Alcoholism Blog Theme

Is It Actually Alcoholic Behavior

2010-01-17T00:59:00.000-08:00

There may be a time when you look at somebody you adore, and you'll question if they're exhibiting alcoholic behavior. What can be scary is that there may be issues long before you see them, and the person who has the difficulty may never see them, and there's nothing that you can do.

The behavior that's related to alcoholism can be different in everyone, and that suggests that things can be concealed long after there actually is a difficulty. You have got to know where to have a look for help. Alcoholic behavior can suggest different things. Some deal with depression and doleful events by drinking more, and that can cause persistent problems. Other can do the same but pull out of it inside a month or so and then be fine. Alcoholic behavior is something that goes on over time, and gets worse as it is going. When the drinking behavior related to alcohol starts to destroy relations, and may meddle with work and other activities, there's a problem.

That cannot be your guide fully though, as some alcoholics can live and lead standard lives without it interfering with work and family. They're still suffering, wounding their bodies, and will ultimately hurt their families, but some function pretty well for a while. The 1st difficulty with alcoholic behavior is booze abuse.

This doesn't mean that someone is yet an alcoholic, but it means that they can be if they don't stop what they do. The hard part about this is that the drinker won't often see a difficulty, and there's actually nothing that you can do about that. Many with alcoholic behaviors have to hit the very bottom before they get aid, and even then, that isn't always something that sticks with them. When booze abuse is ignored, the person will become an alcoholic, and that's when you may actually see the alcoholic behavior come out in somebody. If you or somebody you like has an issue with behaviors that can point to alcoholism, help is out there. an individual cannot get assistance till they know they need it. There are plenty of great associations out there to help with alcoholic behavior, and can usually help somebody identify if they have an issue.

Finding and using the resources for the alcoholic or for the family existing with one can make all of the difference in the world.

Stonington reverend arrested for supplying alcohol to teens

2009-12-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

"It's my understanding that they took every precaution under the sun to prevent any drinking of alcohol at the party or bringing alcohol into the party," Sanford said.

Sanford blames two teens for the trouble at the graduation party for Rev. Robinson's daughter.

"Two of the guests arrived late at the party intoxicated," Sanford said.

Police were called to the Barnes Road home Sunday night for an intoxicated teen in need of medical attention. When police arrived, about 30 teens fled into the woods kicking off a two hour search. In the woods, police found another 17-year old girl, also drunk and in need of medical attention. Both were sent to the hospital.

"A few kids probably brought in some stuff. I believe the Robinson's had no clue this was happening," said Polly Dyer of Stonington.

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Teen alcohol, drugs 'zero tolerance' works

2009-12-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Among parents who did not use alcohol or drugs at their prom, 87 percent set hard rules about drinking and drugs for their children.

Fifty-one percent of parents who used drugs or alcohol are more likely to suspect that teens will as well, vs. 36 percent of parents who didn't use drugs or alcohol.

Sixteen percent of teens whose parents set a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol reported they were likely to use drugs or alcohol, while 45 percent of teens whose parents didn't set such boundaries reported they were likely to drink or use drugs at a prom or graduation party this year.

The survey of 1,000 teens in grades nine to 12 and 1,003 parents, conducted by Kelton Research, has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

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Forum Mulls County Drug, Alcohol Woes

2009-12-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

Areas needing more attention include religious and business involvement, alcohol-free positive activities, alternative resources for kids, a central clearinghouse for information and data, beginning early reinforced drug education from "authentic" sources for youth, parent involvement and parenting programs, random drug testing in all schools, youth participation in planning, local government support and affordable treatment.

Participants gave credit to a number of ongoing efforts and suggested: expanding drug testing to not only those in extra curricular activities, but also students that drive, with punitive action and counseling for failure; more after-school programs teaching life skills; more positive youth activities; accountability for actions and collaboration with courts to enforce parent and student participation.

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Booze party on UK tube before alcohol ban

2009-12-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

From Sunday, anyone caught drinking or even carrying, open containers of alcohol will be ejected from trains and buses.

Newly elected London mayor Boris Johnson introduced the ban in one of his first acts in office. Johnson said: "I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London's public transport will create a better travelling environment for all Londoners and that if we drive out anti-social behaviour and so called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime."

The ban has been criticised by the railworkers' union RMT as another burden on its overworked members. The union's general secretary Bob Crow warned it could put staff in greater danger of assault.

The union's general secretary Bob Crow said "Violence against Tube staff is already a major problem, particularly from people who have been drinking, but now our members will be expected to approach people drinking and stop them or even remove them from the train or station," he said.

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Family, friends, school mourn the loss of 17-year-old 'Angel'

2009-11-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

A report from the Washington State Patrol said Ward's blood-alcohol concentration was 0.03 percent at the time of the crash. The legal limit for drinking-age adults is 0.08 percent. Ward's slight level of impairment, along with fatigue and inexperience with driving at night all played roles in the crash, according to the WSP report.

• In October 2006, Adrianne Wallace, a 16-year-old Tumwater High School junior, died in a crash on Black Lake Boulevard. The driver, Zechariah Matthew McRea, pleaded guilty in June 2007, to vehicular homicide in connection with the crash and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Prosecutors have said alcohol was a factor in the crash. Drinking, driving and education

Sunday's death highlights the importance of educating teenagers and parents about the dangers of underage drinking, educators say.

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Oct 2 to be 'World No Alcohol Day'?

2009-11-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

India has officially proposed at the ongoing World Health Assembly in Geneva that October 2 be declared 'World No Alcohol Day'.

The proposal, which has got support from all 11 South-East Asian countries, has been accepted by the assembly. Officials in the Indian delegation told TOI from Geneva that final discussions on the proposal's approval would take place when the assembly's executive body meets in January.

"It could take a year for the proposal to be granted official approval. We are confident that it will go through," a health ministry official said.

Union health minister A Ramadoss, who heads the Indian delegation attending the WHA, also proposed setting up of a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control similar to the one the World Health Organisation has for tobacco (FCTC).

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Posted 19 mins ago

2009-11-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

In cases when the accused faces charges of both impaired driving (care or control of a motor vehicle) and over 80 mgs (exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit), only one charge will remain while the other is withdrawn at the time of sentencing.

April 10

Stephen Junkin, 48, was given a peace bond for fear of injury or damage and had charges including three counts of criminal harassment and single counts of indecent act with intent and failing to comply with conditions all withdrawn.

* * *

Michael McGill, 27, was given one day of concurrent jail time and served one week in pre-sentence custody for failing to appear on a promise to appear. For being unlawfully at large, he also served 10 days in pre-sentence custody and was given one day of consecutive jail time.

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The party's over

2009-11-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

"I still go out clubbing and to parties," says Simon Pile, 22, a business studies student at Bournemouth University who hasn't touched alcohol since he was 17.

"But I'll just watch if others are playing drinking games. There are growing numbers of us here who don't drink."

Simon initially went teetotal because he drove, but he no longer has a car. It's now down to taste and money-saving. "I don't like beer and I'm not too fussed about alcopops," he says.

"Plus, I have my heart set on buying a house. The idea of going out, coming back, and finding £50 less in my wallet, without being able to remember what happened, doesn't sound like much of a night out."

Josh Dunbar, 19, says he's become an expert on pouring drinks into plants or toilets without his friends - who've just bought them for him - noticing.

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The Components of Alcohol Addiction

2009-11-07T23:50:00.000-08:00

Alcoholism is a strong craving for alcohol which regularly ends up in the compulsive consumption of alcohol.

The root of this craving is heavily discussed, but the most well liked beliefs are that it's a chemical or nutrional inequality, a genetic predisposition, a neurological effect due to runaway learning mechanisms or an incapacity to control one's own wish for delight. Some believe it to be a biological illness, but the lack of ability to tie it to a particular biological causation makes this is a political debate and not a medical one. * Psychological obsession involves those things which convince a person that they gain benefit from the use of the substance.

For example, if they think that they are far more socially adept while drunk or that it permits them to better handle stress, then they might believe that any issues caused were worth the advantages. The person's systems become more at ease when they have the'normal' level of alcohol, and higher doses are required to maintain an equivalent effect. A dip in the level of alcohol causes reverse disparities leading to withdrawal pains, which for alcohol can be dangerous. Endorphin is the body's way of telling the mind a behaviour is good for it. We release endorphin into the blood stream during sex, exercise and consumption of some foods as an example, and this is in charge of'runner's high' and'afterglow'. This is more than a good feeling, it is teaching our brain that these are the behaviors that it should repeat. It's been demonstrated in varied clinical tests that mammals with more active endorphin systems are more susceptible to alcohol obsession.

The reason being because alcohol triggers the releasing of endorphins into our system, and we learn that alcohol drinking is a behaviour that we should repeat. This effect is also visible in the utilization of opiates, and in diverse risk-taking behaviors like skydiving and betting. The social issues coming from booze abuse frequently include loss of work, monetary issues, marital conflict and divorce, convictions for crimes like drunk driving or public disorder, loss of accommodation, and loss of respect from others who may see the issue as self-inflicted and simply evaded. Kids of alcohol family can be influenced even after they're grown, the behaviors typically exhibited by such youngsters are known generally as Adult Youngsters of Alcoholics Syndrome. Though there is not any particular diagnosis for alcoholism, there were many efforts at diagnostic approaches to alcohol dependence, abuse and complications related to persistent alcohol consumption.

