ONDCP Blog

HIDTA Joins Badges for Baseball

Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, National HIDTA Director Michael Gottlieb, and Washington-Baltimore HIDTA Director Thomas H. Carr enjoyed a beautiful autumn day as they launched the Badges for Baseball Program in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The Badges for Baseball program aims to reshape and improve the relationship between law enforcement and youth from high-crime areas.  Police volunteers help youth refine and improve their baseball skills while also mentoring the young participants and providing positive role models.  Badges for Baseball seeks to build a safe and positive environment in which young people have fun, build character, and learn to make good decisions both on and off the field.

Congressman Cummings, who represents the 7^th Congressional District in Maryland, referred to the multi-purpose field where the event took place as Baltimore’s “Field of Dreams.”  More than 50 young people from Baltimore are expected to participate in the ongoing initiative.

Badges for Baseball is funded in part by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.  The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation is a non-profit working with underprivileged youth throughout the United States through baseball and softball programming.  The Washington-Baltimore HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.  

HIDTAs have recently placed an increased emphasis on prevention programs like Badges for Baseball.  Since 2008, the number of HIDTAs implementing prevention initiatives has increased from four to 20, including all five Southwest Border HIDTA regions.  This expansion of prevention initiatives illustrates ONDCP’s commitment to further integrate the law enforcement and prevention communities.     

Director Kerlikowske Visits Phoenix Multisport

Last Wednesday, Director Kerlikowske visited Phoenix Multisport, a nonprofit “sober active community” for individuals in recovery from substance abuse who are seeking to make a transformation and choose a healthy, active lifestyle. Scott Strode is the Founder and Executive Director of Phoenix who, as an avid athlete, outdoorsman, and recovering alcoholic, understands firsthand the impact and the benefit Phoenix can have for individuals in recovery.

Director Kerlikowske prepares for a training session at Phoenix Multisport.

When Strode began working toward a sober lifestyle, he lost his old friends and social circle. To cope with these changes, Strode began hiking, running, climbing, biking, and boxing, where he found a peer network to help him in his recovery.

Director Kerlikowske and Scott Strode in front of Phoenix Multisport.

Phoenix provides the same type of network Strode found to be invaluable in his own recovery. Strode and 14 staff members offer support through sport with approximately 40 free events each week to anyone who is 48 hours sober. With chapters in Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs area, Phoenix has seen over 6,000 individuals participate in its programming. Phoenix also has a special program offering support to members of the military and veterans. 

CNN praised Strode for his work by naming him a CNN Hero in 2012. He was also featured in Newsweek, Comcast’s Newsmakers program, Renew Magazine, and a 25 minute documentary called “Turning Point.”

Director Kerlikowske with the Phoenix Multisport team.

First-Ever National ‘Above The Influence’ Day

Yesterday, ONDCP’s “Above the Influence” Campaign engaged youth from across the country to celebrate its first-ever National “Above the Influence” Day.  The keystone event of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, National “Above the Influence” Day turned the spotlight on teens in a national discussion centered on how America’s young people stay “above” negative influences.

More than 200 teens and community organizations across the Nation participated in National “Above the Influence” Day by taking part in various youth-focused activities derived from the campaign, such as “Tag It,” “Be It” and “Express It.”  In addition, approximately 85 communities conducted teen panel discussions on the importance of staying “above the influence”, during which teens shared the positive and negative influences they face, including the pressures to use alcohol and drugs.

Washington, D.C.-area youth participate in an influence-inspired discussion in celebration of National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at the Newseum on October 18, moderated by Carla Brooks, Prevention Services Coordinator, Covenant House Washington.

In Washington, DC, I joined area youth in a panel discussion on how they stay “above it” in their own unique ways.  Teens from various community organizations engaged in song, dance, and poetry performances  related to their participation in the campaign’s “Express It” activity earlier this year. 

Similar activities occurred simultaneously in three featured communities – Aberdeen, Maryland; Elkins, West Virginia; and Elko, Nevada .  Young people also joined in the ATI Facebook Challenge to share online what they did in their local communities on National “Above the Influence” Day.

