A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Remember when bath salts were used for taking a BATH?  Or, plant food was fertilizer to help plants GROW?

We are in the midst of a drug revolution.

These drugs are mislabeled as innocuous products and distributed.  Two capsules of “Plant Food” cost $25. Wait a second, since when does fertilizer come in capsules? And since when do they cost $12.50 each?

What can you do?  Talk about this with everyone you know—your children, friends, the store owners, your congressional representatives.  The more you talk to people and spread the word that these are dangerous drugs, the more people will be willing to take action.

Excessive alcohol use causes more than 79,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and contributes to a wide range of health and social problems.

"Excessive alcohol use causes more than 79,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and contributes to a wide range of health and social problems.

The reports show that increasing the number of hours and days when alcohol can be sold in bars, restaurants, and liquor stores leads to greater alcohol use and related harms, especially motor-vehicle crashes. National, state, and local policies that remove previously banned alcohol sales on weekend days (usually Sundays) or that increase the hours of sale by 2 or more hours contribute to excessive drinking and many dangerous outcomes, including driving after drinking and alcohol-related assault and injury." (infoZine, March 11, 2011)

Do you think times available to sell alcoholic beverages should be limited?

Fake ID 101

An innovative prevention strategy is being highlighted in news stations across Lawrence and the Kansas City Metro area this week: Fake ID 101.  The project, led by the New Traditions Coalition of Lawrence, utilized Facebook to identify and connect with minors looking for fake IDs.  When the minor clicked on the Facebook ad for a fake ID, the minor was linked with the New Traditions Coalition website. According to the coalition, 5,247 people responded to the ad over a 60-day period last semester.

Check out this news clip about the project: http://www.kmbc.com/video/27116850/detail.html

Although the project was innovative and made creative use of social media, it also begs the question of ethical prevention strategies. Do you think the coalition found a novel way to make contact with this 16-20 year old demographic, or did it overstep its boundaries?