Many tools could be used to figure out if you're an alcoholic. * The CAGE test can be employed to screen patients quickly in a doctor's office. * Another screening test is the Alcohol Use Defects Identification Test ( AUDIT ). * The Alcohol Dependance Information Test is another delicate diagnostic test. * though there is not any blood test specific for booze abuse or alcohol dependance ( alcoholism ), lengthened heavy alcohol consumption could lead to many disorders in the body. If you're an alcoholic or are a relation of an alcoholic, contact your consultant for the most current remedies available.

A growing trend to hold parents responsible

2009-11-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

But this year he wants to have a new tool to target parents who host parties where alcohol is served to minors.

Ramsey is the latest city in the metro area to consider an ordinance that holds parents criminally liable when minors are allowed to drink alcohol at their homes. At Tuesday night's council work session, council members will discuss the issue and decide if they are interested in enacting an ordinance.

"If you're going to allow under-agers to drink at your residence, then you're going to be held responsible," Way said.

The law originated in Chaska last fall and since then has been adopted mostly by south metro suburbs and outstate cities such as Mankato, Red Wing, Lakeville and Waseca. In Chaska, the city has prosecuted about a half-dozen cases under the so-called social host law.

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Party held on London's Tube ahead of alcohol ban on public transport

2009-10-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

The alcohol ban came into force from Sunday on the Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services across the capital banning people drinking from, and carrying, open containers of alcohol.

The move is aimed at making travelling on London's public transport network a safer and more pleasant experience.

New London mayor Boris Johnson announced the measure earlier this month.

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INTELLIGENCER STAFF

2009-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

Prince Edward OPP are warning local high school students that alcohol should not be part of their annual school-skipping beach parties.

Local and regional students -- sometimes by the thousands -- have in recent years selected one day in June on which to skip school and head to Sandbanks Provincial Park.

This year's event is scheduled to happen today. "The youths come equipped to spend the day on the beach, often attempting to smuggle in alcohol to be consumed during their stay," said an OPP news release. "Alcohol is prohibited on the beach and the majority of the teens are underage.

"Each year, park wardens and a team of OPP officers from Prince Edward County and surrounding areas are deployed to this event to conduct RIDE checks at each entry point to the park, this year is no exception," it said.

Revellers' farewell to Tube alcohol

2009-10-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of revellers took to the London underground to give drinking alcohol on the Tube a send-off to remember.

An alcohol ban, announced by new London Mayor Boris Johnson, has come into effect on the Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services across the capital.

Drinking from - and carrying - open containers of alcohol has been banned. Party-goers clutching copious quantities of alcohol met at Liverpool Street Station's west-bound Circle Line platform.

Londoner Matt Wynn, 43, a banker, said: "I've come along with a bottle of champagne because I want to show that you can drink responsibly on the Tube and not cause trouble. It's going to be a bit of a stop-start evening, though, because there are no toilets on the Tube."

Tara Harrison, 26, from Australia, said: "When I heard about it, I had to come along.

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Alcohol and Drug Treatment

2009-10-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

Do you like an occasional beer, or maybe a sip of wine? It's no big deal in moderation. We all love to kick back with a fine wine or frosty brew. However, too many individuals take this perk to a whole new level. How much alcohol is too much? Well, if you don't know, then you might want to do a reality check. Don't make the mistake of becoming complacent with your social life. Too many college kids do this with drinking and partying. Suddenly they're downing a case a night just to stay satisfied. It's time to be aware, people. You have to control how much you drink and how often. If you don't, then you just may end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program. Sound good? I doubt it.

Back in high school I watched a number of kids drink like it was no big thing. Where were they getting all those booze? I mean come on; someone had to be supplying it to them. They were clearly underage at the time. Regardless of their source, they were chugging like there was no tomorrow. Some teens just think this is the only way to have fun. It works as an escapism I guess. It's their vehicle to a less stressful realm. Unfortunately it's not healthy. People need to focus their energy on more legal and safer routes to a good time. No one wants to end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program. Speaking of alcohol and drug treatment programs, a close friend of mine was in one. I met him about seven years back, while working at a video store. It took me a while to realize that he was only 20 years old. This shocked me when I found out because he was always carrying cases of beer in his car. He told me once that he drinks around 20 beers each night. I thought to myself, "God, this kid's an alcoholic, and he's not even old enough to buy it." That's nuts! However, there are many people out there in the same condition. Eventually he acquired the assistance of an alcohol and drug treatment program. These days he is alcohol free.

Do you or someone you love need the assistance of an alcohol and drug treatment program? If so, you can hop online now and find the answers you're looking for. There are alcohol and drug treatment centers in your area. Get that much-needed help today. This is your future we're talking about here.

Just Think and help to make a difference

2009-10-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

More than a year after the appalling rape and assault of a young woman in Geelong's city centre, alcohol and/or drug-fuelled violence is very much at the forefront of the public's thinking. Yet the absence of a public safety campaign is glaring.

Click here to visit our Just Think mini-site

Today, in a bid to redress this shortcoming, and to help the fight against violence, the Geelong Advertiser launches the Just Think campaign.

It's message is clear and it's simple. It's not a wowser, unrealistic anti-drinking campaign. It's a campaign that simply asks you to just think about it.

To think about alcohol and your behaviour, your decision-making. To think about your levels of control when you drink. To think about how alcohol and you affects your friends, your partner, your children.

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Link found between oral cancer and a person's reaction to alcohol

2009-09-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

The speed at which a person's body breaks down alcohol is linked to their risk of developing oral cancer, according to the findings of a new study.Researchers at Aberdeen University looked at hundreds of patients who had cancers of the mouth, esophagus and larynx, focusing on two genes that are involved in metabolizing alcohol.They found that those who possessed a fast-acting variant of one of the genes were less likely to suffer from these cancers, because the enzymes are quicker at breaking down alcohol, which is a toxin.Dr Tatiana Macfarlane, senior lecturer at Aberdeen University's department of general practice and primary care, said that oral cancer risk is connected "to genetics as well as lifestyle"."These results provide the strongest evidence yet that alcohol consumption is strongly linked to oral cancer," she added.Separate research has found that smokers are also at a significantly increased risk of developing cancer of the mouth.

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Vallejo would like to use alcohol as a lifeline

2009-09-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here's to alcohol being a reason to support the economy! We can drink to that! (We'll drink to everything)

For those ex-Arizonites, Nevadans, and Los Angeleans looking for a Fresh & Easy near us in San Francisco, our very own Bayview will be getting one too.

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Washington Twp. woman pleads not guilty to serving teens alcohol

2009-09-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Kimberly Ann Wolfe-Lopinski, 43, was charged with 11 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of alcohol consumption by a minor in Romeo�s 42-1 District Court.

Twelve teens also will be charged with underage drinking, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel said.

When deputies reached the woman�s home May 25, party-goers scattered, but deputies were able to track down 14 teens, 12 of whom had alcohol in their systems, Hackel said.

The range of the teen�s blood-alcohol content was between .02% and .11%. An adult who tests at .08% or higher is considered legally drunk. There�s zero tolerance for people under 21 years old.

Most of the teens were 16 years or younger.

Help teens make smart choices

2009-09-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

This time of year can also mean that teens have more free time and could face added pressure to drink alcohol. It's important for parents to exercise their positive parenting influence and help their teens make responsible decisions.

In fact, when it comes to underage drinking, parents have the biggest influence on their teens' decisions. According to the 2007 Roper Youth Report, 69 per cent of teens ages 13 to 17 say their parents - not their peers - are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether they drink alcohol, and that finding has remained consistent since this survey began more than a decade ago.

Lonnie Carton, director of teen and family resources for the web-based Warm2Kids program and an advisory panel member of the Family Talk About Drinking program, offers parents advice on how to use their positive influence with teens as they celebrate graduation and summer break.

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Party booze-up man banned

2009-08-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

During his appearance in the dock, McPherson admitted driving with 57 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35, on 13 April this year.

The case had originally been continued for information from the DVLA on McPherson�s driving record.

Defence solicitor Ellen MacDonald said her client had been drinking at a bash on Saturday night and had thought he would be fine to drive the next morning.

She told the court: �He is a single man with a full-time job as an engineer, earning in the region of around �1,000 a month.

�He had been at a friend�s house-warming party the previous evening, where he had been drinking heavily and probably didn�t realise just how much alcohol he had consumed.

�He realises the serious nature of this type of offence and could lose his employment as a result of the proceedings that have been brought against him.

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Kids think binge-drinking normal

2009-08-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sixty per cent of the children surveyed said they believed people on television drunk too much, and about the same proportion say people drink alcohol to forget about their problems.

Nearly half of young children said they thought adults who drank were trying to be cool.

Life Education national director Stephen Burgesssaid the results needed to be taken seriously.

