As more and more veterans return home and enroll in college, it will be crucial that health educators on campus be prepared with knowledge and empathy to help them with unique concerns.
What are campuses currently doing in this area? Do you have plans to expand professional development for staff/peer educators? Will you ramp-up services in your wellness center to provide extra assistance to servicemen and servicewomen? Please share ideas with other affiliates so that we can continue to learn from one another.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Warn ROTC Students about the Dangers of Binge Drinking
Over 16,000 active-military personnel were surveyed in 2005 to determine their health-related behaviors, and 43% of respondents reported binge drinking over the past month. The average binge drinker did so 30 times per year, and two-thirds of all binge-drinking episodes were by personnel between 17 and 25 years old. Not surprisingly, binge drinkers were much more likely to have job performance issues and drive while impaired.
Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol poisoning, which is deadly. The brain begins to shut down involuntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate, sometimes resulting in death. The amount of alcohol that causes alcohol poisoning is different for every person. It is not possible to accurately predict for each person what amount will cause them to overdose.
While binge drinking is a danger for everyone on campus, this study shows campuses should consider targeted outreach and education to ROTC students. Check out http://www.friendsdrivesober.org/ for programming ideas. The Alcohol Poisoning Response Kit is another useful resource.
Source: Medical News Today
-posted by Chris Miller
Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol poisoning, which is deadly. The brain begins to shut down involuntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate, sometimes resulting in death. The amount of alcohol that causes alcohol poisoning is different for every person. It is not possible to accurately predict for each person what amount will cause them to overdose.
While binge drinking is a danger for everyone on campus, this study shows campuses should consider targeted outreach and education to ROTC students. Check out http://www.friendsdrivesober.org/ for programming ideas. The Alcohol Poisoning Response Kit is another useful resource.
Source: Medical News Today
-posted by Chris Miller
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Haunting of Scare Tactics
A recently released study details the health status of hundreds of so-called “crack babies” from the late 80s/early 90s. For those old enough to remember, “crack babies” were a major topic of health discussion during those years. Not only that, but they were also used as a tool of propaganda in the War on Drugs. Common were prophecies of an entire generation of children with severe mental impairment and lingering health issues. This was an accepted, terrifying “truth” with a strong undertone of morality.
Article: http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2009/crack-had-little-long-term.html
Fast-forward 20 years to check in on these now-grown-up children. As it turns out, their health problems have been relatively minimal, at least much less than the original scare tactic had implied. The biggest factor in the health of these children appears related to the overall socioeconomic status of their mothers and the mothers’ ability to take care of themselves through proper nutrition, hydration and exercise. Certainly, crack and cocaine have wreaked havoc on many, many lives, and in this case, parenting ability has suffered. But the lingering images we had, and the assumptions that were made (thankfully) have not materialized.
There is a lesson here about credibility, scare tactics and fear in general. Hopefully we have learned to avoid trumpeting a health epidemic for which we have little concrete evidence. The public takes note of exaggerations and fears that do not come to pass. As with any brand (and, yes, “public health” is a brand), credibility is paramount. People want to know that you/we will deliver on our promises and that we will be honest with them. Creating anxiety in hopes that it will motivate people to change or abstain from a behavior is simply a poor way to promote health.
-posted by Tad Spencer
Article: http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2009/crack-had-little-long-term.html
Fast-forward 20 years to check in on these now-grown-up children. As it turns out, their health problems have been relatively minimal, at least much less than the original scare tactic had implied. The biggest factor in the health of these children appears related to the overall socioeconomic status of their mothers and the mothers’ ability to take care of themselves through proper nutrition, hydration and exercise. Certainly, crack and cocaine have wreaked havoc on many, many lives, and in this case, parenting ability has suffered. But the lingering images we had, and the assumptions that were made (thankfully) have not materialized.
There is a lesson here about credibility, scare tactics and fear in general. Hopefully we have learned to avoid trumpeting a health epidemic for which we have little concrete evidence. The public takes note of exaggerations and fears that do not come to pass. As with any brand (and, yes, “public health” is a brand), credibility is paramount. People want to know that you/we will deliver on our promises and that we will be honest with them. Creating anxiety in hopes that it will motivate people to change or abstain from a behavior is simply a poor way to promote health.
-posted by Tad Spencer
Monday, February 2, 2009
Great American Spit Out
Based on the success of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, health professionals created the Great American Spit Out, an annual celebration that coincides with Through with Chew Week (the third full week of February). This day encourages those that use spit/smokeless tobacco to quit for a day or longer. Tobacco companies are looking to expand their smokeless tobacco market, so campuses need to be ready.Through with Chew Week 2009: February 15 - 21
Great American Spit Out: February 19
Don’t know much about spit tobacco? No problem! Here are a few items that can help your peer educators, staff, and campus population.
Visit http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/store/ for more details.
Spit It Out “program-in-a-box”: This set comes complete with a PowerPoint presentation (ready to integrate into “clicker” software), a facilitator’s guide, brochures, and quit kits. Perfect for educating student groups, athletic teams, or a tobacco task force!
Quit the Spit pamphlets: This pamphlet is a quick and easy guide to the health effects of spit tobacco and tips for quitting. Be sure your health and wellness centers have these on hand.
Spit Quit Kits: These re-sealable bags contain a Quit the Spit pamphlet, a Medications Options pamphlet, sugar-free gum, toothpicks, and tips for quitting. Feel free to add items to these kits to make them more campus/community specific.
The BACCHUS Tobacco Store also has lots of promotional items to help boost interest in your Spit Out events. Choose from toothpicks, sunflower seeds, gum, pens, water bottles, and more.
You can also download the Tobacco Materials Catalog here: http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/documents/TobaccoCatalog08-09.pdf
Happy programming!
-posted by Tad Spencer
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