COALITION NEWS
April events, resources, opportunities, & more.
Community coalitions, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations in Southwest Washington are collaborating to host drive‐thru drug take‐back events on April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community members are encouraged to bring their unused and expired prescriptions and over‐the‐counter medications for safe, free, drive-thru disposal at any one of the following event sites:
Clark County:
- La Center Police Department (105 W 5th St., La Center, WA)
- Washougal Police Department (1320 A St., Washougal, WA)
- Battle Ground Police Department (507 SW 1st St., Battle Ground, WA)
- Walgreens Cascade Park (13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA)
- PeaceHealth Memorial Campus (33rd & Main St. - South Back Lot, Vancouver, WA)
East Klickitat County:
- Klickitat County Courthouse (205 S. Columbus Ave., Goldendale, WA)
All event sites will accept vape pens and e‐cigarettes without batteries for disposal. Please note that the Walgreens and PeaceHealth Memorial Campus are the only locations accepting sharps and syringes (noncommercial sources only). All prescription & over-the-counter medication collected at drug take back events are safely incinerated by the D.E.A.
Scan the QR Code for Drug Take Back Event Information.
Links to download & print Clark County event flyers:
- Clark-English DTB Event Single Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-English DTB Event Double Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-English DTB Event Flyer (PNG)
- Clark-Spanish DTB Event Single Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-Spanish DTB Event Double Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-Spanish DTB Event Flyer (PNG)
- Clark-Russian DTB Event Single Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-Russian DTB Event Double Flyer (PDF)
- Clark-Russian DTB Event Flyer (PNG)
Links to download & print year-round disposal flyers:
Karen Douglass, Community Prevention Project Coordinator for One Prevention Alliance Community Coalition, was recently named Member of the Year at the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner. “Karen is everywhere,” said the person who nominated her for Member of the Year.
In 2023, Washington State students reported improved health behaviors and mental health along with increased social support. While concerns remain, the findings suggest positive changes in adolescent health and well-being.
Read the full news release by Washington State Department of Health.
Registration is open! Prevent Coalition is excited to host the second annual Elevate Youth Summit. This in-person event is designed for middle school aged youth (high school aged youth welcome). We invite prevention clubs, youth groups, teens and classes to join us in this youth gathering about empowerment, wellness, substance use prevention and more! Visit the event website for details.
Lunch is provided!
Details:
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: Water Resource Center (4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661)
Registration: Visit the event website to register and complete youth permission form.
Questions? Contact event organizer Paula Linden (paula.linden@esd112.org)
Event website: www.preventcoalition.org/elevateyouthsummit
Event flyer: Click here!
Most teens are not using cannabis, yet 1 in 3 Washington State 10th graders and 1 in 3 Clark County 10th graders in 2023 said cannabis was easy to get. Communities can protect young minds by encouraging everyone to keep cannabis secure.
The Secure Your Cannabis campaign is an opportunity to partner with Budtenders and Herbtenders to promote safe storage and talk to customers about youth health and safety. Everyone who purchases cannabis can secure it or store it in a locking device so youth are not able to access or accidentally ingest it. Partnering with retailers and all who purchase cannabis products is the best way to get the word out.
April commonly sees an uptick in cannabis consumption due to "4-20". We’re sharing our resources, process, tools and more so other communities can implement this project. Visit bit.ly/secureyourcannabis or click on the image to access the resources.
Listen to all Prevent Coalition podcasts at preventcoalition.podbean.com or on Google Podcasts, the Apple Podcast app and other familiar streaming services. Episodes are also archived at preventcoalition.org/events/news/.
Season 2 Episodes:
Season 1 Episodes:
- Episode 0 - Welcome
- Episode 1 - Rural Network
- Episode 2 - Policy Change
- Episode 3 - Secure Your Cannabis
- Episode 4 - "Better You Bingo" with special guests from Clark County STASHA!
- Episode 5 - Sweet & Sour
- Episode 6 - New Coordinator Orientation
Consider adding the Prevent Coalition Podcast to your playlist! We're sharing stories and strategies to help coalitions and organizations reach their full potential.
