WHO CARES about a Drug-Free Doña Ana County?

                  WE DO! 

  

unified prevention  Border Region Coalition for a Drug-Free Community
A community that's aware is a community that cares.  _________________________________________

We invite you to read recent articles from the Las Cruces Sun-News below:
(to return to this page, please click on the "back" button in the pdf file)

•  January 31, 2012 -- "Myths and Facts Help Teens Understand Alcohol Abuse" 

•  January 20, 2012 -- "Art, Awareness and Prevention Keep Teens Above the Influence"

"Smashed:  Youth, Brains and Alcohol" documentary

Las Cruces, NM (September 7, 2011)-Unified Prevention! (UP!), an initiative of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, and the New Mexico Department of Health is sponsoring Smashed: Youth, Brains and Alcohol, a documentary produced by Emmy Award winning Christopher Productions. This documentary examines recent brain research that indicates binge drinking during adolescence can have lifelong negative effects. The documentary provides brain research experts, counselors and youth who discuss the reasons for concern and ways to help. The program highlights how the brain is affected by alcohol assault, the effect of alcohol on athletic performance and how advertising influences not only decisions about alcohol consumption but its influence on how we think alcohol affects our behavior.

To view a trailer on this documentary, please visit:    www.safeteennm.org/issues.html#smashed

For more information on the documentary, visit www.SafeTeen.net or www.ChristopherProductions.org 

We held a Community Roundtable  August 30, 2011 on:
•  Protecting Doña Ana County youth from tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs

Residents learned about policies, laws and ordinances and roles they play in protecting the youth of our county from the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs during this special presentation and networking opportunity.  Attendees had the opportunity to meet local law enforcement, city, county and state leaders involved in protecting our county's youth and learned the difference between a policy, a law and an ordinance, what currently exists in our state, county and local communities and how members of the community can work together to make a difference for our  Doña Ana County youth.

Presenters at the event include State Representative Steve Fischmann, Las Cruces City Councillor Dolores Connor, Special Agent Doug Slavens with the Department of Public Safety Special Investigations Division, City of Anthony Police Chief Steven Foldy, Outreach & Education Division Manager for Dona Ana County Health and Human Services Eric Bransford, and more.

"This was an exciting line-up for this particular event," said McIntosh. "Our goal is to better equip the community at large with information to build community collaboration, and work collectively to reduce and prevent underage drinking, tobacco and illicit drug use."

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Click here to read our press release about ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

Click here to read facts on Underage Drinking in Doña Ana County

(to return to this page after viewing articles, click the "back" button)

 "Jersey Swap"held Thursday, March 3, 2011  5:00 p.m.  Provencio/Van Dame Soccer Fields
Following outreach from the Border Region Coalition for a Drug Free Community, Las Cruces Youth Soccer (formerly High Noon Soccer) incorporated a new policy banning any tobacco or alcohol brands or references on players' soccer jerseys. This new policy was made during mid-year of league play, and some teams with replica jerseys of professional, Mexican soccer teams containing a specific beer brand are in need of new jerseys.  

As an incentive to the league for incorporating the new policy, the Border Region Coalition for a Drug Free Community provided 37 new jerseys to replace those in violation. In addition, the Border Region Coalition awarded a jersey sponsorship to an under-14 years of age team, Santos Laguna, as an introduction to an annual Drug Free Jersey Sponsorship Program, which has been developed.  Sponsorship will be available late summer of 2011.

"This was an exciting event because it is a solid example of the changes we, as a coalition, can bring to the community," said Jaylene Watkins McIntosh, coalition coordinator for the Border Region Coalition. "This jersey swap is what we are all about. Focusing on positive messages through a partnership that only makes the impact stronger." 

This event also included a brief presentation and autograph signing with the New Mexico State University Women's Soccer Team and members of the coalition encouraging parents and coaches to sign the Responsible Host Pledge!

  to view additional   photos of this event, please return to our homepage and click on "current news" in the upper right

   According to a 2007 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, the youth of Doña Ana County are at risk.

 The Border Region Coalition strives to provide a venue for community collaboration and support prevention efforts from every available community resource.  We are working to make sure that every child in Doña Ana County has the opportunity to live a life free of drugs and alcohol.  By establishing and strengthening collaboration between communities, private non-profit agencies, and federal, state, local and tribal governments, we can focus the efforts of community colitions on preventing and reducing substance abuse among young people

The Border Region Coalition draws from many sectors of the community:  Law Enforcement, Youth Organizations, Government Agencies, State and Local Substance Abuse Agencies, Parents, Youth, Businesses, Media Groups, Civic Organizations, Schools, Faith Community and Healthcare Professionals.

PARENTS:  You can help your children and their friends make the right choices concerning the use of alcohol and drugs by promoting your home as a "Responsible Host" house, a place where teens will not be exposed to these substances.  Please click here for a downloadable form that you can print out, add your signature and display in your home.

For information on how you can donate or become a member of UP! the Border Region Coalition, contact Jaylene Watkin McIntosh at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico today!
jaylene@cfsnm.org  or 575-521-4794. 

This program was made possible by the Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA). 
Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) was enacted in 1997 to provide grants to
community-based coalitions like ours to serve as catalysts for multi-sector
participation in reducing local substance abuse problems.

You are invited:  Tuesday, August 30,2011, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Lorenzos de Mesilla:

 You are invited:  Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 

http://www.safeteennm.org/issues.html#smashed

• Governer Susanna Martinez Proclaims September National Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Health Recovery Month in New Mexico.  Please click here for proclamation.