APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH |
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Alcohol Awareness Month means raising awareness around the harms of alcohol and that it is the most used substance by youth in Illinois. SAMHSA released its Short Report on Alcohol-related ED visits through the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) last month. Alcohol was the most prevalent substance involved in substance-related ED visits, with twice the number of visits compared to opioids or cannabis. Alcohol Awareness Month also means highlighting solutions. Alcohol policy is essential for the health and safety of our communities. Policies implemented based on data have a positive ripple effect. Studies have proven that the more you reduce access to alcohol, the more you reduce violence and prevent suicide. Policies to consider are Social Host Ordinances, Alcohol Outlet Density Regulations, Event Restrictions, Minor in Possession, Mandated Responsible Beverage Server Training, and Alcohol Advertising Restrictions. The APRC has created an infographic answering ‘what’s in it for communities’ and why Alcohol Policy is a Win-Win. The APRC is excited to share we are hosting the Deaths From Excessive Alcohol Use on the Rise in the US: What We Know and What We Can Do webinar on April 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Central). Dr. Marissa Esser, Lead of the Alcohol Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, will facilitate the webinar. Register here: https://www.prevention.org/training/EventDetails?i=2960. The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can assist with analyzing your data, scanning your community, and matching policy/strategy to assessment findings. If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out to Jody Heavilin. |
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ALCOHOL ACCESS & COMPLIANCE CHECKS |
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How are youth accessing alcohol in your community? The most common form of access is social, which includes parties, friends, siblings, or other people they know. However, prevention and enforcement must also keep their eyes on retail access. Retail access includes purchasing from an on-premise (bar/restaurant), off-premise (liquor store/grocery store/gas station), or ordering home delivery where the alcohol is delivered to their front door. Conducting Alcohol Compliance Checks is a solution to reduce youth retail access to alcohol. The APRC has a fact sheet and a micro-learning video on the basics of compliance checks. The Alcohol Policy Resource Center has also partnered with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission to provide Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board-Certified training to law enforcement throughout Illinois. This training meets the 4-hour statutory requirement, giving law enforcement 1 hour for procedural justice and 1 hour for legal updates (mandatory training hours). Law Enforcement will also receive a Youth Training Toolkit. Upcoming Trainings:
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