House, Senate Eliminate Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program

The House voted to eliminate the State Grants portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) program on July 24^th, and included $195 million for the national programs portion, an increase of $54.7 million from the FY 2009 level.

On Thursday, July 30^th the Senate Appropriations committee also voted to eliminate the State Grants portion of the SDFSC program, and recommended $224.9 million for the national programs portion, an increase of $84.6 million. The Full Senate has not yet voted to pass this legislation.

Feds Uproot Marijuana Farming in California

Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, reaffirmed in Fresno, Calif., the Obama administration's efforts to shut down marijuana farming and said the US wouldn't support the legalization of marijuana.

"Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine," Kerlikowske told the Fresno Bee.

Marijuana is of particular interest in Fresno County, California, where it's big business. Raids over the past two weeks have netted marijuana plants worth upward of $1.26 billion and 82 arrests. Mexican drug cartels are involved in the marijuana farming, police said.

CMCA Advanced Training Registration Continues

Registration is open for the Advanced CMCA training Aug. 6-7 at the Marshall County Family Resource Network, 324 7th St., Moundsville, WV.

The cost is $20 for both days, lunch included. A registration form is here.

Compliance Check's Success Makes Local TV Newscast

Marshall County Family Resource Network substance abuse prevention director Latrisha Whitelatch and the county's successes in reducing underage drinking were featured prominently in WTRF-TV's local newscasts Wednesday and Thursday.

Whitelatch appeared in a D.K. Wright story about how fewer Marshall County retailers are selling alcohol to minors, as discovered in the recent compliance checks. A year ago, there were 45 of 48 sales of alcohol to minors in undercover checks by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department. This year so far only 11% of Marshall County retailers have sold alcohol to minors.

The story, featuring an interview conducted Wednesday afternoon in the Marshall County Family Resource Network's offices in Moundsville, appeared as the second story in the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on Wednesday as well as 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. newscasts on Thursday. Unfortunately, the video is not available online but Wright's story is available in printed form on the WTRF Website.

California Takes on Inhalant Abuse

n California, there's a renewed emphasis on the dangers of inhalants among middle school age children.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the California Assembly is working on a bill to limit the sales of small canisters. In Los Angeles and elsewhere, there have been reports of children as young as 11 and 12 who have passed out from using inhalants of nitrous oxide. It's considered a gateway drug; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that 12- and 13-year-olds abuse inhalants more than they abuse marijuana.

Unfortunately, it's been an issue here in Marshall County as well. Two Ohio men were arrested in the spring in Moundsville on inhalant-abuse related charges. Back then, the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition and the Marshall County Family Resource Network introduced a media campaign through the local newspapers and our Website about the dangers of inhalants and what parents could do to look for signs of that type of abuse.

Inhalant abuse can be deadly. It's so dangerous that three out of 10 inhalant-related deaths occur on first time use. West Virginia has the highest rate among the 50 states of high school students who reported using inhalants at least once (20.4%). It's a misdemeanor offense here.