News : Area Substance Abuse Council offers update on variety of programs

At ASAC we are constantly working to reduce substance use and abuse in the community. In order to accomplish this task, prevention specialists are working with community members and professionals to address substance issues on many fronts. The following are a few highlights of the committees that have been formed to address substance use issues.

The Paraphernalia Committee is continuing to gather information and feedback from the community about concerns regarding non-traditional tobacco paraphernalia that is accessible to youth in our community. In July, the State of Iowa recently began implementing a new law restricting the sale of alternative nicotine products and vaporizers to those 18 and older. You must be 18 to purchase products that contain tobacco. As a community it is important that we send a clear and consistent message to our youth not just about the dangers of using tobacco, but the dangers associated with using paraphernalia.

Our ACES Committee is working on an event called the Art of ACES. This event is being planned for April 18th at the main public library from 2-4pm. The group is also sharing their resources with other in the group. Look for more information on this event in the future.

The Project Safer Committee continues to expand, now representing several law enforcement agencies, a major alcohol distributor, a large security firm, an insurance agency, and a diverse group of business owners. The committee has provided some beneficial feedback, and efforts to both standardize and improve alcohol service policies have begun.

The Prescription Drug Abuse Committee has been working to get the message out to the general public that 9 drug drop boxes exist within Linn, Benton, and Jones counties. These are boxes where anyone can bring unused or unwanted prescription drugs to dispose of in the drop boxes. The committee is creating a toolkit that will hopefully be used in doctor’s offices across the counties to promote the drop boxes and locking up medications at home.

The Tobacco Committee is currently working with Linn County communities to adopt Tobacco Free Parks and Playgrounds ordinances. The ordinance is intended decrease tobacco use and waste, so that the park may be more inviting to community members while limiting the negative impact on youth. The group will also be working with Linn County businesses to modify tobacco use policies in a manner that further promotes the business’ wellness efforts.

The Social Host Committee continues to engage in conversations with Linn County community members about underage drinking and the benefits of social host laws. Social Host laws are intended to hold adults financially responsible if they choose to allow underage age persons to consume alcohol on their property. Beyond drawing valuable information from these brief meetings, the committee is gathering letters of support.