"We need to look at what role models we wish to provide and to make sure children understand that a healthy life does not involve excessive drinking," he told PA.

In Australia, the issue of binge drinking is being hotly debated, with the Federal Government lifting a tax on so-called alcopops.

Police commissioners around the country have called for the abolition of some `happy hours' and a review of liquor trading hours to address a "drink to get drunk" culture.

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Melo's court date postponed

2009-08-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

The court date for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, has been postponed to June 24, according to Denver court documents.

This is the second postponement of the arraignment, which was originally scheduled for May 14 and then reset for Thursday.

In the early morning of April 14, Anthony was pulled over downtown. His blood-alcohol level was .148, close to twice the legal limit.

The 24-year-old Anthony, who started the All-Star Game this season, finished fourth in the NBA with 25.7 points per game.

Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com

Cannabis used as cover whilst alcohol industry counts profits

2009-08-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Participants agreed to meet up at Liverpool Street station, and ride the circle line whilst drinking alcohol.But as is often the case with alcohol things soon got out of hand, and the Great British press carried the stories, with pictures, proving once and for all the "Drink Aware" campaigns are nothing more than the alcohol industry paying "lip-service" to whats fast becoming a national epidemic. The real social issue facing the UK as a country as 10's of thousands of people die or are hospitalised as a result of alcohol use, every single year. A statistic which simply doesn't apply with cannabis.

But perhaps more worrying were the accusations from the RMT - the union which operates the railways, that the press only "touched" on the situation lightly, and in fact things were a lot worse than has been reported nationally and internationally.

According to an RMT spokesman, "At least 50 London Transport staff were assaulted".

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Swansong to tube boozing ends in assaults and arrests

2009-08-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

Witnesses said the stench of alcohol on the network was overpowering and that people were "being sick all over the place".

The parties, attended by an estimated 2,000 people, began as light-hearted demonstrations against the new Conservative London mayor's alcohol ban.

Revellers, many in fancy dress, chanted anti-Johnson slogans. As the midnight ban drew nearer some began fighting and others vomited.

After fears of overcrowding and violent scuffles police closed stations at Liverpool Street Baker Street stations. Several trains were also cancelled due to damage.

A spokesman for British Transport police said people were arrested for offences such as assault, drunk and disorderly, assault on police, public order-related offences and drug offences.

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Inuit alcohol treatment program closes in North West River

2009-07-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

The closure of an alcohol treatment program in North West River is being described as a devastating blow to the Labrador community, but it's a necessary change according to the Nunatsiavut government that runs it.

The program, known as Saputjivik, is closing its doors in June after operating for 20 years.

North West River Mayor Art Williams said Friday he couldn't believe the program was closing and 15 jobs were being cut.

"It's gonna be a big downfall for North West River," he said.

Nunatsiavut's health minister, Greg Flowers, said the change has been in the works since 2005, when it came up during a series of public forums that travelled from community to community. Flowers said people at the forums said they didn't want the treatment program to be in North West River, in part because some Inuit were sent to a residential school there as children.

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Germicidal Wipes Can Spread Bacteria

2009-07-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Disinfecting wipes and alcohol-based hand gels are now widely used in hospitals, schools, and other public settings to kill the pathogens that cause infectious disease.

Americans now spend an estimated $1 billion a year on these and other antibacterial products, but their direct impact on the spread of infectious disease is not well understood.

(Do you use antibacterial wipes? Do you think they work? Why or why not? Talk with others on WebMD's Parenting: Preschoolers and Grade Schoolers board.)

Wipes Can Spread Bacteria

About 100,000 cases of invasive MRSA occur each year in the United States, according to the CDC, and the vast majority of these infections occur in hospitals and other health-care settings.

Disinfectant wipes are among the products used in such settings in an effort to prevent the spread of MRSA and other infectious pathogens.

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MADD, officials work to halt DUIs

2009-07-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Harold Crawford Jr., Second Judicial Circuit alcohol enforcement team coordinator with the Aiken Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Services, showed the group some examples of the types of alcohol being consumed by minors. "Our young people are starting to drink at an average of 12 years of age," he said. "The beverage of choice: hard liquor." Judge Tracey Carroll and assistant solicitor Yvonne Arthur talked about the tougher DUI laws recently approved by Gov. Mark Sanford. "Basically, if you get caught drinking and driving, you're going to go to jail," said Arthur. Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said in his 10 years in the coroner's office, he has worked nearly 500 fatalities in Aiken County. Those who plan to drink and drive should think about what to say to the victim's families, he told the group.

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Derailed again by alcohol, Cobb teen works program with court

2009-07-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Fifty-six percent of seniors said they had used alcohol in the previous 30 days, and 35 percent said they had used marijuana.

"East Cobb? Definitely worse with alcohol and the more expensive drugs," said juvenile probation officer Sabra Kofa-Dunn, a member of the drug court team.

Bonnie was the poster girl for the Cobb Drug Court, filming videos for a recent fund-raising campaign. With 11 months and 14 days of sobriety, she'd graduated from the program and made for a great face of success.

But on this day she's back in court, in handcuffs and ankle cuffs.

Her parents, Jennifer and Michael Pintur, are tired of fighting their daughter, tired of the bad choices she keeps making.

"My biggest fear is that we'll end up going to her funeral," Michael Pintur says.

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Today Alcohol Abuse is a wide spread problem

2009-07-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

Alcohol abuse has in the past been an adult problem, bringing devastating issues to families. Unlucky as this should have been, we are now faced with a pandemic of adolescent alcohol abuse. Totally 1/2 our youngsters, from the grade college level thru highschool, have sampled alcoholic drinks in any given month.

While illegal drugs are now widely available, even in grade colleges, it shouldn't be so surprising that adolescent alcohol abuse is also a wide-ranging problem. Unlike prescription and street drugs, alcohol is legal and freely available in most peoples's houses. While you, as a parent, can have a stock of alcoholic drinks in your house bar inventory, you could never imagine that your youngsters are imbibing.

You actually must stress about the drug culture happening in each college, but may not realize how far down this reaches, even to the grade faculty level. When your youngster reaches middle college, you may be certain that they are exposed to alcohol and drugs. Peer pressure plays a huge role in fostering a need to 'be cool' and experiment with both alcohol and drugs. Drugs may frighten off some youngsters, but alcohol is a socially sanctioned, legal, 'recreational' step into the sector of adult rights.

Kids don't appear to distinguish between alcohol and drugs, except that drugs are illegal, while alcohol isn't.

Maybe this is the reason why adolescent alcohol abuse is rising. My parents drink, so why should not I try it? is a typical desist.

They don't understand that their physical development isn't that of an adults and that alcohol has effects on them differently. They also do not understand moderation in almost all things is the best plan. While you will enjoy an occasional drink with dinner, or be ready to enjoy a simple relaxing effect, children incline to overdo. They are on the lookout for that comprehensive high. Alcohol provides such a high. Adolescent alcohol abuse is what ensues.

So how can you help your children tell the difference between moderate pleasure and abuse? If you, as a parent, decide to drink alcohol sparsely, you may prove, by example, the difference. Talk to your children.

In EU homes, children are sometimes permitted to have some sips, on special occasions. They may get that heady feeling, together with a sense that it is not some prohibited delight, but is tied to the delight in the food. They aren't certain to get tempted to indulge outside of the home and may not enjoy it.

On the other hand, if alcoholic drinks are treated as a secretive and prohibited pleasure, it becomes straightforward for their peers to persuade them that alcohol and drugs are something that they need to explore all alone, notwithstanding whatever fine example their fogeys could be setting.

Adolescent alcohol abuse is one of the most wide-ranging problems bedeviling our youngsters today. If youngsters lose trust in what their parents want to say on these subjects, they become simple prey to both alcohol and drug abuse. Be truthful and straight when you talk to them. Do talk to them.

Lindsay woman charged after police spot vehicle in the middle of

2009-06-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

However, after police investigated, they said the vehicle was actually driven to the area and that the woman was under the influence of alcohol.According to police, she was on court orders not to be out past 10 p.m. and was also told not to drink alcohol or drive a vehicle.Stephanie Carnegie, 18, of Lindsay is charged with having care and control of a motor vehicle while impaired and having more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in her blood, as well as, three breaches of court orders.

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Underage teens test alcohol shops

2009-06-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Teenagers will be sent to buy alcohol from shops around Scotland's capital city as part of a drive to halt under-age sales.

Test purchasing is to be introduced in Edinburgh following the success of a similar scheme in Fife.

It led to the suspension of several alcohol licences of shops in the area which were caught supplying drink to minors.

Lothian and Borders Police will use 16-year-olds in the initiative.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said there was clear evidence that too many children under the age of 18 were currently drinking alcohol.

'Pro-active steps'

Supt Lesley Clark, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "A good deal of the anti-social behaviour our communities face is caused by the consumption of alcohol by persons under 18 and, by utilising the approach of test purchasing, we are taking pro-active steps to reducing the supply of alcohol to young people."

Volunteers will try to buy alcohol in licensed premises across Edinburgh, with all offences being reported to prosecutors and licensing boards.