Between now and April 30, 2024, the Clark County Youth Commission is actively recruiting for new Youth Commission members! The Youth Commission strives to be representative of the diversity of youth living in Clark County. They are accepting applications to fill at least 10 vacancies throughout Clark County:
- All open positions are available for youth who live in Clark County.
- New Leader positions are available for youth with no previous leadership experience.
- There are some positions open to students living within the geographical boundaries of specific school districts.
Click here to visit the Youth Commission website to learn more!
The Washington Department of Health is seeking insights and ideas to support the spending plan to address commercial tobacco in Washington State for fiscal year 2025, or July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. An anonymous form is available online and will be open through April 30, 2024.
Click the WADOH logo or the link below to access the form and provide input!
Rede Group, on behalf of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), is leading a Tobacco-Free Behavioral Health Initiative. They are conducting an assessment of behavioral health (BH) providers and facilities regarding policies and practices of commercial nicotine dependence treatment and recovery in the behavioral health system. They seek to understand and address the high levels of commercial tobacco/nicotine use in the BH population. Adults with BH conditions who smoke die about 5 to 15 years earlier than those without these conditions who don’t smoke. (CDC. 2021. Tobacco Use Among Adults with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders).
Rede Group would be grateful for help informing behavioral health providers about this initiative. Please forward the survey flyer to BH providers in your area. You can also help by promoting it within your networks, newsletters, listserv, or on social media. If you would like a Rede Group representative to attend your coalition or association meeting to present about this initiative, please reach out to Audra Baca at the Rede Group at audra.baca@redegroup.co.
For those in a position to take the survey on behalf of a BH facility, please scan the QR code with this article or visit: http://tiny.cc/2yhcvz. If you have any questions or difficulties accessing the survey, please reach out to Audra Baca at the Rede Group at audra.baca@redegroup.co.
The Northwest PTTC has resources to raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of alcohol policy safeguards. Called #ProofIsInTheNumbers, the Alcohol Awareness Toolkit seeks to do the following:
- Raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the importance of strong alcohol policies using memes, and
- Encourage engagement from prevention and public health stakeholders to strategically educate and inform decision makers about effective alcohol policies by providing easy-to-personalize, templated opinion editorials, letters to legislators and proclamations.
Check out the Alcohol Awareness Toolkit on the PTTC website.
The Prevent Coalition provides a one stop shop for alcohol prevention resources. You can find campaigns, prevention resources, toolkits, reports, data, policy guidance, and links to webinars. They are located at:
preventcoalition.org/resources/reports
Alcohol prevention resources are located under the "Alcohol" tab. Feel free to browse the other tabs too - more resources are added periodically, so check back often!
SAMHSA’s national youth substance use prevention campaign helps parents and caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use. The campaign aims to accomplish the following:
- Increase parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking and substance use.
- Equip parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking and substance use.
- Increase parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking and substance use.
The "Talk. They Hear You." campaign website has a wide variety of resources available including TV and Radio PSA's, fact sheets, cell phone apps, social media materials, brochures, and much more. Many of the resources are categorized for specific groups such as teachers, parents, community workers, etc.
Since the end of alcohol prohibition, Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board has had a primary role in ensuring alcohol is manufactured, sold, and served in responsible ways and that only those over the age of 21 are able to buy and access alcohol.
They recently updated their alcohol education webpage with information about alcohol health and safety, and laws for possession and consumption.
The Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board is the state’s regulatory agency overseeing the production, processing, and sales of adult-use cannabis. They developed a web-based educational resource to inform the public about Washington’s legal cannabis market. On topics where LCB is not the primary authority, like medical cannabis or health, they have links that direct visitors to reliable sources of evidence-based information.
The Partnership to End Addiction developed a Marijuana Resource Center, where you can find useful tools and resources to help you, your family, and community members navigate the ever-changing landscape of cannabis (marijuana), CBD and Delta 8. They include articles regarding general marijuana information, prevention, risks of use, treatment and advocacy. They also explore topics such as the rise in THC potency and mental health, marijuana and driving, vaping, social host laws and more.
