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Features

[OCT. 15, 2002]  Headlines from the past year reflect a growing youth problem in Logan County. Teenagers injured or killed in alcohol- and drug-related incidents have reached an all-time high. It has brought sorrow to many, brought some to their knees, and has the community as a whole searching for answers.

Concerned parents and community leaders are looking for the means and methods to eliminate teenage alcohol and drug consumption, and to curb the consumption of harmful over-the-counter drugs used for recreational and performance purposes. While many have expressed this same concern, there are currently no real "answers" in this quest.

Kristin Lessen and the staff from Logan-Mason Mental Health, a division of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, think that attitudes about drinking and drug use lead the way, and want to gather information which might prove this theory and provide a long-term means of treating this growing threat.

She wants you to TAKE THE SURVEY! Just 20 questions about what your attitude is about drugs and alcohol. Please participate. It could make a real difference.

[Jim Youngquist]

Violence Prevention/Intervention Conference in Springfield

[OCT. 9, 2002]  Community Mental Health Council Institute for the Prevention of Violence will sponsor a free two-day Violence Prevention/Intervention Conference on Oct. 14 and 15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The conference will explore the multifaceted aspects of violence and what can be done to curb this growing epidemic.

The feature presenter will be Carl C. Bell, M.D., a nationally known psychiatrist. Dr. Bell was the principal investigator in a project geared toward Chicago-area school children who were victims of or witnesses to violence.

Other presenters are Dr. Darlene Hawkins-Wright, a clinical child psychologist who specializes in adolescent grief counseling; Richard Scott, director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the Cook County Department of Public Health; and Leonard Ingram, founder of the Anger Management Institute of Chicago.

Topics will include "Managing and Coping with the Angry Student," "Talking to Children about Grief and Loss," "When Children Kill," and "Opportunities for Violence Prevention."

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People who attend will have an opportunity to earn up to 8.5 continuing education units from Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois and 9.0 CEUs from the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association.

The conference is free to the public due to a grant received by the sponsor from the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Communication.

Registration will be taken until noon on Oct. 11.

For additional information or to register, call Celeste Osgood at (773) 734-4033, Ext. 112.

[Community Mental Health Council news release]

Consumer behavior and risk

[OCT. 1, 2002]  URBANA — Recalls in children’s car seats and toys, reports of product tampering and food contamination have created financial losses for individual companies, but other crises such as the threat of mad cow disease, can cripple an entire industry. Understanding what drives the behavior of consumers when faced with product-related crises like these was the topic of a recent study at the University of Illinois.

A team of researchers in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U of I, led by Joost M.E. Pennings, looked at how people respond to a risky situation. They chose to evaluate German, Dutch and American consumer reactions to the threat of mad cow disease.

The researchers broke down risk behavior into two components: risk perceptions and risk attitudes. Risk perceptions are based on whether a person thinks it is likely that they might, for instance, contract a disease from eating beef — their perception of the likelihood that something bad will happen to them. Risk attitude (or risk aversion) reflects a consumer’s general predisposition to the risk of contracting the disease — and how willing they are to take a risk in the first place.

"If beef consumption is primarily driven by risk perceptions — that is, the likelihood of contracting a disease," said Pennings, "the solution to the mad cow crises would be to educate consumers about the level of risk they are taking." Pennings explained the flip side of the risk coin: If consumers’ response to the mad cow crisis is driven by their risk attitudes, then the beef industry has fewer and costlier options, namely to test each cow for the disease and to slaughter those that test positive, hence ensuring that the risk is eliminated.

The three-country study showed significant differences in consumer risk attitudes and perceptions.

Not surprisingly, Americans included in the survey showed little apprehension about eating beef, since mad cow disease is not a problem in the United States. But, even though the severity of the disease has been about the same in Germany and the Netherlands, the Dutch responses to questions in the survey paralleled the Americans’ answers.

What consumers understand about mad cow disease also played a role in the findings.  "One of the biggest concerns with mad cow disease," said Pennings, "is that contaminated beef can cause Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease in humans. Yet, since the chance of getting the disease by eating beef is extremely small, it is puzzling that consumers react the way they do."