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Bill Murray 'addicted to sex, drugs, alcohol'

2009-06-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

The wife of Bill Murray has filed for divorce, alleging the Groundhog Day star abused her and is addicted to alcohol and marijuana.

Jennifer Butler, Murray's wife of 11 years, filed papers in South Carolina, news agencies reported.

The complaint alleges frequent abandonment by the actor.

It details how in 2006 Butler moved with her children to South Carolina "due to defendant's adultery, addiction to marijuana and alcohol, abusive behaviour, physical abuse, sexual addictions, and frequent abandonment".

"The latest altercation occurred in November 2007 at Sullivan's Island when the defendant hit her in the face and then told her she was 'lucky he didn't kill her'," it added.

Murray's lawyer, John McDougall, wouldn't comment on the contents of the petition.

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New tool to help convict drunk drivers

2009-06-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

A specimen of blood is taken from the suspect that will be tested to determine the alcohol concentration of the suspect's blood."Moore spoke with the Johnson County commissioners Tuesday during a meeting. Commissioners indicated support for Moore's plan to institute a magistrate search warrant policy countywide. "That, I think, is going to be a big step in getting people off the road and getting a conviction," said County Judge Roger Harmon."This is a win-win situation," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Beeson.The program might also help cut down on DWI caseloads in local courts."If you've got good evidence, you don't go to trial," Moore said. If a DWI suspect has a blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit and it's been verified by a blood or Breathalyzer test, the suspect is less likely to want to go to court, Moore said.

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Alcohol plan has missed 'all the easy targets' on tackling

2009-05-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Charity Addaction has attacked the government's youth alcohol action plan for possibly criminalising young people and "missing all the easy targets" on tackling underage drinking.

The action plan, published yesterday, promised a crackdown on public drinking by young people, including sanctions for their parents, and guidance for parents on sensible drinking by young people in the home.

Enforcement

The plan called for escalating sanctions for young people caught drinking in public starting with acceptable behaviour contracts – in which parents and their children attend a session with a trained worker – to antisocial behaviour orders.

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Sibley students breathe for an alcohol-free prom

2009-05-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Then they expelled those breaths into breathalyzers as part of an alcohol-free initiative sponsored by the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and the prom committee.

According to Chemical Health Coordinator Ann Lindberg, about 500 students attended the prom, held in Edinborough Park in Edina, and 320 took the test. "No one blew anything but zeros, thankfully," Lindberg said.

If a student tested positive for alcohol consumption, they would be asked to leave the prom. Their parents also would be contacted and the student would receive an underage violation.

Students responded well to the initiative, Lindberg said. "The overall atmosphere (at the prom) was excited and kids were excited to be recognized for doing the right thing," she said.

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Don’t give alcohol the upper hand

2009-05-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

The alcohol consumption needs to be "in moderation" and preferably within the recommended limits. Otherwise it has the potential to spiral out of control, be extremely harmful to health, lead to the breakdown of relationships and family life, and undermine the ability to function properly at work.

Many enthusiastic and initially happy drinkers have been sent spiralling down into despair and had their lives ruined because they didn't know when to stop. We tell some of their stories in our special feature today to mark the launch of the Government's new "units campaign".

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Police Crackdown On Underage Drinking; Five Bartenders Arrested

2009-05-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

According to Bill Crowley, a spokesman for the SLA, a bar or restaurant implicated in the sale of alcohol to a minor, considered a serious violation of Alcohol and Beverage Control law, faces up to a $10,000 fine, with the severity of the incident and the history of the establishment taken into account during the review.

According to a bartender who works at one of the bars visited by the Village police who wished to remain anonymous, the underage decoys used by the police were two young women, who, according to the source, were wired for sound. Lamison declined to comment on the specifics of the operation, saying, �We have underage persons who work with the police department to help curtail the selling of illicit alcohol to underage patrons.� Four police officers were involved in Saturday�s investigation.

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Alcohol-Related Death in Mankato

2009-05-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

Mankato police say alcohol played a role in the death of 16-year-old Andrew Anderson, a 10th grader at Mankato West Senior High. His blood alcohol level was 0.35.

Last October, Minnesota State College student Amanda Jax died after celebrating her 21st birthday at a Mankato bar. She had a blood alcohol level of nearly 0.46.

According to police, 16-year-old Andrew, his two older brothers, and others were drinking in a secluded area at Land of Memories Park in Mankato.

Andrew passed out. Preliminary results show the sophomore's blood alcohol level at nearly 4 times the legal limit.

"It�s discouraging to have this occur again. We've been in the spotlight, we've had tragedy after tragedy in this community over the past year to two years,"

Drinking is a popular pastime.

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Street pastors making a difference after-hours

2009-04-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

As the Government prepares to unveil its Youth Alcohol Action Plan to improve education in schools and for parents, the alcohol consumption of a typical teenage drinker has more than doubled. In 1995, it was 5.3 units per week, but last year it was 11.4 units. More teenagers are drinking spirits than before: 63 per cent of 15-year-olds named spirits as a regular drink.

Frank Soodeen, of the pressure group Alcohol Concern, has nothing but praise for the street pastors. "The work they do certainly helps – getting people out of clubs, onto buses and into taxis is really important when they are drunk and putting themselves at risk," he says. "The real problem is when bars and clubs are illegally selling alcohol to people who are too drunk to consume it sensibly."

Many of the street pastors recognise this change in drinking behaviour and the atmosphere on town high streets in recent years.

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High school district hopes new breath analyzers will keep proms

2009-04-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

The district has purchased AlcoBlow wand breath analyzers, which, when blown into, will detect alcohol levels as zero, low or high blood-alcohol content. The machine will give a reading in five seconds or less, according to the company's Web site, www.alcoholtest.com/alcoblow.htm.

The district hopes this gadget will deter students from drinking alcohol at preprom parties, district spokeswoman Ilse Whisner said.

"We're doing this not as a punitive measure, but for the students' safety," she said. "We want to promote a consciousness that students can have fun without drinking."

With the junior prom schedule over � without incident, Whisner said � Freehold High School has kicked off its senior prom season.

Every promgoer, even out-of-district students, received a letter explaining that there would be testing before the prom, Jewell said.

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Dwarf pours free liquor down the throats of St Kilda pub patrons

2009-04-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Management at The Saint refused to comment about claims the Wednesday party nights could contravene new laws preventing irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

Jagermeister brand manager John Howells promised to investigate, saying the stunt was "not responsible service".

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was unavailable for comment but Liquor Licensing Victoria did not rule out an investigation.

LLV spokeswoman Rebecca Harrison said "this conduct appears to be an example of serving alcohol irresponsibly".

Chairwoman for the National Local Government Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee, Jude Munro, said the stunt was unsafe and problematic.

"What St Kilda has to be careful of is that the very thing that attracts people to the area can so quickly turn around and put people off," she said.

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Microlight pilot's 'precision' manoeuvre ended in death crash due

2009-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

A MICROLIGHT instructor demonstrating a "precision" manoeuvre while well over the pilots' alcohol limit made a fatal misjudgement and died in a crash-landing.Jaysukh Madhvani was killed instantly after severing his spine when his plane clipped a tree, went out of control and dived into the ground at Plaistow Farm in Potters Crouch on March 28 last year, an inquest heard.His student Kay Bolton who was sitting in the rear of the aircraft was pulled unconscious from the wreckage by rescuers and airlifted to hospital after suffering multiple internal injuries. Although she has recovered, she has no memory of the accident and sat with her head in her hands when the accident was recounted at Tuesday's inquest. Mr Madhvani, aged 54, of Barnet, was an experienced chief flying instructor of his company Jay Airsports based at Plaistow Farm.He had been training Mrs Bolton for her pilot's licence and he needed to demonstrate an engine-off landing in a microlight.

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Pass the vodka, say DIY drinkers

2009-03-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

Following last month's tax hike on ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol products, also known as alcopops, Ms Crowley's choice reflects a growing preference for do-it-yourself mixing among alcohol consumers.

While national alcopop sales plummeted by almost 40 per cent in the fortnight after the Rudd Government lifted the excise on the drinks, liquor stores across Brisbane have reported a 20 per cent jump in stronger, straight spirit sales.

"Why would we spend more money on pre-mixed drinks, when we can buy better and more alcohol for the same price?" Ms Crowley said.

The first national data on alcohol sales released today by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) confirmed consumer logic had all but nullified the government's bid to curb binge drinking by young people by raising the tax.

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Officials to meet in Chestertown to learn new strategies to reduce

2009-03-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

As the coordinator for the Flathead County Alcohol Enforcement Team in Montana, Bruyer has seen more than 3,800 underage drinking arrests since the program’s 2005 implementation, and the compliance rate has risen from 40 percent in 2005 to 70 percent today, according to a report from KAJ-TV in Kalispell, Mont."Hearing (Bruyer) speak — it humbles what we’re doing," Underwood said.The event will address underage drinking prevention by discussing topics like social host laws, where alcohol is coming from and how to increase compliance, identifying alcohol retail outlets and how to gather information from school settings before the drinking occurs."We’ll also address supporting penalties for offenders that match the consequence of the action, and supporting judges that come down hard on underage drinking," Underwood said.

