If unused and expired medi-cations are cluttering up your cabinets, consider safely disposing of them at the Webster City Hy-Vee parking lot on June 5th.

Building upon the Webster City Clean Up Days, Hy-Vee, Webster City Police Dept, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Dept. and Power Up YOUth are working together in the TakeAway Program to safely dispose of unwanted or ex-pired medications from 10:00 AM to noon on June 5. People are asked to drive through the TakeAway sta-tion in the parking lot to dispose of medications in a way that helps the environ-ment and prevents the mis-use or abuse of drugs.

People may drop off un-wanted prescription medica-tions and over the counter

pills, ointments, powders, inhalers, creams, and lotions. Medications may be from any pharmacy, including mail-order pharmacies. Only liquid medications of 4 ounces or less will be ac-cepted if the container is wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a zip lock plas-tic bag.

Controlled substances will be accepted on June 5th as well as other medications. Most pharmacies have boxes for uncontrolled substance for drop offs at their custom-ers’ convenience. Examples of controlled substances include Adderall, Vicodin, Demerol, Hydrocodone, MS Contin, and Ambien.

Products should be left in the packaging the medica-tion was dispensed in. This will provide a means of dis-

posing of the packaging, con-tain and protect the medication in transit, minimize any exposure, and is also one of the requirements of the transporter. Prescription labels must be left on the container to determine if the product is a controlled sub-stance. Patient names may be left on the label. No ef-fort will be made to collect the names of participants and the container will be incinerated with the medica-tions.

Flushing prescriptions or placing them in landfills compromises the quality of our water supply. Keeping medicines in the home in-creases the chances of teen-agers, elderly, pets, or others misusing or abusing them.

Volume 3: Issue 8 April 17, 2010

Power Up YOUth

It was through Ann Stew-art’s connections that we learned of the need for Diversity training for Pre-school staff. Her know-ledge about the training requirements and net-work of providers was

key in making the training a success.

She also worked with the coalition coordina-tor to

ensure that the alcohol and teen pregnancy pre-vention work plans were aligned for the wise use of resources.

Thank you Ann for your contributions to the coali-tion and our community.

Got unwanted Meds?

Very Involved Person : Ann Stewart

Power Pulse

Who is our audience? 2

Ads & Fair message 2

Ads & Addicts 3

Brian Hughes, CoP 3

Good-bye Disgusting 4

What’s up 4

Inside this issue:

April

Contributions Volunteers logged in

more than

32 hours

valued at $640

Contribution of

materials and

services totaled

$15,815.55.

versations in focus groups and individ-ual interviews with representatives from each of the above groups to gain per-spectives that guide us in implementing prevention strategies.

Parents are crucial partners in reducing access and shaping attitudes toward

drinking. Parental monitoring and supervision are key protec-tive factors in reducing under-age drinking. Parents are im-portant role models for alcohol use and gate keepers to alco-hol access within their own homes for their children. Their parenting skills can impact the ability of youth to avoid risky behaviors and engage in pro-social activities within their family and community.

While most youth obtain their alcohol from home or older

friends, there are times when they seek it from alcohol retailers. Therefore, Power Up YOUth seeks ways they can support one another in reducing youth access and retailers’ losses from fines and stolen property through responsi-

Underage drinking is a complex, persis-tent, and profound problem. There is no one single solution or intervention that will be effective. In successfully solving the problem, we must target the entire Hamilton County population. Therefore multiple strategies and activities are needed to make a global change.

Power Up YOUth works with adults to enhance barriers to access and to moni-tor and supervise youth. These adults will include parents, alcohol retailers, and law enforcement, and legal systems. Power Up YOUth has held in depth con-

ble retailers associations

A cost effective and long lasting method of influencing minor access to alcohol is through changing policies through the legislative system. Power Up YOUth is advocating on the local and state level for a social host policy that provide inhibiting consequences for those who give minors access to alcohol. Yet passing laws without the buy-in from those who enforce them brings unreliable results.

We know that consistent consequences from law enforcement play an impor-tant role in prevention. Yet, time and resources are limited commodities and underage drinking is not always the highest priority when it comes to the public safety. Power Up YOUth seeks to find ways that support law enforcement efforts to discourage minor consump-tion without burdening their resources with strategies like funding for TIPS training and a voluntary alcohol retail-ers support associations.

With the message from Jean Kil-bourne, keynote speaker at the Risky Business, still in the minds of many of the board members, they quickly decided that alcohol advertising should be the main focus of our mes-sage during the Hamilton County Fair.

Below and the side are spoofs of well known products by Adbusters Quar-terly

P A G E 2

Who is our audience/Partners?

Truth in Advertising and the Hamilton County Fair

V O L U M E 3 : I S S U E 8

Relying on the kindness of Corporate American does not work. The alcohol industries are profiting from addictions that cause harm to individuals and ulti-mately society. The alcohol industry must create addicts. Their bottom line depends upon it. According to Jean Kilbourne, a pioneer researcher in the effects of advertising on youth and pub-lic health, “If all people in the United States drank at safe levels, the alcohol industry’s sales would be cut by 80%.” So the industry targets people who believe they are immortal, kids.

