Released on: October 13, 2008, 1:20 pm

Press Release Author: Melissa Haddow - Executive Director

Industry: -- Choose an Industry --

Press Release Summary: Prescription and over the counter (OTC) medicine abuse among
teens is on the rise. As a result, Cafe Prevention has raised awareness and
develops drug prevention resources in the form of posters and postcards to help
communities combat these issues.

Press Release Body: Springfield, MO -- It will come as no surprise to those in the
prevention arena, or those that work with youth, that teen prescription and over the
counter (OTC) medicine abuse continues to escalate and poses a significant threat to
the safety and well being of our children. Cafe Prevention
(http://www.cafeprevention.com) aims to help address this issue through the new
release of posters and postcards targeting teens, as well as a second postcard
targeting adults and parents on the dangers of prescription and OTC medicine abuse.


With titles such as "A Safer High?" and "The Problem is Not Always This Obvious,"
these new, eye-catching and hard hitting drug abuse prevention materials are
designed to provide factual and user-friendly information to help raise the level of
awareness among both parents and teens.

Cafe Prevention works to provide community coalitions, schools, civic and health
organizations, as well as youth organizations and ministries with prevention
education resources on underage drinking information, gangs and youth violence
prevention programs, substance abuse facts, and ways to encourage teen resiliency.
Each of Cafe Prevention's drug and alcohol awareness materials, including their most
recently created postcards and posters are affordable and compelling; thus, enabling
community partnerships and those who work with youth to easily obtain these
resources that help reduce youth engagement in negative behaviors and encourage
teens to reach their highest potential.

The latest drug prevention posters and postcards developed by Cafe Prevention are
critical in raising the awareness of prescription and over the counter drug abuse.
Studies report that 1 in 5 teens are abusing prescription medicines and 1 in 10 are
abusing cough and cold medicines to get high. According to SAMHSA, there are as
many first time new abusers, ages12 and over, of prescription drugs as there are
marijuana users. Many teens feel that abuse of prescription and OTC medicines are
less harmful than alcohol or illegal drugs and are a safer way to relieve anxiety,
depression, and/or help them feel "good" or less stressed. However, there are very
real risks to misusing these medicines, resulting in overdose or even death.

However, prescription medicine abuse and the use of OTC medicines to get high by
teens is not yet really on the radar screen of most adults, but it needs to be.
Fortunately, with Cafe Prevention's new posters and postcards, communities are able
to begin increasing awareness around this issue. The posters are the perfect size
to be displayed in schools, physician's offices, youth serving organizations, and
elevators. On the other hand, the convenient postcard format allows them to be
easily mailed to parents or handed out in a variety of settings including libraries,
workplaces, PTA's, health fairs, sports events, faith congregations, and emergency
rooms - the possibilities are endless.

Teens are attracted to pharmaceuticals since they are legal and easy to obtain from
home medicine cabinets, family members, friends, and over the Internet, or in the
case of cough and cold medicines, right in their local grocery or convenience store.
They are also cheaper than illegal drugs. Furthermore, youth often bring pills to
school and trade them, and 'pharming' parties - the trading of prescription and
cough and cold pills that are then ingested by the handful and oftentimes mixed with
alcohol - are more common that one might think.

Designed to deliver critical information in an engaging format, the latest
materials, in addition to the extensive resources available on Cafe Prevention.com,
form the basis for many educational campaigns in communities around the country.
Cafe Prevention.com is a community's source for high quality prevention materials
designed to improve the health and well-being of our youth. For more information or
to place an order, please visit http://www.cafeprevention.com.


Web Site: http://www.cafeprevention.com

Contact Details: CafePrevention.com
Melissa Haddow - Executive Director
330 North Jefferson Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
Tel: 417-888-2020
mhaddow@commpartnership.org
http://www.cafeprevention.com