear Factor: Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs! 896 youth and 171 adults from across the state of Alabama came together for a daylong summit. Participants attended sessions regarding the "reality of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs." Sessions also provided leadership, advocacy skills and information about how to make a difference in their communities. During lunch break, the youth conducted a Clean Indoor Air Rally. State ACATA spokesperson Ellen Brooks, Councilman Ben McNeil, Justin Jones and Elizabeth Pham led the rally. Several schools presented letters written by concerned students to the Governor. ACATA youth advisory board members will be presenting the letters to the Governor. April 2003: National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) activities, coordinated by COSA NCADD and sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), were conducted statewide. Coalition members hosted alcohol screening activities at various sites throughout Alabama, reaching thousands of individuals. March 2003: In Alabama, all agencies receiving Block Grant monies must be certified by the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services, Alabama’s Single State Authority. The Council on Substance Abuse NCADD received a perfect score - the highest attainable mark - and a two-year certification for compliance in programming and physical standards. March 2003: Joining forces with City Councilman Willie Cook and Fathers Active in Children’s Education (F.A.C.E.) at Alabama State University, COSA-NCADD assisted in conducting the Stop the Violence Youth Rally for Montgomery County for more than 800 youth. February 2003: ACATA Youth Advisory Board attended the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum in Washington, D. C. They were among 1,600 individuals gathered to learn substance abuse strategies and to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. 2000-2003: ACATA Youth across the state continue to work hard to promote the ACATA program, and to inform youth of the alcohol and tobacco industry's media ploys and advertising techniques. Throughout the state, the ACATA coordinators have held "What's the Message?" trainings creating new ACATA Youth Advisory Boards (YAB). These YAB members have stayed busy with "What's the Message?" presentations. YAB members actively assist in the planning of the annual Alabama Youth Summit. They have also been involved in cities across the state, working with city councilmen, mayors, business owners on implementing smoke-free ordinances. They have conducted business education, spoke at city council meetings, written editorials, spoke on TV and radio talk shows, sent out Action Alerts and canvassed the neighborhoods concerning this important public health issue. Several of the cities now have smoke-free ordinances and others are in the process of submitting changes to current ordinances. If you are interested in having a presentation provided for your group or getting involved in smoke-free advocacy, please contact your local regional coordinator. March 2002: The theme for the 2002 Youth Summit on Preventing Teen Tobacco and Alcohol Use was "Building Survival Skills- Surviving Those Teen Years". Dr. Peter Debenedittis again presented challenging education and was followed by "Coming to Change Lives" presented by "Coming To", a teen recovery theatre group from Arizona. Breakout sessions included skill building on teen advocacy, "What's the Message?" presentation training, and peer-to-peer education training. Over 800 youth and over 200 adults attended in 2002. Youth Advisory Board members are now planning the 2003 Summit to be held April 29 in Montgomery Alabama. This year's program will again include "Coming To" teen recovery theatre and Doug Kaback, and new additions such as "Operation Save Teen" which focuses on some of the newer drugs of abuse such as Ecstasy, GHB, Oxycontin and Ketamine. December 2001: The Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) statewide Youth Advisory Board was invited to present their “What’s the Message?” curriculum at the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum XII in Washington, D.C. The Alabama group developed a series of presentations for younger students as a part of their public awareness initiatives aimed at diluting alcohol and tobacco advertising aimed at their age group. They took part in presenting a workshop at the Leadership Forum, which explained how they tailored the curriculum to have the greatest impact and how they incorporated its media awareness message into their nationally-recognized, on-going statewide effort to fight underage smoking and drinking. In addition, ACATA youth from Booker T. Washington Magnet School of Creative and Performing Arts Program presented the original song, “You’ve Got to Know”. This anti-drug musical number was performed at the Youth Summit on Teen Smoking and Underage Drinking and the 2001 Alabama Summit, held under the auspices of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws. October 2001: The ACATA-Montgomery Community Support Coalition was formed in 2001 as a result of federal funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The purpose of the coalition is to strengthen the local community in its battle against substance abuse and to assist in reducing substance abuse among youth. The ACATA-Montgomery Community Support Coalition conducts community forums in the nine public housing areas as well as each of the nine districts in the City of Montgomery. These forums address the specific neighborhood issues regarding the availability of alcohol and other drugs with emphasis on OxyContin, Ecstasy, and GHB and have reached hundreds of individuals. January 2001: The Alabama Summit was hosted by the National Alliance on Model State Drug Laws, a bipartisan, non-profit organization that is the successor to the Presidents Commission on Model State Drug Laws, and coordinated locally by the Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD (COSA-NCADD). The coordination of COSA-NCADD’s existing state-wide coalitions ensured the success of this conference. Over 470 participants from across the state, representing state and local government, law enforcement, education, the judicial system, the medical community, the clergy, and substance abuse prevention/treatment, joined teens of the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) advisory board in hands-on workshops which will make recommendations for drug policy, legislation, coordination of efforts, programmatic changes, and funding. Coordinating committee members were Jim Alford, MD, Alabama Medical Coalition; Honorable Ellen Brooks, Montgomery County District Attorney; Sundra Escott-Russell, Alabama State Senator; Honorable John Hilliard, Alabama State Representative; Yvonne Kennedy, Alabama State Representative; Honorable Charles Langford, Alabama State Senator; Jeanne Marie Leslie, Alabama Legal and Law Enforcement Coalition; Honorable Mike Millican, Alabama State Senator; Honorable Wendell Mitchell, Alabama State Senator; Reverend Jo Bob Mizzell, Alabama Clergy Association; Honorable Susan Parker, Alabama State Auditor; Honorable George Perdue, Alabama State Representative; Honorable Hank Sanders, Alabama State Senator; Kathy Sawyer, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; Rabbi Laurence Schlesinger, Alabama Clergy Coalition; Gregg Skipper, MD, Alabama Medical Coalition; Honorable Rodger Smitherman, Alabama State Senator and Father Charles Troncale, Alabama Clergy Association. Contributing sponsors include: Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD, Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA), Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Department of Education, Alabama Department of Public Safety, District Attorney’s Association, State of Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts, State of Alabama Judicial College, Alabama Clergy Association, Alabama Legal and Law Enforcement Coalition and the Alabama Lawyer Assistance Program. 2000: The ACATA Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was formed to expand the ACATA mission. The YAB chose a dual mission: (1) to develop a media advocacy campaign encouraging peers to avoid tobacco and alcohol and (2) to develop a peer education initiative to teach 4 grade students about the practices of the alcohol and tobacco industries. 2000: The YAB’s first step in putting this mission into action was to choose a curriculum. A lesson called “What’s the Message?” was selected from a curriculum developed by AGC/United Learning. The YAB then worked with representatives of AGC/United Learning to add lessons on tobacco and alcohol and constructed a curriculum to their specifications. This curriculum then became the centerpiece of the 2001 Youth Summit, called “What’s the Message? The Youth Summit on Teen Smoking and Underage Drinking” was held in March 2001. At this gathering, students from all over the state were trained to use the curriculum. October 1995 - September 1998: During the second year, COSA-NCADD expanded the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) initiative to achieve a plan based on a "grass roots" concept by dividing the state into nine regions, and a regional coordinator was hired for each. This allowed for programs, activities, and presentations to reach smaller communities within each region, in lieu of the first year's plan on to focus on Alabama's four major cities. The statewide alliance includes the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alabama Army National Guard; March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation; American Lung Association of Alabama; American Heart Association; American Cancer Society; Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services; Alabama Department of Public Health; Alabama State Department of Education; Alabama Department of Public Safety; Alabama Congress of Parents Teachers Association; Alabama State Department of Youth Services, Riverbend Center of Mental Health; Partnership for a Drug Free Community Inc., Huntsville; Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center; Gateway; Indian Rivers Mental Health Center; Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention; West Alabama ACATA, East Alabama Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center; Spectracare; and Drug Education Council, Inc. ACATA continues to be active and to expand. The Substance Symposium for the Clergy is a result of this initiative which reaches tens of thousands of citizens. Praise and recognition for the initiative continues. October 1996: When parents and teachers complained to COSA-NCADD about the packaging of a fruit drink in flasks, the agency immediately took action. Letters of protest were sent to bottlers and distributors of the product, called Everfresh, and a press conference was held to decry the packaging, marketing, and advertising of the beverage. This product was removed from sale in the central Alabama area. October 1995 - September 1996: The success of year two of the Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth initiative warranted a continuance. It was given the prestigious Meritorious Award by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as the Best Prevention Program for 1996 in the nation, and continued to raise public awareness within the state. A partnership was formed with the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama; Alabama Army National Guard; March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation; American Lung Association of Alabama; American Heart Association; American Cancer Society; Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Division of Substance Abuse Services; Alabama;, Alabama Congress of Parents Teachers Association; and our nine statewide coordinators provided manpower, training sites, and other support throughout the year. August 1996: A concerned parent called COSA-NCADD to discuss a billboard for beer which was