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Label Conscious, Part 1

2009-03-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

Who cares if it's 13.8 or 16 percent alcohol? And why doesn't this Italian red say what grapes are inside? Here's Part 1 of an alphabetical guide to a few things a label tells you, and some of the things it doesn't. Alcohol: The U.S. government requires that winemakers put a wine's alcohol content on the label, and it sets high and low limits on it (though some variation from the printed amount is allowed). Generally table wines will fall between 10 and 15 percent, with red wines on the higher end of that spectrum; fortified wines such as Port and Sherry can go up to 20 percent. When I describe a wine as "big," I'm frequently talking about the alcohol content — a matter of taste which a label can help you figure out. Anything under 10 percent means the wine is likely somewhat sweet; since winemaking is the process of converting natural sugars to alcohol, a number that low means there may be residual sugar.

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Beer Brewers, Sellers Respond to Change in State Laws on Alcohol

2009-03-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Before May 2007, all those taps had one thing in common: The beers they dispensed contained less than 6 percent alcohol. Then a change in state law last spring opened South Carolina to a wave of stronger, more exotic beers. Curiosity about those new brews -- dubbed "high gravity" by the industry -- drove a surge of strong sales that continued well into August.

Hemsley figures a third of the beers he draws during happy hour are high gravity, with a strong preference for a locally brewed brand by North Charleston-based COAST Brewery.

"I would say (demand) is probably more during happy hour, because it's a great deal ($2.75, down from $4.75), and a lot of people are coming down for it," he said.

But according to South Carolina brewers, bartenders and distributors, the Charleston Beer Works story looks more like the exception and less like the rule.

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Campbell River crash linked to alcohol

2009-03-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Alcohol is being blamed for a three-car collision near Campbell River on Wednesday night.

Around 9:30 p.m., RCMP received a report of a serious head-on collision involving two pickup trucks and a bus 10 kilometres west of Campbell River on Highway 28 toward Gold River.

The accident occurred when the westbound 2004 Ford truck swerved over the centre line, striking a 1985 Ford truck heading the other direction.

Rugby refs tackling rural rugby's drink-drive problem

2009-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

In Northland, alcohol was a factor in almost a third of all fatal and serious crashes between 2002 and 2006.

To stop this, Northland rugby referees are helping to implement a unique strategy.

On another Saturday afternoon of club rugby in Northland, what happens after the game can be a real killer.

In 82% of alcohol-related crashes in Northland, the drivers at fault are male.

Five years ago, that statistic gave Linda Nash of Northland Health an idea, and she approached Martin Slbrecht, chairman of the Northland Referees Association.

Together they created the Alcohol Management Operation or AMO, which targets young males.

"Rugby being what it was, the social atmosphere after a game, and in a rural area like Northland everybody has to drive.

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Kirsten Dunst dismisses alcohol, drug reason for rehab

2009-02-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

In a report from Usmagazine.com, Dunst clarified: "I didn't go to Cirque Lodge for alcohol abuse or drug abuse. I went there for depression."

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

After six months in depression, she decided to go away and look for a place to mend herself. Luckily, she said she has friends and family who open-mindedly helped and supported her recuperation.

"I was struggling, and I had the opportunity to go somewhere and take care of myself. I was fortunate to have the resources to do it. My friends and family thought it was a good idea, too. But I didn't know where to go. My doctor recommended Cirque Lodge," she said.

Surviving depression has been a hard time for the spider-man actress. She says, "We're all in the same boat together," adding that "Depression is pretty serious and should not be gossiped about."

Dunst said "there has been a lot of misrepresentation about what is going on in her life" that people close to her are also disheartened.

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Cabot, Ark., school bus driver pleads to DWI charge

2009-02-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Little Rock Traffic Judge Vic Fleming also ordered Clark to undergo alcohol-rehabilitation treatment.

Authorities said Clark was arrested Oct. 26th when she arrived at a Little Rock high school to pick up Cabot students who were attending a debate tournament there. Police said some drivers and others noticed a driver was behaving erratically before students boarded the bus. Police arrived and conducted a field sobriety test and arrested Clark. Police said her blood-alcohol level tested at 0.073%, over the legal limit of 0.04% for people with commercial driver's licenses.

Four prior offenders cited in alcohol sting

2009-02-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

Four of 10 Washington County stores receiving prior citations for underage alcohol sales were cited again during a sting operation May 23.

Between 6:20 p.m. and 9 p.m., Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies and decoys between 18 and 20 years old visited the stores where decoys had made illegal alcohol purchases in the past.

The decoys entered the stores and brought alcoholic beverages to the counter to purchase. If the clerk asked the decoy for their identification, the decoy provided their actual Oregon drivers license.

Clerks that sold alcohol to the decoys were cited. The clerks who refused to sell to the decoys were informed of the operation.

The following stores sold alcohol to the decoys:

AM/PM Mini Mart, 9560 NW Glencoe Road, Hillsboro.

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Driving home the dangerous mix of teens and alcohol

2009-02-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

I am here specifically because I am concerned that what we are seeing at the Police Department is increasing use of alcohol. We are not talking about one or two beers, we find kids are drinking to get drunk," Portsmouth Police Chief Michael Magnant said.

According to the risk behavorior survey, 32 percent of Portsmouth High School students reported binge drinking within 30 days of the survey and 48 percent reported having used alcohol in that same time period.

In 2002, the department arrested 16 teens for possession of alcohol. Last year, more than 100 teens were arrested. Part of the reason for the increase in arrests is increased enforcement and changes in law, including the internal possession law and the party host law.

Boyceville man dies in weekend accident; alcohol may be factor

2009-01-24T19:37:00.000-08:00

Alcohol may have played a role in an accident that claimed the life of a young Boyceville man and injured a teenager from Colfax.

Officials with the Dunn County Sheriff's department say they were called to the scene of a one-vehicle crash on Highway 170, on the east end of Boyceville, at around 5:35 a.m.

Kristen Nielson, 25, died after the vehicle he was driving rolled over several times, according to officials with the Dunn County Sheriff's Department.

His passenger, Nicole Baumgartner, 17, was injured and taken to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.

Officials say it appears that alcohol did play a role in the accident and neither Nielson nor Baumgartner were wearing seat belts.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Department is continuing its investigation into the crash.

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'There is not a God-given right to dispense alcohol'

2009-01-18T20:11:00.000-08:00

Sweeping powers to tackle binge drinking and alcohol abuse in Scotland will be tabled next year in a new legislative package that could set the tone for a similar clampdown south of the border.

Campaigners for tougher action throughout Britain believe the Scottish measures - such as setting a minimum price for alcohol to outlaw cheap liquor, and restricting sales in supermarkets to designated areas - will prompt Westminster to take stronger action. The moves follow Scotland's example in banning smoking in public places well before England and Wales.

The Scottish government's cabinet secretary for justice, Kenny MacAskill, says that while problems stemming from narcotics could not be minimised, alcohol - "a licensed drug" - was the major problem, with drink-related side-effects and illnesses creating labour shortages, threatening to overrun the health service, and already swamping Scotland's prison system.

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Courthouse News

2009-01-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

Jeffery L. Strong, Olney, driving under the influence/BAC .08, driving under the influence of alcoholRandall E. Miller, Olney, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence/BAC .08May 29Rochelle M. Jamerson, Newton, driving under the influence/BAC .08, driving under the influence of alcoholKatie L. Leaf, Olney, driving under the influence/BAC .08, driving under the influence of alcoholFelonyMay 29Christopher M. Hardin, Olney, aggravated battery/public placeKorey E. Greenwood, East Alton, DUI, license suspended or revokedMisdemeanorMay 20Emma J. Brocker, Olney, violating order after served noticeMay 21Roger E. Stevens, West Salem, knowingly damaging property, less than $300Lashanda R. Webb, Olney, criminal trespass to landMay 29Gary W. Cochran, Olney, disorderly conductByron G.

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Local School Districts Receive Grants

2009-01-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

Newport Independent Schools and the Covington Independent Public School District have been awarded funds from the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse Program. Upon announcing the grants, Congressman Geoff Davis stated, "These grants will help our schools continue to keep our students safe while providing them with the important information they need to become healthy, responsible young adults."Newport Independent Schools has been awarded $318,267.00 and the Covington Independent Public School District has been awarded $261,163.00 through the "Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse Program" to develop programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary school students. These grants will provide funds and resources for educators to implement innovative and effective alcohol abuse prevention programs for students.

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Cops arrest 27 minors for drinking in Hanover

2008-12-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

Four adults from Hanover were charged with alcohol-related offenses. They include Brian Guo, who is 18 and lives at house on Sunset Drive; Jeffery Popadines, 19, Robert Cichocki, 18; Eric Mattessich, 18.

The suspects were all released, pending a court hearing.