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Pennings suggested that the perception of risk on the part of consumers can be lessened with more education. The more people understand about the risks, the more informed they are to make decisions on their behavior.

Currently, the probability of contracting Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease is not accurately known. The researchers suggest that in such a situation different policy measures must be taken in different countries. In countries such as the United States, tough measures are required to prevent a mad cow crisis because risk attitudes drive consumption and little can be done to change consumers’ risk attitudes. This means testing and slaughtering all suspected cows.

In countries such as Germany, both risk perceptions and risk attitudes drive consumer behavior, suggesting not only the need for tough measures, but also for extensive and responsible dissemination of accurate information by government, industry and media. In contrast to the United States and Germany, Dutch consumer behavior is driven mainly by risk perceptions. In this case, honest and consistent communication by both the government and the beef industry is more effective than a mass slaughtering of cows.

"If the probability of contracting Creutzfeldt-Jacob is accurately known," said Pennings, "risk perception becomes a more important driver of beef consumption in low and mildly risky situations." He said that in low-risk situations, messages from the government, the beef industry and the media will have a bigger impact on helping consumers decide whether or not to eat beef, particularly in the United States and The Netherlands. However, in the case of high risk, recall of products or in the case of mad cow, elimination of entire herds may be necessary.

The findings from this study can help managers and public officials understand these cross-cultural differences and help them to predict how and why consumers in different countries will respond to a crisis.

[U of I news release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

Health Department offers
flu shots for the public

[OCT. 9, 2002]  Logan County Health Department has flu and pneumonia immunizations available now. Flu and pneumonia shots can be obtained at the Health Department, 109 Third St., on a walk-in basis during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Please arrive by 4:15 p.m.

The Mobile Medical Van will also have flu and pneumonia immunizations available at all regularly scheduled times of operation in all 14 communities.

It is recommended that the flu vaccination be received by the end of November.

The cost for flu and pneumonia vaccine is $16 per shot. Medicare will pay for both shots. All clients are asked to have their Medicare cards with them when coming to get flu or pneumonia shots.

Influenza is caused by a virus that spreads from people infected to the nose or throat of others. Influenza can cause fever, cough, chills, sore throat, headache, muscle aches in people of any age.

However, people at risk for getting serious cases of influenza are people 65 years of age or older, residents of long-term care facilities, anyone with serious long-term health problems, people with weakened immune system, and health care workers coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza.

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People who have had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or previous dose of influenza vaccine, and people with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome should consult with a doctor before getting the influenza vaccination.

Pneumonia vaccine protects against pneumococcal pneumonia, a serious lung infection. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, aches, fatigue, chest pain, cough and confusion. People 65 years of age and older should receive the pneumococcal immunization. Re-vaccination of people at highest risk for serious pneumococcal infection is recommended only once, after five years have elapsed.

For further information, please contact the Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.

[News release]

Red Cross

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus links

LDN articles

• Local authorities watching WNV

Federal websites

• CDC WNV home page

State websites

• State WNV website

• Protect your home against mosquitoes
• State surveillance site
• Logan County surveillance site

Honors & Awards

Announcements

Special Deliveries Sibling Class offered

[OCT. 14, 2002]  The Lincoln Junior Woman’s Club, in conjunction with Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, is sponsoring a Special Deliveries Sibling Class on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the third-floor education room in ALMH’s Family Maternity Suites, 315 Eighth St.

These classes, which are held 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 ALMH’s Family Maternity Suites, a craft project and refreshments.

All ages are invited to attend. There is no fee for the class, but reservations are required. To register, please call the Family Maternity Suites at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 316.

The hospital is also offering a breast-feeding class for new and expectant mothers. The class will be Sunday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the third-floor education room in ALMH’s Family Maternity Suites. The class is instructed by a registered nurse and certified lactation counselor. The fee is $5 for those who are not already enrolled in a Lamaze class. For more information or to register for either of these classes, please call (217) 732-2161, Ext. 235.

[News release]

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

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.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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