placed at a school crossing which served hundreds of children. A letter from the agency was sent to the billboard company asking for the removal of that one, plus others which were prominently displayed at places where children gathered. When no response was received nor corrective action taken, the agency held a press conference listing the locations of the offensive billboards. The billboard company then responded by meeting with the agency, promising to remove the billboards, and instigate a system of marking the sites which would not show alcohol or tobacco ads. June 1994 - September 1995: COSA-NCADD is selected by the Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation to head a statewide awareness campaign to counteract the advertising tactics of the alcohol and tobacco industry which targets youth. The Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) set up local alliances in four major cites: Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile. Participants include Medical Association of the State of Alabama, The Medical Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, American Lung Association, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. May 1993: Alice Murphy, executive director of COSA-NCADD, appeared before the Alcohol Beverage Control Board to respond to allegations asserted by Canandaigua Winery's local representative, Steve Milano. In an attempt to have Cisco reinstated in Alabama at its previous, dangerous level, Mr. Milano presented a request filled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations concerning Ms. Murphy, the work of COSA-NCADD, and about the dangers of the beverage, Cisco. In her testimony, Ms. Murphy covered twelve specific points on which Canandaigua tried to mislead the ABC Board. Accompanying Ms. Murphy, and voicing their outrage at the actions of Canandaigua Winery were: Dr. J. Robert Beshear, Dr. James Alford, Dr. Sandy Morrison, Captain Larry Armistead of the Montgomery Police Department, and Montgomery County District Attorney, Ellen Brooks. March 1990 - May 1993: COSA-NCADD successfully brought pressure to block the sale of Cisco, a fortified wine cooler, in Alabama. Though first packaged and marketed to look like an ordinary wine cooler, a 12-ounce bottle contains the equivalent of five ounces of 80 proof vodka. Consumption of just two bottles of Cisco within an hour by a person weighing 100 pounds or less can result in death due to acute alcohol poisoning. Consumption of two bottles within an hour by a person weighing 150 pounds will result in a blood alcohol content level above the legal limit for driving in most states. February 1993: COSA-NCADD joined a national effort initiated by NCADD to ensure that alcoholism and other drug treatment benefits be a fundamental component of any health care reform package developed by the White House. December 1992: COSA-NCADD and supporters expressed to Congress their outrage at the approval by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (BATF) of the use of "collar hangers" on wine bottles extolling the health benefits of wine. The bottlers cited a 60 Minutes segment during which research was quoted showing some relationship between the wine consumption and lower risk of heart attacks. The wine company discarded their plans to use the collars when consumers demanded that a warning also be included showing the direct link between alcohol and health risks. November 1991: COSA-NCADD again launched a letter-writing campaign encouraging the recipients of our newsletter to request that Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady investigate the marketing techniques of St. Ides Malt Liquor. A product of the same brewer which produced Power Master, St. Ides used popular African-American rappers in their campaigns, which centered on sexual conquests and "cheap highs." In response to such consumer advocacy, St. Ides agreed to moderate their advertising. June 1991: COSA-NCADD sparked a statewide letter writing campaign to pressure BTAF to prevent the marketing of a fortified malt liquor called Power Master. The brew, whose alcohol content was 5.9 percent by weight, was advertised as "high-octane" image, and was promoted in communities populated by African-Americans and Hispanics. Through involvement of consumer groups and concerned agencies such as this, BATF reversed its initial approval and required the brewing company to rename the product. In July 1991, the brewer discontinued Power Master because of public pressure. April 1991: Cisco reappeared in neighborhood retail establishments in Montgomery, Alabama. April 1991: Prompted by a complaint from a Montgomery parent, Dr. Bob Beshear, Dr. Alan Babb, and Alice Murphy, executive director of COSA-NCADD, appeared before the ABC Board to express concern over the sale of Cisco, and the sale of all liquor over 100 proof. March 1991: Cisco first appeared in the Washington, DC area. February 1991: At the request of the COSA-NCADD, the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board stopped accepting special orders for Cisco "until some attempt is made to correct the problems associated with this product." January 1991: More cases of acute alcohol poisoning due to Cisco were reported. The Surgeon General formally requested that Canandaigua repackage Cisco so that it would not resemble a wine cooler. January 199l: Southland Corporation (7-11 Stores) discontinued the sale of Cisco nationwide. December 1990: Dr. Joseph White of the Children's National Medical Center documented 10 cases of Cisco-related adolescent alcohol poisoning admissions in a 10-month period. October 1990: Canandaiga agreed to label bottles of Cisco "not a wine cooler." NCADD notifies Canandaiga that public awareness will continue until packaging is changed. Food 4 Less chain stores discontinue Cisco sales in the Midwest. July 1990 - September 1990: Because of consumer complaints, NCADD and the Surgeon General formally requested that Canandaigua Winery withdraw Cisco from the market. |
