The 9th Annual Team Fort Collins Simply Red Gala is scheduled for February 10, 2012, at the Fort Collins Hilton Hotel. This highly recognized event is Team Fort Collin’s major event of year. The prestigious Lamplighter Award will be presented at the Simply Red to OtterBox and the OtterCares Foundation.
If you are interested in sponsoring or attending the event, please contact Mike Demma at 224-9931.
I just finished reading a FANTASTIC article that was in National Geographic. It’s called Beautiful Brains by David Dobbs. It 
does a phenomenal job explaining the development of the teen brain and outlines why adolescents may be the most adaptive creatures on the planet. Adolescence, so often seen as a problem, can it really be everything it should be? If you have children anywhere near this developmental stage, go give it a read.
New website chock full of information about DUI’s in Colorado, including a BAC calculator (Blood Alcohol Content). The 
user-friendly website focuses on
1. Preventing DUIs
2. Got a DUI, now what?
3. Resources
Good news parents! You ARE making a difference. Youth surveys reveal that the number one reason young people give for choosing not to use alcohol or other drugs is that they do not want to disappoint their parents. Resolve to take
full advantage of our parent power – be informed about the issues; be clear on where we stand when it comes to underage drinking, smoking and using other drugs; and foster and strengthen communication with our children.
TIPS TO BOOST PARENT/CHILD COMMUNICATION
**This article was paraphrased from the resource Know! Other sources: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
Make a difference: talk to your child about alcohol
Alcohol use is very dangerous for young people and it is crucial to help your child avoid it as long as possible. In fact, the longer your child can delay use, the less likely they are to have any problems associated with alcohol as they grow into adulthood.
As a parent or caregiver, you are the greatest influence in your child’s life. Research shows that the closer the relationship between parent/guardian and child, the longer a child will delay alcohol use. Encourage open and trusting conversations with your child by discussing their interests, being an active listener, using open-ended questions, and respecting your child’s viewpoint. If you disagree with their viewpoint, explain why and help them understand.
Parent Pointers:
Take a stand in your home, early and often. By starting the conversation with fourth and fifth graders, the child knows and understands the norms of alcohol use in your home early on.
Be a good role model. Children often model after their parents. If you do choose to drink alcohol or use tobacco, be responsible and don’t do it in the presence of your children.
Empower your children. Having a close bond with your child can help increase their self esteem. You can encourage your child to believe in themselves and be strong in peer pressure situations. Give them the power and skills in order for them to “refuse to use”.
Get your child involved in academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. A child who participates in activities and hobbies will be more confident and less likely to use substances. Your child will develop interests that they can carry on throughout their development.
Discuss advertising. Alcohol and tobacco companies spend billions of dollars on advertising that is highly targeted at youth. Teach your child that advertising and media purposely try to make substance use look glamorous. Give your child the skills to “read between the lines”.
Learn about resources. If you feel your child may already be at risk or you want additional help, there are many resources within the Poudre schools and the community. A few of these resources include Team Fort Collins , The Parent Education Network, and Larimer Center for Mental Health.
References:
Harvard School of Public Health
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Prevention Resources
public comment at Fort Collins City Council meeting on December 6, 2011
I hope that we can count on City Council’s support to build
a community that protects positive choices among our youth. In a long list of
risk and protective factors, your role as community leaders becomes most
important in devising laws and supporting norms that are UNfavorable to drug
use. Other domains such as families, schools, and peers groups are equally
important, but none is effective without the support of the other. So yes, in
response to a popular argument advanced by opponents to the ban of medical
marijuana dispensaries, parents do have an important role and a responsibility
in guiding their children toward healthy choices. BUT parents’ efforts are
futile without the support of community leaders, schools, and positive peer
groups.
When City Council made initial decisions about who, where,
and when medical marijuana could be sold in Fort Collins some ambiguity existed
at the Federal level and the message propagated some uncertainly on how local
municipalities should proceed. Thankfully, transparency on the issue was
provided in the most recent letter from the U.S. Attorney General in June 2011.
Stating that, “Persons who are in the business of
cultivating, selling, or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly
facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act,
regardless of state law. . . State laws or local ordinances are not a defense
to civil enforcement of federal law with respect to such conduct . . .”
Please take advantage of the clarity this letter provided as
you plan the process for terminating the commercial sale of medical marijuana,
closing down grow operations, and ensuring that excess inventory does not feed
the black market. Please know that in doing so, you are exercising the will of
the people, as evidenced by a favorable vote to ban dispensaries despite the
unionization of the opponents and a nationally funded effort to fight the ban. Additionally,
please consider sharing the planned processes with the many citizens who have
taken interest in this community issue.
Ah, energy drinks. They seem to be everywhere these days and consumed by adults and youth alike. Take a trip to the convenience store to see the many vibrantly designed cans with intriguing names to choose from. There is no doubt that these companies are marketing to youth. Unfortunately, youths may not realize they can become dependent on caffeine and can even have withdrawals from caffeine. Energy drinks can pose a huge health risk to all ages and recent statistics support this fact. Last week, an article from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported energy drink related emergency room visits in the U.S. increased tenfold from 2005 to 2009. Additionally, combining energy drinks with drugs and alcohol can be even more hazardous to one’s health, and can lead to life-threatening injuries and riskier behaviors such as driving under the influence (2011).
The perception that energy drinks are a cure for low energy, can be extremely dangerous. Stimulants such as caffeine are known to cause binge and crash cycles. This can ultimately lead to increasing use of the substance and the consequence is tolerance and dependance. As reiterated by SAMHSA, understand that the key to energy and overall wellness is not energy drink consumption but rather having a healthy life style that includes exercise, healthy diet, and sufficient sleep (2011).
Click here to read the article. 
The voter’s passage of Question 300 on the November ballot was certainly welcome news for Team Fort Collins. We believe that our town and our youth will experience a brighter future without the challenges presented by the retail distribution of marijuana through a dispensary system. Having said that we all know that our work is far from complete, in many respects the “damage has been done” to our youth inFt.Collins. Over the past few years since the explosion of “pot shops” in our community our youth have received very troubling messages and information regarding marijuana and its effects and “benefits”. Some of those messages have been subtle others bold in the assertion that marijuana leads to “wellness”. Our youth have paid a price, as we see increasing use with a substance that is perceived as harmless and even beneficial, coupled with easy access.
Please know that our fundamental mission and work at Team Fort Collins will go on with a renewed sense of vigor. We are dedicated to providing the best evidence based practices of substance abuse prevention for all substances of abuse that impact the healthy trajectory of our youth and community.
We cannot do this alone and are thankful for the tremendous support we receive from so many of you. As I often say- “together we are making a positive difference in our community”. We will carry on together, working hard with a view towards bright, productive and healthy futures.
