December 2022

Jody Heavilin Wins Prevention Leadership Award

Pictured (L-R): Karel Homrig, CEO of Prevention First; Jody Heavilin; and Jud DeLoss, CEO of IABH.

"What a great honor it is to be recognized by IABH. I am deeply grateful to them and to Prevention First for this award and the

opportunity to do what I love! Thank you!"

– Jody Heavilin

Administrator,

Alcohol Policy Resource Center

Prevention First

Alcohol Outlet Density Regulation

Alcohol outlet density regulation is when a regulatory entity such as a municipality limits the number of alcohol retailers such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in a given area through licensing or zoning processes. The Alcohol Policy Resource Center has created a new infographic highlighting positive outcomes from alcohol outlet density regulation.  

The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can assist with how to analyze your data, scan your community, and match policy/strategy to assessment findings. The APRC can also provide certified training to law enforcement on evidence-based strategies such as Alcohol Compliance Checks or Controlled Party Dispersal.



If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Kellie Henrichs or Jody Heavilin.

Support is Available for the Holidays!

The holidays can be a time of celebration and joy, but they can also be a time when folks struggle with their mental health. If you are looking for ways to support yourself or a loved one this season, check out this resource that we developed with the help of our Student Advisory Board.

It includes phone and text hotlines for mental health and tips for navigating the holiday season. Many people are feeling not-so-merry-and-bright right now. Be gentle with yourself. It's okay to be human this holiday season.

You can also bring QPR or Mental Health First Aid training to your community!

Stay up to date on what's happening with the Youth Prevention Resource Center by joining our mailing list. For more information, contact Randyl Wilkins. 

Technical Assistance, commonly referred to as consulting or coaching, is a one-on-one service that provides timely, flexible, and targeted support to an organization. Using a collaborative approach, Prevention First builds a prevention professional’s capacity to address their local conditions and develop their own prevention solutions to amplify programmatic effectiveness. For more information about technical assistance, please contact providerservices@prevention.org or call 312.909-9768.

Strategic Planning Training is Available

Strategic planning increases the effectiveness of prevention efforts by ensuring that prevention organizations and coalitions select and implement the most appropriate programs and strategies for their communities. Learn more about the purpose of strategic planning and the process used to develop a comprehensive strategic plan in the Overview of Strategic Planning, a self-paced online course. 

Online Self Study Courses

Legislation Expected To Expand Cannabis Research

The Senate recently sent the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act to President Biden for signature. We expect this legislation to allow research that will significantly expand our understanding of the health effects of cannabis products. We’re here to help sift through and understand this research to drive your prevention efforts! 

To stay current on existing and emerging research, check out the resources section of the CPRC’s webpage and subscribe to our newsletter.  

Reach out to the CRPC today for assistance on how you can look at data like this to inform your policy decisions! Contact Jake Levinson or Kellie Henrichs.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

America's roads are busy during the holiday weeks. If you plan to include alcohol in your celebration, refrain from driving. Review these facts and spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving. 

Drunk Driving: The Sobering Statistics 

· Although it's illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2020, one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation's roads. 

· Young drivers ages 21-34 accounted for the highest percentage (26%) of alcohol-impaired fatalities in December 2020. 

· Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08). In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. 

· Nationally, driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal, except in Utah, where the limit is .05 g/dL. 

The Cost of Drunk Driving 

· The financial impact of impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually. 

· Drinking and driving is a risk no one should take. Doing so can cause injury or death to the driver, passengers, and others on the road. The consequences of drunk driving could be life-altering. 



Plan for a Safe Celebration 

· You have options: designate a sober driver who will not be drinking, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service.  

· Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.  

Getting home safely is always worth it. 

If you would like more information about the Prevention First Traffic Safety Resource Center, contact Kathy Murphy.

Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic.

That's why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of unneeded or expired prescription drugs.

The 23rd National Drug Take Back Day was held on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

Nationwide, 4,340 law enforcement agencies participated in this one-day event. 186 Illinois law enforcement agencies participated.



There were 4,902 official sites to dispose of medications across the country. 151 of those sites are in Illinois.

On this day, 647,163 pounds (324 tons) of products were collected nationwide. Illinois sites alone collected 22,754 pounds. Just think of the impact this will have on the communities from which these medications were removed!

Over the course of Take Back Days #1-23, a total of 16,636,729 lb (8,318 tons) have been collected. Collection sites in the state of Illinois have collected 721,675 pounds total in these 23 Take Back Day events.

Totals and statistics for other states are available here. If you missed National Take Back Day, click here to find an authorized year-round collection site in your area.



Check out the National Drug Take Back Day website for more information.

Archived Webinars

Don't miss out on Prevention First's collection of live webinars to watch at your own convenience:

For APRC Webinars, visit their GoTo Stage for archived webinars.

For Substance Use Prevention Webinars, visit SUPP Training Events- Online or Archived Webinar on the sidebar.

For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Webinars, visit their webpage.



For SUPR Treatment & Recovery Webinars, visit SUPR Training Events- Archived Webinar on the sidebar.