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New study on alcohol consumption is wake-up call to underage drinking problem

[APRIL 20, 2002]  When young people make up a significant percent of alcohol consumers, it is clear that America has a problem with underage drinking. A study released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University further illustrates the nation’s complacent attitude about underage drinking and the fact that alcohol is simply too easily obtainable for youth.

Although many communities, including parents, turn their backs on underage drinking, accepting it as a "rite of passage," startling statistics show that this is a dangerous approach to an issue that likely touches every teen. For too many, alcohol is the forgotten and ignored drug problem. Alcohol kills more young people under the age of 21 than all the other illicit drugs combined. 

Today we know more than ever about the serious effects of underage alcohol use. The earlier children drink, the more likely they are to become alcoholics later in life and the more likely they are to drive drunk and suffer unintentional injuries. As many as eight young Americans die in alcohol-related traffic crashes daily. Underage drinking also costs America more than $52 billion every year.

It is time for parents and communities to wake up and start working together to address an issue that is killing our kids. Alcohol remains the leading drug problem among our nation’s youth. You love your kids and want what is best for them, but sometimes it can be hard to demonstrate how much you love them, particularly as they grow up and become more independent.

Research shows that one of the best ways you can help your kids avoid alcohol use is by spending time with them. Here are some helpful suggestions for knowing what is going on in your child’s life:

 

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•  Be a good role model for your kids. There is no such thing as "do as I say not as I do" when raising children. If you abuse alcohol, your children are observing and learning from your behavior. On the other hand, if you are a living, day-to-day example of your value system, your children will learn and emulate the honesty, generosity and openness that you want your children to have.

•  Create "together time." Start a tradition or fun, weekly routine to do something with your child, such as going out for ice cream or to the movies.

•  Eat meals together as often as possible. Mealtime is a great opportunity to talk about the day’s events, unwind and reinforce a family bond. Studies show that kids whose families eat together at least five times a week are less likely to be involved with drugs and alcohol.

•  Try to be home after school. The "danger zone" for drug use and other risky behavior is between 4 and 6 p.m. If you can, arrange to have flextime if it is available at your workplace. When your child will be with friends, make sure there is adult supervision.

If you would like more tips on communication and parenting, visit www.theantidrug.com, a website designed to help parents learn how to talk to their children about staying clean, safe and drug-free, or you can call Kristi Lessen at Logan-Mason Mental Health, (217) 735-2272.

[Press release]


Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department


Red Cross


Events

April 2002


Sunday, April 28
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Lincoln Junior Woman's Club
WHO: Public
WHAT: Special Deliveries Sibling Class; free
WHERE: ALMH, education room in the Family Maternity Suites, third floor 
WHEN: 1-3 pm

Monday, April 29
SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Preregistered participants
WHAT: “Dining with Diabetes,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition educator; last of three sessions
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: 7-8:30 pm

May 2002


Wednesday, May 1
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO:
Public
WHAT: Blood drive

WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-5 pm

Wednesday, May 15
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO:
Public
WHAT: Blood drive

WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-6 pm

 


Honors & Awards


Announcements

Special Deliveries Sibling Class scheduled

[APRIL 23, 2002]  The Lincoln Junior Woman’s Club, in conjunction with Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, is sponsoring a Special Deliveries Sibling Class on Sunday, April 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the third floor education room in ALMH’s Family Maternity Suites. The hospital is at 315 Eighth St. in Lincoln.

These classes, which are offered quarterly, are designed to help children become more comfortable with a new baby brother or sister. The afternoon will consist of safety tips for children, a tour of the Family Maternity Suites, a craft and refreshments.

All ages are invited to attend. There is no fee for the class, but reservations are required. For more information or to register, please call (217) 732-2161, Ext. 235.

 


Mobile health unit schedule

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

 

Morning: 9-11 a.m.

 

 

Afternoon: 1-3:30 p.m.

