The CADY Corner
Published: September 22nd, 2011
FAMILY DAY 2011 is on Monday, September 26th
Contributor: Deb Naro
Hectic work schedules, after-school activities and time spent with school friends often interfere with dinnertime. Yet more than a decade of research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.
Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ is a national movement launched by CASA in 2001 to remind parents that frequent family Dinners Make A Difference! While there are no silver bullets – substance abuse can strike any family regardless of ethnicity, affluence, age or gender – the parental engagement fostered at the dinner table can be a simple, effective tool to help prevent substance abuse in kids.
Family Day began as a grassroots initiative and has grown to become a nationwide celebration. In fact, in 2010 President Obama, all the Governors and more than 1,000 Mayors and County Executives proclaimed and supported Family Day! “America’s drug problem is not going to be solved in courtrooms or legislative hearing rooms by judges and politicians. It will be solved in living rooms and dining rooms and across kitchen tables – by parents and families,” stated Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA Founder and Chairman.
Family Day promotes regular family activities to encourage parent-child communication, reminds us all of the value of parental engagement and encourages parents to make family dinners a regular feature of their lives. How Can YOU Join the Fun?
- Take the Family Day Pledge, promising to have dinner with your family on September 26, 2011 and more frequently throughout the year.
- Download the Family Day Tool Kit with a pledge form, fun games and activities to enjoy with your family from here:
Parental involvement is the most potent weapon in preventing substance abuse among youth!
The CADY Corner
Published: July 7th, 2011
"Helping Kids-One Scoop at a Time!"
Contributor: Deb Naro
Who would have thought that by purchasing an Ice Cream you would be helping out local youth?? Well, that is exactly what happens when you visit Frosty’ Scoops Ice Cream Stand in Plymouth! Frosty Scoops, located on North Main Street in Plymouth—right in front of the Common Man Inn—serves up delicious home-made ice cream from the Common Man, and the frosty treats are served up with a smile by area youth who are participants in the LAUNCH Youth Entrepreneurship Program.
Frosty Scoops is a joint venture between CADY (Communities for Alcohol- and Drug-free Youth) and the Common Man Family of Restaurants, and is the experiential phase of the LAUNCH Youth Entrepreneurship Program. The Launch is a year-round youth leadership program that involves real world learning through pre-employment and job-keeping skills training, personal and leadership development, teambuilding via adventure activities, community service, paid summer employment, and just plain fun with many recreational activities supervised by positive adult role models throughout the year.
The CADY Corner
Published: April 7th, 2011
"Local Prescription Drug “Take-Back Day” April 30th"
Contributor: Deb Naro
This spring, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national and community partners will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DEA and local law enforcement partners will hold their second “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” at sites nationwide. During this timeframe any pharmaceutical (prescription or over-the-counter) drug may be dropped off at the locations listed below. The service is free and anonymous—no questions asked. All efforts will be made to protect the anonymity of those disposing of the medications and no requests for identification will be made by police. Intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes and aerosol inhalers will not be accepted. Once collected, the drugs will then be turned over to the DEA and destroyed.
The CADY Corner
Published: January 1st, 2011
"Guiding Good Choices"
Contributor: Deb Naro
Parents want their children to succeed, but they may not be aware of “tried and true” strategies that when implemented consistently can turn challenges into solutions.
CADY in collaboration with Whole Village Family Resource Center is sponsoring a free parent empowerment series, “Guiding Good Choices,” that will provide strategies on how to successfully navigate today’s pressure-filled world of parenting “tweens and teens” (children ages 9 to 14). This engaging and interactive series offers positive, common sense strategies for dealing with the everyday issues of parenting today’s youth—friends, Internet, and stress management, as well as serious issues such as substance abuse prevention. Parents and caregivers will learn how the “little things” – talking one-on-one, setting boundaries, offering guidance, and modeling positive behavior—make a BIG difference in helping youth to become healthy decision makers and successful in their goals.
The CADY Corner
Published: December 9th, 2010
"Blackout in a Can"
Contributor: Deb Naro
The Associated Press recently reported that there are new concerns about energy drinks produced by a Chicago-based company that combine high levels of caffeine with alcohol. The Food and Drug Administration began investigating these types of beverages a year ago, but a recent party hosted by Washington State College students is renewing questions about their safety.
Earlier in October, nine students from Central Washington University (CWU) ended up in the hospital after getting sick at an off-campus party. Police initially thought they had overdosed on drugs, but now, investigators blame their condition on a drink called, "Four Loko."
