Keeping Teens Drug & Alcohol Free in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood & Riverwoods
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In this issue: | Drugged Driving | Prepared for the Unexpected (video) |
Cyber Security Resources
| 60 Second Conversation Starter | Join CTAD!
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Drugged Driving
By Lou Jogmen, Chief of Police, City of Highland Park
Fast Facts:
Clinical studies have shown that marijuana significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time, and these studies have found a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability.
Driving while impaired by any substance, including marijuana, is dangerous. And, t
he risk of impaired driving associated with marijuana in combination with alcohol appears to be greater than that for either by itself.
Marijuana, like alcohol, negatively affects a number of skills required for safe driving, in the following ways:
- Slowing a driver's reaction time and ability to make decisions
- Impairing coordination and distorting perception
- Memory loss and difficulty in problem-solving
Recommendations:
As cannabis becomes easier to access and the State of Illinois considers legalization of recreational marijuana, we need to be concerned with not only the
effect of marijuana legalization on our youth but on how law enforcement officers confront the challenges they face in identifying drivers who are impaired. Officers currently do not have a simple and effective way to detect drug impairment when they pull motorists over.
A number of innovators are working to identify a method which would measure the level where cannabis impairment could legally be implied. Companies are developing breathalyzer-type devices that detect the concentration of THC in the breath, and some departments are already testing mouth-swabs to identify marijuana impairment.
In the meantime, departments should work to train more officers in the 16-hour, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) course. ARIDE trains law enforcement officers to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both.
Law enforcement and safety experts need to work together in order to reduce the number of impaired driving incidents and crashes which result in serious injuries and fatalities. Public safety is of utmost importance to the City of Highland Park and our Police Department is committed to continued dialogue on this matter, education and proactive efforts for the betterment of our community.
Chief Lou Jogmen
Highland Park Police Department, City of Highland Park
CTAD Coalition Member
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Prepared for the Unexpected
The majority of teens in our communities choose to be drug free. This public service announcement (PSA) highlights how this choice helps them stay alert and safe on the road.
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Sober Passover Seder
North Shore Congregation Israel is hosting a sober Passover Seder on April 20th, the second night of Passover. This alcohol-free experiential Seder (Passover meal and ritual) is intended for all who are journeying toward recovery, those in recovery, and their loved ones and allies, to celebrate Passover in a safe environment among others who speak the language of recovery.
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Shining a Light on the Dark Web
Program Resources
Did you miss last month's informative parent program on ways to keep teens safe on the internet and how they might be accessing the dark web?
If so, you're still in luck! Presenter Carol Gudbrandsen from the Cyber/White Collar Crimes Division of the Lake County State's Attorney's Office provided a list of
Cyber Security Resources
for parents to learn more. A parent volunteer has also offered to share her notes. Just call 224-765-2823 to request them.
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A 60 Second Conversation Starter
Continuing the Conversation with an Older Teen
While most DHS & HPHS students perceive that their parents think it's wrong for them to smoke marijuana, a lower percentage of parents are talking to their teens about staying drug-free.
- 85% of 9th-12th graders think their parents believe it is wrong for them to smoke marijuana, but only 65% of those students said their parents have talked to them about it in the last year (2018 Illinois Youth Survey)
- 98% of freshmen/sophomore parents feel it is wrong for their kids to use marijuana as compared to 86% of senior parents (2018 parent survey)
Even when your child is a high school junior or senior, it's important for parents/guardians to continue the conversation about making healthy choices and staying drug free. Talk to them about how marijuana use impacts their brain development -- which isn't complete until their mid-twenties. Remind them of their future goals and how drug use can affect whether or not they reach them.
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When your teen says: "Marijuana is a plant and it's natural. How harmful could it be?" You can respond with: "Not all plants are necessarily healthy for you (like cocaine or heroin) so I'd much rather you find healthier ways to cope with difficult or uncomfortable feelings than using marijuana. Can we brainstorm some ideas?"
It's not one 60-minute conversation.
It's 60 one-minute conversations.
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Support our Efforts
CTAD's goal is to build and sustain a drug-free community in which youth feel protected, confident and empowered to make healthy choices. We strive to transform the environment around our youth to help make the drug-free choice the easy choice.
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Community - The Anti-Drug is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that consists of community members working together to build a safe, healthy & drug-free environment for our youth. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN number: 451631475.
Text-a-Tip: 24/7 anonymous support for students who need help for themselves or a friend. To connect with a trained counselor, download the app "Lake County Help" in the
Apple Store
or
Google Play
. You can also text the code "224HELP" or "224AYUDAME" to 844-823-LEAD (5323).
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Community -- The Anti-Drug Coalition | 224-765-CTAD (224-765-2823)
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Community -- The Anti-Drug (CTAD) strives to build and sustain a safe and drug-free community that empowers youth to make healthy choices. The coalition is comprised of parents, youth, schools, local government, law enforcement, clergy, and healthcare providers who work together to reduce substance use and abuse among youth in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood and Riverwoods, Illinois.
Grants have been generously provided by the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park, YEA! Highland Park, Highland Park Community Foundation, and the Highland Park Human Relations Commission. This newsletter was developed in part under grant number SP021482 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of ONDCP, SAMSHA or HHS and should not be construed as such.
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