Youth from Aberdeen, Md., pose with Deputy Director Marilyn Quagliotti following their event celebrating the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County on October 18.

America’s success in the 21st century depends in part on its ability to help young people make decisions that will keep them healthy and safe.  ONDCP is thrilled to celebrate and recognize teens who are rejecting the pressure of drugs, alcohol, and other risky behaviors and the power of community organizations to support our teens nationwide.

Deputy Director Ben Tucker meets with local partners and teen panelists from Harrison, Randolph and Taylor counties in Elkins, W.Va., during the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at Davis & Elkins College on October 18.

Throughout National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we will continue to join with Federal, state, and local partners to highlight the importance of prevention. Our collective efforts are the key to building healthy and safe communities across the country.

Deputy Director David Mineta  addresses community partners and area youth participating in a panel discussion on influence during the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at Elko Convention and Visitors Authority on October 18.

I hope you will get involved and join others in their prevention efforts during this month. Learn what resources and coalitions are located near you. Visit our prevention page for more information and read the President’s 2012 proclamation here.

We know that prevention works and, with your help, we can help keep Americans safe and healthy.

The Need to Address Game-Day Fan Behavior on College Campuses

Dr. Laura L. Forbes is Chair of the American College Health Association (ACHA) Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Coalition, and Dr. Tavis J. Glassman is a ACHA ATOD coalition member.

The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Coalition focuses on substance abuse prevention and treatment specific to the college student population. An issue of increasing concern for our coalition is fan behavior associated with college football games. More than a mere nuisance, the high-risk drinking and other drug use associated with game-day fan behavior is a serious public health problem and an issue that universities and surrounding communities need to address.

Scope of the Problem

• The high-risk drinking that takes place on game day is associated with a variety of negative consequences, such as drinking and driving, injury, loss of memory (e.g., blacking out), urinating in public, and vandalism. These consequences are not limited to those actually engaged in alcohol consumption, as non-drinkers also can become victims of secondary negative consequences.
• No research to date has looked at the problem from a national perspective. However, a number of site-specific observational studies have documented the health threats associated with the extreme fan behavior often associated with game day on campus. For example, a 2007 study published in the Journal of American College Health about alcohol-related fan behavior at a large university in the Southeast found that college students and other fans tend to drink more on game day than during other social occasions.
• While anecdotal evidence indicates illicit drug use plays a part in game-day fan behavior, there’s a strong need for research to explore this connection and more accurately determine its nature, scope, and impact on public health.
   

Guidelines and Recommendations

• Creating a campus coalition/task force to prepare for and manage game-day issues is a fundamental first step in engaging community and campus officials, such as those in Student Affairs, the Health Center, Counseling Center, Health Promotion Office, University Police Department, Athletics Department, Residence Life, student government, and other student organizations.
• After conducting a needs assessment that looks at issues such as campus and/or community readiness and student substance use, the coalition can begin to plan prevention initiatives that include specific educational efforts, policy implementation, and increased enforcement.

Report in Development

• The ACHA ATOD Coalition is working collaboratively with other organizations and stakeholders to develop a report that will offer recommendations to help colleges and universities address the excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences associated with game-day fan behavior.
• As with many other health issues, there is no easy solution to the challenges associated with game-day fan behavior on campus. However, by opening up a dialogue, stakeholders (including students and fans) can discuss, evaluate, and implement measures to address this issue and help make game days on campus safer for everyone.

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 [1] Champion, H., Blocker, J. N., Buettner, C. K., Martin, B. A., Parries, M., McCoy, T. P., Mitra, A., Andrews, D. W., Rhodes, S. D. (2009). High-rish versus low-risk football game weekends: Differences in problem drinking and alcohol-related consequences on college campuses in the United States. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 21(2) 249-62.

[1] Glassman T, Werch CE, Jobli E, Bian H. Alcohol-Related Fan Behavior on College Football Game Day. Journal of American College Health. 2007;56(3):255-260.