Their arrests fell on the same weekend that dozens of teenagers from Randolph were arrested at a post-prom party in Vermont. And 23 -- nine of whom were under 18 -- were arrested Friday night on alcohol charges after arriving via party bus at the Middletown South High School prom.

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Police blast booze brawls

2008-12-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

"There is drug use but alcohol is the main offender," he said.

With more licensed venues now located in close proximity, drunkenness was more concentrated.

"There is a higher degree of intoxication in the street and this is where the offences of violence are occurring," Insp Scott said.

With tighter control over the consumption and sale of alcohol, violence could be curbed, he said.

"We still have the over-consumption of alcohol within licensed premises and people who consume alcohol in other locations and then come into the city," Insp Scott said.

He also said venues with stand-up drinking or discount drinks had more trouble.

Southern Region Ambulance supervisor Tim Rider said crews attended incidents outside Syrup and Isobar but could not provide details.

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Alcohol Sales Could Change Under Proposal

2008-12-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

The appeal process does not apply to establishments located within 100 feet of a church, school or playground, and alcohol would be for carry-out only.

If passed, the new law may benefit convenience/gas stations located in unincorporated areas of St. Louis County which currently are unable to sell alcohol because of a location within 300 feet of a church, school or park.

The St. Louis County Council is expected to take up the bill at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 3, beginning at 6 p.m.

County Council Member John Campisi, R-South County, opposes the bill, and predicts a large turnout of citizens at Tuesday's meeting to speak against any changes to the current law regulating alcohol sales.

"The current law has been in place for a long time, and was put in place to keep liquor out of the hands of kids.

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Police to 'deal with' licensees who serve drunks

2008-11-25T21:40:00.000-08:00

But binge drinking and too much alcohol has consequences which are all too familiar.

�Strathclyde Police will undertake a sustained campaign of policing licensed premises. The link between excess alcohol and violence is clear and the consequences are seen every weekend."

As in England, it is illegal in Scotland to serve alcohol to anyone who is drunk.

Comment on this story

7 workers arrested in selling alcohol to minor

2008-11-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

Ten businesses refused to sell alcohol to the minor.

Moravec said the following employees were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and released on their written promise to appear in court:

Jasmina VanDerbeck, 29, at Browning Street Chevron, 1120 Churn Creek Road.

Terry Weatherford, 65, at B-T's By the Way Bar, 610 Market St.

Kylie Song, 22, at New China Restaurant, 3669 Eureka Way.

Teresa Spenser, 44, at Senor Rosa's Restaurant, 2056 Eureka Way.

Tawn LaBarbera, 27, at Vintner's Cellar, 1700 California St.

Donald Carnagey, 60, at Shasta Street Valero, 1220 Shasta St.

Mandy Bal, 49, at Parkview Market, 843 Parkview Ave.

The cases also will be submitted to the Shasta County District Attorney's Office for prosecution and to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for administrative review.

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STATE POLICE: Alcohol check nets 1 violation in Peru

2008-10-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

District 17 officers conducted the Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement surveys at 12 establishments in La Salle-Peru May 22.

Of those businesses surveyed, one clerk, Douglas D. Draper, 26, of Peru, was arrested on complaint of delivery of alcoholic liquor to a minor -- a Class A misdemeanor. Draper is an employee of Becks, 703 Shooting Park Road, Peru.

The following businesses also were checked and found in compliance:

351 Mini Mart, Casey's General Store, Express Lane Inc., Rudy's Liquors, La Salle Cigarette & Liquor and Flying J Travel Plaza, all in La Salle.

Peru businesses found in compliance were Harper Oil Co., Hy-Vee, CVS Pharmacy Store, Express Lane Gas & Food Mart and Peru Enterprises Inc. (BP Amoco).

The surveys are funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration.

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Alcohol banned at beaches for summer

2008-09-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Del Mar City Council last night unanimously approved an emergency ordinance banning alcohol at city parks and beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The council adopted the ban after Public Services Director Pat Vergne said he has seen an alarming increase in out-of-control alcohol consumption along the city's beaches over the past two weekends.

Vergne said he believes young adults are flocking to Del Mar to abuse alcohol because it is one of the few beaches in the county where drinking is still permitted.

The Del Mar alcohol ban will become effective at midnight Thursday. Violators could be fined $100 for the first offense.

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Police Blotter

2008-09-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

When the police officer approached him, Daly reportedly smelled of alcohol. When asked to step outside, Daly refused and stated he would not leave until he was given the cup of coffee he paid for, according to police. After he was removed from the coffee shop, Daly continued trying to go back inside, prompting police to arrest him.

Celtic pride

A 19-year-old and a 20-year-old will appear in court on alcohol-related charges after they were spotted carrying a 30-pack of beer from a Powers Street home on May 24, police said.

The men proceeded to put the beer in the trunk of a car and when the officer asked the men their ages, one said he was 19 and the other said he was 20. When the men retrieved the beer from the car's trunk, one of the boxes was full, while the other two had a combined 15 cans of beer missing.

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Players tackle city's booze-fuelled violence

2008-09-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

EVEN Geelong Football Club captain Tom Harley admits the city's streets can become edgy in a wash of alcohol at night.

He has witnessed the flares of anger and the sparks of drink-fuelled violence and followed the sorry stories of victims of drunken assault.

And now he has joined Cat team-mates James Kelly and David Wojcinski calling for people to stop and think hard about the line where fun on the town turns to injury and potential tragedy.

The players want people to Just Think about the way they drink and the way alcohol can skew the way they act.

"We definitely care about what goes on," Harley said.

"A lot is spoken about AFL players and whether they are role models. We have, believe we are and can have an influence on people's behaviour if we can put a positive spin on it.

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Police to 'deal with' licensees who serve drunks

2008-09-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

But binge drinking and too much alcohol has consequences which are all too familiar.

�Strathclyde Police will undertake a sustained campaign of policing licensed premises. The link between excess alcohol and violence is clear and the consequences are seen every weekend."

As in England, it is illegal in Scotland to serve alcohol to anyone who is drunk.

Comment on this story

7 workers arrested in selling alcohol to minor

2008-08-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ten businesses refused to sell alcohol to the minor.

Moravec said the following employees were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and released on their written promise to appear in court:

Jasmina VanDerbeck, 29, at Browning Street Chevron, 1120 Churn Creek Road.

Terry Weatherford, 65, at B-T's By the Way Bar, 610 Market St.

Kylie Song, 22, at New China Restaurant, 3669 Eureka Way.

Teresa Spenser, 44, at Senor Rosa's Restaurant, 2056 Eureka Way.

Tawn LaBarbera, 27, at Vintner's Cellar, 1700 California St.

Donald Carnagey, 60, at Shasta Street Valero, 1220 Shasta St.

Mandy Bal, 49, at Parkview Market, 843 Parkview Ave.

The cases also will be submitted to the Shasta County District Attorney's Office for prosecution and to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for administrative review.

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Alcohol banned at beaches for summer

2008-08-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Del Mar City Council last night unanimously approved an emergency ordinance banning alcohol at city parks and beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The council adopted the ban after Public Services Director Pat Vergne said he has seen an alarming increase in out-of-control alcohol consumption along the city's beaches over the past two weekends.

Vergne said he believes young adults are flocking to Del Mar to abuse alcohol because it is one of the few beaches in the county where drinking is still permitted.

The Del Mar alcohol ban will become effective at midnight Thursday. Violators could be fined $100 for the first offense.

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Police blotter for June 3

2008-08-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

Wells was taken to the Madison County Sheriff's Department in Edwardsville, where a breath test allegedly found he had a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.08 percent, the level that constitutes a legal presumption of intoxication in Illinois.Wells' driver's license was revoked at the time of his arrest because of two prior DUI convictions, which qualified him for the enhanced felony charges.The warrant was signed by Associate Judge Richard Tognarelli, who set bond at $25,000.NEW DOUGLAS - Jeffrey K. Crotty, 23, of the 1100 block of Adams Street in Staunton, was charged Monday in Madison County Circuit Court with a felony count of aggravated battery.About 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Madison County sheriff's deputies responded to the Dawg Haus Tavern, 102 S. Main St., New Douglas, in reference to a disturbance.

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Alcohol related crime; alarm bells ringing

2008-07-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Since the tragic death of Matt Sharp in December, 2006, as a result of an alcohol-related attack, LINC has been monitoring news items of reported incidents of violence in public places and has been disturbed by the number of events and the severity of many incidents.

A spokesman said that not all incidents of anti-social behaviour or unlawful events are reported to police and discussions highlighted the need for people to report incidents and alert law authorities to the real situation in their community.

Lithgow City Council is working hard toward its Crime Prevention Plan and is holding community consultations through June.

These meetings will give local people the opportunity to discuss their safety concerns and contribute ideas for creating a more peaceful community.

As suggested by the Australian Institute of Criminology, Crime prevention is not just the responsibility of police and not just the responsibility of government agencies.

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Alaska, alcohol, antagonism inform Straley's crime novels

2008-07-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

Straley said most of the crimes he investigates are alcohol-related in one way or another. Bar fights, domestic violence -- Alaska is a national leader in per-capita domestic violence, he said -- sexual assaults; almost everything traces back to alcohol.