We Americans hold in high es-teem those who are self sufficient; independent of others. We like to think that we control our individ-ual destinies. We seldom look to our environment as an influence upon our behaviors. Nearly all of us would deny that advertise-ments really affect our choices. Yet Wall Street knows differently.

They know that increasing adver-tisements increases consumption. The alcohol and tobacco industries must advertise because their users have short-ened life spans , thus must be replaced. Unfortunate for them--and for youth--the typical adult does not decide to start a life shortening behavior after the age of 20. So these companies target youth. The average age that youth begin drink-

ing remains at age 13 and binge drinking, defined as drinking five or more drinks of alcohol in one setting, is rising—-especially among high school girls. Marketing to youth is effective in creating addicted consumers for the alcohol industry’s long term profits.

We can no longer say that the poor

choices of individuals are the sole causes of addictions. FACE markets a saying, “Holding youth solely responsible for un-derage drinking is like holding fish re-sponsible for dying in a polluted stream.” Too many youth are drowning in the alcohol in our homes and communities and we have been rescuing them by

His philosophy is that police should be seen as members of the community and viewed as people, not as uniforms. He wants to eliminate the perception of police being on the outside watching over everyone, or an “us” and “them” mentality. He spoke about his personal experience of how a few people in Marco Island led a successful change effort to make law officers seen as re-spected and supported members of the community.

One of Chief Hughes biggest barriers to engaging in change efforts is the cur-rent budget constraints on the city.

It was in that light that Wirtz and Get-ting shared with Chief Hughes local

Coalition members met recently with Brian Hughes, the new Webster City Police Chief, to listen to his philosophy on law enforcement and share our data and desires for positive youth develop-ment.

Chief Hughes has experienced law en-forcement in many different communi-ties, from upscale Marco Island in Flor-ida, to mountainous rural Wyoming and urban Pennsylvania. At one time he was a school liaison officer.

One of the things that impressed Chief Hughes about Webster City was the friendliness of its people. He says it was a deciding factor in choosing to accept the position which began May 3.

drug data and possible interventions where law enforcement might play a role.

Chief Hughes responded by volunteer-ing necessary law enforcement person-nel to take part in a controlled sub-stance medication take-back program that includes controlled substances on June 5.

Wirtz and Getting also informed him of our desire to bring an anonymous tex-ting tip hotline to the county and a so-cial host ordinance to Webster City. We found him amiable and willing to listen. We look forward to working with him to promote safe and strong kids in a safe and strong community.

P A G E 3

Advs and addictions

New Police Chief Introduced to coalition

V O L U M E 3 : I S S U E 8

throwing ropes so they can pull them-selves onto dry land. It’s time for us to address the problem by going upstream to divert the source of the flood. And we can’t rely on corporate America to do it for the common good.

We can’t rely on the kindness of strang-ers in the board room, but we can spark

the will of the common man to do what’s right. Kilbourne sug-gests that we

raise taxes on alcohol sales and

use the funds to teach media literacy in schools,

no longer allow alcohol companies to be the sole pub-lic educators about alcohol by creating counter advertise-ments,

become more aware of our own attitudes toward drinking,

redefine the media mes-sage that drinking is a freedom. Let the message state that drinking is a behav-ior that might lead to addiction, vio-lence, or injury.

Are you throwing out a life preserver or stopping the flood at the cause?

509 Division St Webster City, IA 50595

This program is for boys and girls ages 9 through 14. December 31, 2010 deter-mines the child’s age to participate. The meet will be held at the Webster City High School Track. Registration and entry forms need to be filled out and turned into Fuller Hall by Thursday, May 27th. There is no cost for the program. The winner of each event may partici-pate in the State Hershey Track Meet on Saturday, June 12th held at the Marshall-town High School Track. For further information call Fuller Hall at 832-9193.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TakeAway Project

Date: June 5 Time: 10:00 am—noon Location: WC Hy-Vee Parking Lot Bring your unwanted medications, in-cluding controlled substances to have

Introduction to Geocaching Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010 Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm Location: Briggs Woods Park - Shelter #1 in the campground Chad Chapman and John Laird will present information on Geocaching basics. Next we will practice finding both temporary and permanent geo-cache locations throughout the park. We have a limited number of GPS units, so you can bring your own or share with someone. To register call us at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net

*******************************

Local Hershey Track Meet Date: May 28 Time: 4:00 PM field events begin, track events follow

them safely disposed. Bring medica-tions in original containers. Only liquids in amounts of 4 oz or less will be ac-cepted. There is no cost for disposing of medications. Safe disposal of medica-tions helps our environment and pre-vents misuse.

******************************* Boone Valley Ikes Family Fishing Con-test

Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010 Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Location: Briggs Woods Lake Family fishing event for all ages. Regis-tration will be at the south boat ramp. Contact 515-310-0088 with questions.

What’s Up?

Phone: 515-832-5432 ext 1411 Fax: 515-832-3221 E-mail: kgetting@udmo.com www.powerupyouth.org www.wordpress.powerupyouth.com

All Hamilton County youth will thrive

Power Up YOUth

Artist: Jordan Homesley Webster City Middle School Student

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

John F. Kennedy , US president