The CADY Corner
Published: December 2nd, 2010
Beware of "K2" - This "Fake Weed" May Cause Serious Problems
Contributor: Deb Naro
While national and local surveys have shown that marijuana use is on the rise, a synthetic version of the drug, known as “K2” or “Spice,” is also causing problems throughout the country. This synthetic drug is being used by some smokers as a legal substitute for marijuana, and is raising serious concerns. The drug is an unregulated mixture of dried herbs, flowers and tobacco that is covered with a synthetic compound alleged to give a high similar to marijuana. Use of synthetic marijuana, commonly called K2, Spice, and Blaze, has become increasingly popular among teens in the last few years.
K2 or Spice is sold under the brand names of Kush, Ultra, Summit, Blonde, Standard, Yucatan Gold, Genie, Pot-pourri, Bombay Blue and many others. Whatever the name, the drug is easy to find at tobacco shops, liquor, convenience and variety stores, and over the Internet. There has been a dramatic increase in tobacco shops selling K2 and in Texas, there has been at least one death attributed to K2.
The CADY Corner
Published: November 4th, 2010
Area Partners Truly "Connect for Kids"
Contributor: Deb Naro
Main Street Plymouth was bustling on Friday night, October 22nd. Hundreds of costumed children (and several dogs dressed up as bumblebees, pirates, and princesses) swarmed downtown, as they participated in the Plymouth Parks and Recreation and Main Street Plymouth, Inc. 12th Annual Halloween Festival. What a wonderful, fun-filled family evening!
The CADY Corner
Published: October 28th, 2010
Local Youth Say "BOO" to Drugs!
Contributor: Deb Naro
The National Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31st each year.
The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the annual tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a DRUG-FREE AMERICA.
The CADY Corner
Published: October 21st, 2010
Local TAP Survey Spotlights Attitudes and Behaviors of Local Youth and Substance Abuse
Contributor: Deb Naro
What do Pemi-Baker and Newfound region youth think about the risks associated with drugs, alcohol, and the Internet? On September 23rd more than 35 community members from the Pemi-Baker and Newfound regions gathered at a public information session to hear insights into that very question. At this public forum, Jonathan Stewart, Executive Director of the Community Health Institute presented the results of the 2009 TAP (Teen Assessment Project) surveys for Newfound and Pemi-Baker area youth. In the audience were local healthcare, prevention, law enforcement, mental health and education professionals, as well as a number of parents and concerned community partners. The TAP Survey is administered on a bi-annual basis, and the 2009 TAP Survey was the fifth iteration in the Pemi-Baker region and the fourth for the Newfound Region.
The CADY Corner
Published: July 29th, 2010
The Scoop on Frosty Scoops
Contributor: Claire Moorhead
But Frosty Scoops isn’t just about the ice cream… there actually is a “prevention” component mixed in with all this flavorful fun! So, just what is the connection between ice cream and prevention? You might be surprised!
Frosty Scoops is a joint venture between CADY (Communities for Alcohol- and Drug-free Youth) and the Common Man Family of Restaurants, and is one component of the LAUNCH Youth Entrepreneurship Program. The Launch is a year-round youth leadership program that involves real world learning through pre-employment and job-keeping skills training, teambuilding via adventure activities, paid summer employment, community service, and just plain fun with many recreational activities supervised by positive adult role models. This community-based primary prevention program wouldn’t be possible without the vision and ongoing commitment of Alex Ray.
CADY Corner 12/24/09
Published: December 24th, 2009
CADY Youth Decorate for Peace
Contributor: Liz Naro
For three years now CADY’s LAUNCH group has been participating in the Common Man Inn’s Festival of Trees. Each year the youth have worked hard to create a theme using hand-made ornaments. This year was no different, and the chosen theme says a great deal about the dedication of our youth to make a difference.
The process for planning the tree decorations began in early November. At that time, Dr. Kelley White, a pediatrician with Mid-State Health Center, joined the CADY Board of Directors. During discussions with CADY staff members it was discovered that Doctor White had a unique hobby of making paper cranes. Dr. White attended a LAUNCH meeting on November 18th to show the kids how to make the cranes and educate them about the story of Sadako Sasaki. The LAUNCH youth loved the idea and the inspiration for decorating CADY’s Christmas tree was born! The LAUNCH youth were extremely moved by the story of Sadako Sasaki, and eagerly learned the art of folding the paper cranes.