"Not a lot of whodunits," Straley said. ". . . Alcohol is the biggest problem in Alaska."

Straley's first six novels featured a detective named Cecil Younger who lives in Sitka, Straley's home since 1977. Straley's new novel, "The Big Both Ways," is set in 1935 and follows a logger, a radical union organizer and her niece on a journey from Seattle up the Inside Passage in a dory. Straley worked on the book for six years and was inspired by John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" and Alaska writer Robert DeArmond's "Voyage in a Dory."

"The Big Both Ways" is the first fiction published by Alaska Northwest Books, an imprint of Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co.

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Make this year's an alcohol-free season of graduation parties

2008-07-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

If you're under the legal age of 21 to drink alcohol, don't do it.

If you're an adult inclined to provide minors alcohol, or willing to let them drink it in your home, don't even think about it.

Police are on the prowl, armed with new, quickie search warrants, looking for underage drinking parties to poop.

The reasons behind this crusade are known as well as the way-too-high rates of underage alcohol consumption in the Bay area.

In the spring season of busting out of high schools especially, far too many young people die or are injured in alcohol-related incidents, including traffic crashes.

Too many teens are indoctrinated into the sad rite of passage in these parts, that it isn't really a party until someone pukes.

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Teenage Brains: Not Yet Ready For Alcohol

2008-07-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

For teens, consuming alcohol with this work in progress is a bit like putting a twitch in the hand of the sculptor.

"We used to think the brain was done developing at toddlerhood, but what we know now is that during adolescence there's a great deal going on in terms of brain maturation," said Vivian Faden, deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

"Teens don't have to die in a car crash for alcohol to have a negative effect," she said.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, advances in MRI imaging capabilities have made the once hidden world of the brain visible. That has enabled researchers to conclude that the teenage brain is constantly reorganizing, strengthening the pathways it uses most and pruning the unused ones.

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Alcohol Use

2008-06-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that about three-quarters of the population drink alcohol. Of this number, about 10% will find that their alcohol consumption leads to serious problems involving their health, relationships with family and friends, work, and finances. This situation, when one uses alcohol despite apparent harm to one's self and well-being, is called alcohol abuse (or dependence), or alcoholism. Men are five times more likely than women to develop this condition. However, the incidence of alcoholism among women has increased in the past 30 years. The people most affected are between the ages of 18 and 30 years.

Causes of Alcohol Use

Alcoholism is a medical condition. While the exact cause of alcoholism is unknown, research has shown increasing evidence that susceptibility to it may be inherited and the risk of developing this medical condition rises significantly in families with relatives (in particular, parents and siblings) who are dependent on alcohol.

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Solid Family History of Alcoholism Puts You at Strong Risk of

2008-06-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

While most of the genetic research on an individual's family history of alcoholism (FHA) concentrates on the parents' - usually paternal - alcohol use. However, the findings of the new study indicate that focussing on the density of FHA - including first-, second- and third-degree relatives, can reveal a great deal of the likeliness of a student developing AUD.

"Using a density measure of FHA can identify a greater number of individuals who may be at risk for developing an alcohol problem. The greater number of affected relatives ... the greater the potential risk of developing an AUD. Ours is the first published study to examine this measure among college student," said Christy Capone, a postdoctoral research fellow at Brown University's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and the study's first author.

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Charity golf tournament needs players

2008-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

The first Peterborough Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) charity tournament is scheduled for 2 p. m. and teams are required. Tickets are $125 per golfer and they receive a golf cart, dinner and prizes with proceeds going to FASD.

According to FASD committee member Tammie Hyde four four-player teams have already registered.

"We would like to have more, she said. "We need more golfers."

FASD is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual who experienced prenatal exposure to alcohol. They are lifelong effects and may include physical, mental, behavioural and/or learning disabilities. Alcohol interferes with normal brain development, resulting in neurological impairments.

According to a report, FASD is a major root cause of many expensive social programs and people living with it are at high risk of learning disabilities, early school dropout, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, crimes against poverty, vandalism, child and spousal abuse, employment and poverty.

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Seizure Drug Reverses Cellular Effects In Brain Related To Alcohol

2008-06-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

In the new research the scientists found that gabapentin normalizes the action of certain brain cells altered by chronic alcohol abuse in an area of the brain known as the central amygdala, which plays an important role in fear- and stress-related behaviors, as well as in regulating alcohol drinking. In the study, alcohol-dependent rodents receiving gabapentin drank less alcohol.

"The results are exciting," said Scripps Research Assistant Professor Marisa Roberto, Ph.D., who was first author of the study. "Our research shows that gabapentin not only changes the alcohol-consumption patterns of addicted rats (and not of the control group), but also may reverse some of the effects of addiction on a specific neurotransmitter in the brain."

"This is an example of the strength of the translational approach of the Pearson Center, where the clinical uses of gabapentin led us to hypothesize that gabapentin may act to restore homeostatic dysregulation of the GABAergic system," said George Koob, Ph.D., chair of the Scripps Research Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders and co-director of the Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research at Scripps Research.

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'Alcopops' The Latest Trend In Underage Drinking

2008-05-21T02:12:00.000-07:00

Energy drinks are becoming so common that many parents do not look twice when they see kids drinking them. However, child advocates are saying that adults should start paying closer attention because some of those drinks contain alcohol. Not every drink contains alcohol though, and all of the cans look very similar. This has made energy drinks the alcoholic beverage of choice for many kids, according to experts. So-called 'alcopops' are a hot trend in underage drinking. Kids also said that these energy drinks containing alcohol are easier to obtain than beer or tequila. "It's not hard at all," said one kid. "Adults have to know what the problem is," said Nicole Holt, executive director of Texans Standing Tall. "I didn't know that the energy drinks came with alcohol," said Jamie Jewell, a concerned parent.

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Enforcement of alcohol sales ban starts

2008-05-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

Enforcement of a ban on the sale of alcohol in four western Louisville precincts began yesterday even as affected businesses continued their fight.

Metro enforcement officials said yesterday afternoon that they did not have any information regarding any violations of the ban at the five affected outlets, and a spot check by a reporter found that the stores appeared to be complying.

Homebrew led to death, illness of Joyceville inmates: Corrections ...

2008-04-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Homemade alcohol was likely behind the death of one inmate and the illness of three others in a federal prison near Kingston Ontario, Corrections Canada said Thursday.

Provincial police were called to the Joyceville Penitentiary at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday after staff discovered four inmates in varying stages of medical distress.

All four had been drinking homemade alcohol, Corrections officials said.

The prison remained locked down pending the police investigation.

Christopher Morriseau, who was serving a sentence of two-years and nine-months for aggravated assault, was pronounced dead at the prison.

Three other inmates were taken to hospital, where one remained in critical condition and two were in serious condition.

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Fort Collins psychiatrist embroiled in ground-breaking criminal case

2008-03-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

Christian Hageseth was Fort Collins' own Patch Adams.

The longtime author, public speaker, psychiatrist and physician espoused the healing nature of therapeutic humor and promoted his "compassionate" shock therapy for people with depression. He took his Humor and Health workshops across the country and spoke in front of audiences at well-respected medical institutions. At the same time, he was known in Fort Collins for his work with indigent patients.

By the late 1990s, Hageseth had an extensive resume that would impress even the most humorless people and the staunchest critics of shock therapy. After the American Psychiatric Association expelled Hageseth in 1998 and his Colorado medical license was revoked for a relationship with a patient who later became his wife, the Fort Collins resident worked to overcome his lost career.

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Experts cite possible link between alcohol and violent crimes

2008-03-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

The number of reported sex assaults in the Penn patrol zone went up from 10 in 2006 to 17 in 2007, and alcohol consumption could be partly responsible for this rise.

It's not clear how many of these offenses were alcohol-related, but experts say alcohol and sexual assaults are often linked.

Steven Belenko, professor of Criminal Justice at Temple University, said that alcohol-related incidents, not including DUIs, tend to be violent crimes, such as assaults and sex crimes.

"No one really knows how alcohol impacts crime, but it does reduce self control and inhibition," he said. The places where alcohol is typically consumed tend to be "social settings that are conducive to fighting," he added.

In the case of sexual assaults, alcohol consumption can involve both the assaulter and the victim, Belenko said.

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High-powered push to widen ban on alcohol

2008-03-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

A trial ban on almost all takeaway alcohol in Fitzroy Crossing appears increasingly likely to be extended beyond six months and imposed on other Kimberley towns after winning the backing of Alan Carpenter and Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan yesterday.

Both the Premier and Mr O'Callaghan named Halls Creek as the next town where director of liquor licensing Barry Sargeant should consider imposing a ban on all takeaway alcohol except lowstrength beer.

But despite revealing his backing for an extension of the alcohol restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing “well beyond" the sixmonth trial, Mr Carpenter said he continued to have concerns about extending the ban to bigger regional centres such as Broome and Derby.

“I am very heartened by the analysis that is being done of the impact of the alcohol restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing," Mr Carpenter said.