You can access this information at drugfree.org/marijuana-resource-center
More than half (51%) of young e-cigarette users reported disposing of used e-cigarette pods or empty disposables in the trash, 17% in a regular recycling bin not designed for e-cigarette waste, and 10% reported they simply throw them on the ground, according to Truth Initiative research conducted in 2020.
E-cigarettes are part of an industry with a decades-long history of creating products that pollute the environment. Below are links to information that can help schools, communities, and individuals plan for proper disposal of commercial tobacco and vaping product waste:
- The United States EPA provides a website with guidelines for proper disposal of used vapes.
- The FDA created, "Tips for Safe Disposal of E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Waste" to provide tips for schools and others about safe e-cigarette and nicotine waste disposal.
- Washington State residents can find information for disposing of nicotine and cannabis waste on the WA Department of Ecology website.
- An article by Public Health Law Center provides FAQ for schools and other institutions for disposing of e-cigarette waste, plus links to guidance to schools and institutions developed by numerous states.
- An article by earthday.org reminds us that cigarette butts are actually the most abundant form of plastic waste in the world, with about 4.5 trillion individual butts polluting our global environment.
- Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) created a website called "Vapes Are Trash" to inform the public about e-cigarette waste.
The Washington State Legislature wrapped up the 2024 session on March 7th. However, anytime is a good time to better understand the legislative process. Grant County Health District developed a toolkit just for that purpose with support and endorsement from the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP).
This toolkit is meant to serve as an educational resource and includes a compilation of knowledge, definitions, experiences, and guidance from several well-known players on the WA State prevention scene.
The Health Assessment and Evaluation (HAE) team at Clark County Public Health (CCPH) works to develop a comprehensive understanding of health in our community and to translate data into action.
Our Services:
- Design of, or feedback on, data collection tools (i.e. surveys and focus groups). We can provide guidance on the questions you ask, how you ask, and audience considerations.
- Identify, access, and understand data sources. We can help you better understand populations by finding data you can use when developing presentations, grant proposals, or program plans.
- Data analysis & reporting. We can make sense of the data - numbers or concepts - so you can do the community work you do best.
- Evaluation of your programs/initiatives to determine effectiveness and quality improvement. We can help you demonstrate the effectiveness, or explore intend impacts of, your program, initiative, or policy.
- Present a professional and well-structured document. We can assist you in ensuring your data makes sense to, and resonates with, your audience.
- Technical assistance. We can identify the best methods, approaches for your project, and answer other questions about research, assessment, planning, or evaluation.
Learn more at clark.wa.gov/public-health/health-assessment-and-evaluation
Email us at cntyhealthHAE@clark.wa.gov
The 2024 Rural Conference will take place on September 25 & 26, 2024 at the Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, WA. This will be the second Rural Conference and excitement is growing! Registration and agenda are still under development, however, check out the 2024 conference web page to find out more information to help anyone interested in learning more. Visit preventcoalition.org/ruralconference.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at preventcoalition@esd112.org.
Do you know someone who wants to attend the CADCA 2024 Mid-Year Training Institute but lacks funding? The Prevent Coalition is looking to sponsor someone who would like to get more involved with the Rural Network, is doing good work in their community, and would like the opportunity to participate in this amazing conference and share their knowledge with the Rural Network.
Anyone interested in applying can use the link below to complete the online application. If you would like additional information about this opportunity, please email preventcoalition@esd112.org.
Whether you have recently joined the Rural Network or are still thinking about it there is a resource available that will answer your commonly asked questions - our New Member Orientation Guide!
This guide describes our mission, vision, funding, 7 core principles, who we serve, and how to get involved. It also describes what our meetings are like and why you should join!
Learn all the details at smore.com/8eqhp
Connection is the Best Prevention
Supported by fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent Coalition is a regional coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration, awareness, and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington. Prevent Coalition also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington state. As a community mobilizer, our coalition creates a culture promoting healthy choices; advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empower and nurture youth; and facilitates positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive.
Email: preventcoalition@esd112.org
Website: www.PreventCoalition.org
Location: 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-952-3457
Facebook: Facebook.com/PreventCoalition
Twitter: @supportyouthnow