Monday

1st and 3rd

Hartsburg

1st and 3rd

Emden

 

2nd and 4th

San Jose

2nd and 4th

Greenview

Tuesday

Weekly

Chestnut

Weekly

Mount Pulaski

Wednesday

Weekly

New Holland

Weekly

Middletown

Thursday

1st and 3rd

Elkhart

Weekly

Atlanta

2nd and 4th

Friendship Manor-Lincoln

Friday

1st, 2nd, 4th

Village Hall-Latham

1st

Beason

     

2nd and 4th

Broadwell

 

3rd

Maintenance/ special events

3rd

Maintenance/
special events

The mobile health unit does not operate on the following dates for holidays during 2002:  Jan. 21 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Feb. 18 (Presidents’ Day), March 29 (Good Friday), May 27 (Memorial Day), July 4 (Independence Day), Sept. 2 (Labor Day), Oct. 14 (Columbus Day), Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), Nov. 28-29 (Thanksgiving break) and Dec. 24-25 (Christmas break).

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.



Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

Agency

Phone number

Address

Lincoln agencies

911

911 (emergency)
732-3911 (office -- non-emergency)

911 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital

732-2161

315 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

American Red Cross
www.il-redcross.org  

732-2134 or 
1 (800) 412-0100

125 S. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656

Catholic Social Services
www.cdop.org 

732-3771

310 S. Logan
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber
of Commerce
www.lincolnillinois.com 

735-2385

303 S. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Community Action (CIEDC)

732-2159

1800 Fifth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Crisis Pregnancy Center/
Living Alternatives

735-4838

408 A Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

DCFS (Department of Children
& Family Services)

735-4402 or 
1 (800) 252-2873
(crisis hotline)

1120 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Heartland Community College
- GED program

735-1731

620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Housing Authority

732-7776

1028 N. College St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)
www.logancountyhealth.org 

735-2317 or 
1 (800) 269-4019

109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Illinois Employment and Training Center (replaces JTPA office)

735-5441

120 S. McLean St., Suite B
Farm Bureau Building
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln Area YMCA

735-3915

319 W. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry

732-2204

P.O. Box 773
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln Parents’ Center

735-4192

100 S. Maple
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln Park District

732-8770

1400 Primm Rd.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan County Department of Human Services (Public Aid)
www.state.il.us/agency/dhs 

735-2306

1500 Fourth St.
P.O. Box 310
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan County Health Department
www.logancountyhealth.org 

735-2317

109 Third St.
P.O. Box 508
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan-Mason Mental Health

735-2272 or
735-3600 (crisis line)

304 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center

735-1413

760 S. Postville Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656

The Oasis
(Senior Citizens of Logan County)

732-6132

501 Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Project READ

735-1731

620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Salvation Army

732-7890

1501 N. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656

Senior Services of Central Illinois

732-6213 or 
1 (800) 252-8966
(crisis line)

109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

U. of I. Extension Service
www.ag.uiuc.edu 

732-8289

980 N. Postville Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656

Springfield agencies

Department of Aging
www.state.il.us/aging

785-3356

421 E. Capitol, #100
Springfield, IL 62701-1789

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org 

546-7586
(24 hour)

1305 Wabash, Suite J
Springfield, IL 62704

Community Child Care Connection
www.childcaresolutions.org 

(217) 525-2805 or
1 (800) 676-2805

1004 N. Milton Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-4430

Hospice Care of Illinois

1 (800) 342-4862
(24 hour) or
732-2161, Ext. 444

720 N. Bond
Springfield, IL 62702

Illinois Department of Public Health
www.idph.state.il.us 

(217) 782-4977

535 W. Jefferson
Springfield, IL 62761

Legal Assistance Foundation

(217) 753-3300 or
1 (800) 252-8629

730 E. Vine St., Suite 214
Springfield, IL 62703

Sojourn Shelter & Services Inc.

732-8988 or
1 (866) HELP4DV
(24-hour hotline)

1800 Westchester Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704

U. of I. Division of Specialized Care for Children
www.uic.edu 

524-2000 or 
1 (800) 946-8468

421 South Grand Ave. West
Second Floor
Springfield, IL 62704

Logan County libraries

Atlanta Library 

(217) 648-2112

100 Race St.
Atlanta, IL 61723

Elkhart Library

(217) 947-2313

121 E. Bohan
Elkhart, IL 62634

Lincoln Public Library
www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org 

732-8878

725 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Mount Pulaski Library

792-5919

320 N. Washington
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548

(updated 2-15-02)

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