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Drinking law ups penalty for peers

2008-03-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

A 2006 law giving police wider latitude to crack down on underage drinking is also penalizing teenagers who choose not to drink but still socialize at house parties where peers do.

In a crowded house party environment with alcohol flowing freely, officers have probable cause to believe all youths present have been drinking, said police Chief David Ridberg.

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Alcohol still a college issue

2008-03-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

A total of 2,181 on-campus liquor law violations and 221 on-campus drug law violations were reported to the federal government by 12 area colleges and universities for 2006, the most recent data available. In most cases, the infractions were treated as violations of school policy with consequences decided by college officials.

For young people, college often means living alone for the first time and exploring their newfound independence by experimenting with drugs and alcohol, school officials said. In most cases it amounts to nothing more than a minor detour on the road to maturity. But for others, it can become a serious distraction that interferes with their school work, health, academic success, and beyond.

To keep the phenomenon in check, college officials are using a range of disciplinary policies, special activities and peer counseling programs.

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Drinking law ups penalty for peers

2008-03-14T21:01:00.001-07:00

Beer truck hijack drenches London street

2008-03-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

Two men attempting to hijack a beer truck in London ended up crashing the vehicle only a few hundred metres away, spilling beer canisters into the street and drenching the road with alcohol.

Police and a witness said two men, one reportedly brandishing a gun, forced their way aboard the truck as it was stopped on a west London street. The driver left the vehicle and the suspects jumped in, speeding off and toppling the truck over as it rounded a corner.

"Everything just poured out of it," said Jags Khokhar, 27, who works at a nearby car garage. "All the cans came out of the top half of the lorry (truck), and there was spillage everywhere."

The driver was unhurt in the incident and the two men escaped. Police said that the truck's cargo has since been recovered.

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Experts cite possible link between alcohol and violent crimes

2008-03-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

SA woman blows five times legal limit

2008-03-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

A woman has recorded the highest blood alcohol level - more than five times the legal limit - in a state-wide blitz on drink driving in South Australia.

The woman, from Ceduna on South Australia's west coast, was one of 14,400 drivers tested at the weekend as part of Operation Consequence.

Of those, 178 were found to be over the limit and 93 of those recorded blood alcohol levels high enough to have their licences suspended immediately.

The highest reading was the woman at Ceduna who blew 0.263, more than five times the legal limit.

Autopsy: Alcohol Contributed to Beach-House Fire Death

2008-03-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

Ocean Isle Beach — A South Carolina college student had alcohol in his blood when he died during a fire at an Ocean Isle beach house in October, according to an autopsy released Monday.

The autopsy was the last on the seven fire victims to be released by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill.

The autopsy showed Justin Michael Anderson, 19, died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Anderson's blood alcohol concentration was 0.29, and that was "a contributing condition" to his death, according to the autopsy report.

Earlier, the state medical examiner said six of the seven victims – Cassidy Fae Pendley, 18; Lauren Astrid Kristiana Mahon, 18; Justin Michael Anderson, 19; Travis Lane Cale, 19; Allison Walden, 18; William Rhea, 18; and Emily Lauren Yelton, 18 – had blood alcohol content ranging from 0.16 to 0.29.

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Sask. woman wins legal battle against drug dealer

2008-03-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

A Saskatchewan woman who says she nearly died from an overdose of crystal meth is claiming a legal victory over the man she claims sold her the street drug.

Sandra Bergen was suing Clinton Davey, but earlier this month a Saskatoon judge struck down his statement of defence after he failed to answer questions in a legal proceeding.

That means Davey is not in a position to dispute liability and the case will go back to court to determine damages, Bergen's lawyer Stuart Busse said.

Bergen says her win may be by default, but she'll take it.

"He can't go to court now and say 'I'm not responsible,'" she said Tuesday.

Bergen said after she overdosed on the drug in May 2004, she nearly died of a heart attack. Then 19 years old, she spent 11 days in a coma and was left with a number of long-term physical ailments.

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Autopsy Shows Homeless Man Died From Alcohol Poisoning

2008-03-06T20:38:00.000-08:00

Police say a homeless man whose body was found outside the home of the Fargo Roman Catholic bishop died of alcohol poisoning. A newspaper carrier found forty-three-year-old Vernon Weigand's body January 13th. An autopsy showed Weigand had a lethal blood alcohol level of .53. No one was at the bishop's house when his body was found.

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Violence Errupts

2008-03-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

When we got to the memorial, in the Alexandrovsky Garden just north of Red Square, rain was drizzling down and so we descended to the bowels of the mall. We wandered around for forty-five minutes or so, looking for a place to have a coffee. Crowds of New Russians in trendy sneakers and subtle colognes. Shops crammed with fashionwear price twice their western tags. We were wet, lightheaded, and it was a consumer phantasmagoria where we circled, passing other knots of people we knew were headed for the demonstration--furtive "hellos," after all we didn’t know each other---and somehow the most vivid images of this day get merged with rows of jockey shorts hanging off muscular mannequins behind plate glass, or expensive ice cream heaped in obscene multi-coloured coils. When we emerged the rain was pouring and I had to go back and buy two umbrellas and that was why we were slightly late to the first onslaught.

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DPS: 166 Died In Alcohol-Related Crashes In '06

2008-03-03T19:58:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said alcohol-related crashes killed 166 people in Minnesota in 2006, the lowest death total on record. However, the department said a record-high 41,951 motorists were arrested for impaired driving. That's about 115 driving while impaired arrests a day. The department's office of Traffic Safety compiles the Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts annually. Some of the other key findings: -- Minnesota had nearly 4,700 alcohol-related crashes in 2006 -- 3,500 people were injured in those crashes. -- 76 percent of those arrested for DWI were male. -- Nearly half of the DWI arrests were made on Saturdays and Sundays. -- Two-thirds of alcohol-related traffic deaths were outside the Twin Cities. (© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Leech Lake opens doors to alcohol- and drug-free housing development ...

2008-03-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

CASS LAKE, Minn. - In a rural setting south of the city of Cass Lake, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has built a new neighborhood.

This community is unique because a special agreement in the leases requires the families moving into the homes and neighborhood to remain alcohol- and drug-free. Violation of the agreement would mean termination of the lease, said Marlene Mitchell, executive director of Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Authority.

''We're the first ones to do this,'' said Eugene Whitebird, a member of the Leech Lake Housing Authority Board.

''This will be a model nationwide in Indian country,'' said Donald Goggleye, tax credit coordinator and construction manager for the project. ''We hope to lead by example with this initiative and also bring back a more traditionally bonded community.

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BANNED ON CAMPUS: Tech dorms maintain rules despite increasing trend of alcohol, drugs on campus

2008-02-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

Though administrators for Texas Tech's Residence Halls are witnessing an increased use of prescription drugs and alcohol by students, they plan to maintain current rules on contraband items.

Sean Duggan, director of University Student Housing, said the Student Code of Conduct is much like a speed limit; even if you forget about it or do not read it, you still will be held accountable.

Duggan said students are responsible for everything that goes on in their room, even if they are not present when it happens.

"It's the responsibility of the student to know," he said. "We can't make people read everything."

Duggan said students are responsible for everything that goes on in their room, even if they are not present when it happens. He also said it is the student's responsibility to police each other and make sure others are not doing things they should not be doing.

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Program urges teens not to drink

2008-02-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

The program is one of a series that HC DrugFree presents at schools around the county on various teen-related topics, including stress and depression.

Christie Fuhrer attended the program on the recommendation of her daughter, a freshman at Centennial.

Fuhrer's daughter, Molly, said she, too, learned a lot from the program. She was impressed that the presenters were aware of certain teenage behaviors, such as how young people acquire alcohol.

"Everything that they were saying was true," the 14-year-old said.

tyeesha.dixon@baltsun.com

Vereen arrested after fight

2008-02-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

University of Tennessee Police Department officers were responding to a fight outside Gibbs Hall early Monday morning when freshman running back Daryl Vereen was arrested and charged with public intoxication, according to the UT police report released Tuesday.

“... at about 0304 hours this officer responded to a fight in progress consisting of an estimated 10 people outside of Gibbs Hall," the report reads. “Upon my arrival I noticed several subjects fighting in the fire lane of Gibbs Hall. Upon getting out of my vehicle the subjects begin to break it up and return inside the dorm."

The report goes on to state that Vereen was noticed trying to get into the driver's side of a dark blue Jeep Cherokee that was parked in the fire lane outside Gibbs Hall. After several requests from the officer to stop were unheeded, the officer caught up with Vereen, the report states.

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Alcohol And Pregnancy: Know The Facts

2008-02-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

The recent news story "Can Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol in Moderation?", which aired on ABC's Good Morning America Weekend, has created tremendous confusion among women about the safety of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) strongly urges women not to ignore the public health warnings associated with consuming alcohol while pregnant.

ACOG is concerned that this television segment disseminated a potentially dangerous and mixed message to pregnant women. According to ACOG, patients who saw the show are asking their ob-gyns for clarification about whether moderate-or even light-drinking will impact the health of their baby. Therefore, ACOG reiterates its long-standing position that no amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe during pregnancy.

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