Alcohol and Drug Use

Have You Heard? Facts From The Field is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to provide CDC and the field with facts and news from state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies. We invite you to read and share this information broadly.

View the Current Have You Heard?

September 24, 2014

The Big Cities Health Coalition, a project of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, is a forum for 20 leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies to protect the health and safety of the 46 million people they serve.
Denver Public Health is waging a prescription drug abuse outreach and awareness campaign [PDF 251KB] to educate residents; make the opioid antidote naloxone (Narcan) more accessible; and improve data collection by housing RADARS®, a national prescription drug surveillance system.
The Boston Public Health Commission has trained more than 3,200 people to administer Narcan. Boston also has take-back kiosksfor unused or expired medication; several community outreach initiatives; and PAATHS (Providing Access to Addictions Treatment and Hope), a clearinghouse for information about addiction services.

March 7, 2012

Recreational designer drugs sold as "bath salts" have been legislatively banned in at least 30 states as of February 2012.
The Michigan Department of Community Health used its chemical poisoning regulations to mandate statewide reporting by hospitals of possible new cases of "bath salts" intoxication.
The Northern New England Poison Center offers free recorded webinars on bath salts and provides continuing education credits for some health care professionals.

January 18, 2012

Approximately 1 out of 11 alcohol radio ads in 75 local markets aired on programs with disproportionately large youth audiences in 2009.
The New Mexico Department of Health provided data that informed the state's decision to change liquor regulations to help reduce alcohol service to underage youth and intoxicated patrons.
The Michigan Department of Community Health is partnering with the Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition — consisting of government, private, educational, and religious organizations — to help reduce alcohol service to underage youth and intoxicated patrons at fairs and festivals.

November 10, 2011

Over 35 states now have operational prescription drug monitoring programs that track abuseable medications.
Operation UNITE has been working since 2003 to prevent prescription drug abuse in eastern Kentucky by empowering and mobilizing communities.
Washington and Utah have developed clinical guidelines to help healthcare providers prescribe prescription painkillers appropriately.

October 13, 2011

Approximately 60 lives were saved in one year when Georgia combined sobriety checkpoints with publicized enforcemenT programs.
Connecticut's high-visibility sobriety checkpoint campaign saved the lives of nearly 30 men ages 21-34 in a year and a half.
An ignition interlock law and increased interlock use in New Mexico were associated with a 30% reduction in impaired driving crashes and offender re-arrests.