Keith Humphreys spoke no Arabic. He also knew little of Iraqi culture. Nonetheless when offered a position as the lead U.S. adviser to Iraq on addiction issues, he decided to take on the challenge. "I'm of the belief that if you want to be useful, when opportunities come along, you have to take them," Humphreys said. An associate professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Humphreys specializes in addiction. But he was still surprised to learn that stigmas around addiction are reversed in Iraq, compared to the United States. While heroin and opium usage are accepted, alcohol is not. [continues 1332 words]
Community Coalitions Take Up The Fight Where Schools Leave Off. The Approach Allows People To Tackle Issues Specific To Where They Live. Until recently, most communities combated drug use with a two-pronged attack: Schools educated young people about the dangers, and police arrested violators. But across Orange County, residents are finding a third way. By joining together in small groups and coalitions, parents, educators and others are finding success in spreading the anti-drug message around their neighborhoods. "Research over the last 20 years has shown that the most successful prevention efforts are those that are community-based," said Robin Knox, project director for Community Service Programs Project PATH. A nonprofit organization, CSP Project PATH has helped put together several neighborhood coalitions. Education was once deemed the primary means for prevention, Knox said. But researchers have found that education only goes so far. Community organizations can personalize issues and address problems specific to their neighborhoods, he said. [continues 599 words]
* Experts warn that binge drinking is a serious problem among college students because some fail to realize that alcohol is a poison that can kill. Having a few too many drinks can mean more than just a blackout or a bad hangover. People who engage in binge drinking--some without even realizing it--are courting danger, experts warn. Binge drinking is most common at colleges and universities, where many young adults treat drinking to excess as a rite of passage. "Binge drinking is a problem on every campus," said Joe Kertes, vice president and dean of students at Chapman University in Orange. [continues 1128 words]
