Archive | Resources

Social Host laws in the County of San Diego

Posted on 17 October 2022 by Monica Zech

Social Host Ordinances

social host reporting info
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department aims to provide you with the highest quality of public safety service. Part of this mission is keeping your children safe. We are committed to preventing underage drinking/marijuana use and saving lives. We want to raise awareness of this critical issue by providing information on this page about the risks of underage drinking/marijuana use and Social Host laws in the County of San Diego.

State law prohibits minors under the age of 21 from purchasing, possessing, or consuming marijuana. Adult use between the ages of 18 and 21 is only allowed with a medicinal marijuana card, yet according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:

  • Many teens believe that marijuana is safer than alcohol or other drugs
  • Regular use of marijuana can lead to significant problems, including Cannabis Use Disorder and withdrawal can interfere with other activities
  • Pictures below of parties providing alcohol to minors:

police breaking up a partybeer pongkegsalcohol on counter

Short-term use of marijuana can lead to:

  • School difficulties
  • Problems with memory and concentration
  • Increased aggression
  • Car accidents
  • Use of other drugs or alcohol
  • Risky sexual behaviors
  • Worsening of underlying mental health conditions, including mood changes and suicidal thinking
  • Increased risk of psychosis
  • Interference with prescribed medication

State law prohibits minors under age 21 from purchasing, possessing, or consuming alcohol, yet a report from the American Medical Association finds:

  • 2 out of 3 teens said it was easy to get alcohol
  • 1 in 3 said it was easy to get alcohol from their own consenting parents
  • 2 out of 5 said it was easy to get alcohol from a friend’s parents
  • 1 in 4 said they’d attended a party where youth under 21 were drinking in front of parents

A study from the American Medical Association also shows underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen car crashes, which is the leading cause of death among teenagers. Well-meaning parents often host drinking parties on behalf of their children, but these gatherings can quickly spiral out of control. Hosting at home doesn’t change the facts or lessen the dangers of:

  • social host graphic
  • Alcohol poisonings
  • Brain damage
  • Chronic alcohol addiction
  • Car crashes
  • Property damage
  • Community disturbance
  • Risky sexual behavior and sexual assault
  • Fighting
  • Accidental injuries due to falls or poor judgment

Social Host brochure

A “Social Host” is anyone who knowingly hosts parties where minors are provided alcohol or marijuana on property that adults own, lease, or otherwise controls. A Social Host ordinance assigns responsibility to those who knew or should have known minors were consuming alcohol or marijuana on their property.

Anyone hosting a party is required to:

  • Verify the age of guests
  • Control access to alcohol or marijuana for those under 21
  • Supervise minors

Anyone allowing minors (under 21) to drink alcohol or ingest marijuana in any form will be held accountable and may be:

  • Cited/arrested
  • Fined up to $1,000 or more
  • Serve up to six months in jail
  • Billed for law enforcement services

Social Host Ordinance Documents

Start Smart

Report Social Host Violations

Report Social Host violations to:

  • Sheriff’s Department: 858-565-5200
  • Students Speaking Out Hotline: 888-580-8477

Resources

Comments Off on Social Host laws in the County of San Diego

Fentanyl Poisoning – It’s Killing Kids/Teens

Posted on 15 October 2022 by Monica Zech

The Critical Risks of Fentanyl Poisoning – It’s Killing Kids/Teens

There’s a growing crisis across the country, and most parents are still unaware of the dangers to their kids.

Fentanyl poisoning is killing kids — in every neighborhood and school.

There are too many stories in the news featuring young people killed by fentanyl poisoning. But, unfortunately, it’s not just happening to kids you think are ‘bad’ or ‘troubled.’ It’s happening in middle schools across America.

The Risks of Fentanyl Poisoning To Teens – NaturalHigh.org

The following link relates to the Fentanyl issue in a news story that occurred Friday evening, November 4, 2022. The responding officers had been trained to use NARCAN; without it, the two teens would have died.

https://abc7.com/los-angeles-sheriffs-department-teens-given-narcan-duarte-teenangers-rescued/12421348/

CDC – Centers for Disease Control

DEA Warns of Brightly-Colored Fentanyl Used to Target Young Americans

DEA Warns of Brightly-Colored Fentanyl Used to Target Young Americans

Comments Off on Fentanyl Poisoning – It’s Killing Kids/Teens

Be Informed on the Dangers of Drugs

Posted on 14 October 2022 by Monica Zech

Be Informed When it Comes to the Dangers of Drugs

Information from the Experts:

DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration

Fentanyl Awareness (dea.gov)

https://www.dea.gov/factsheets

CDC – Centers for Disease Control

https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/polysubstance-use/

The FACTS About Fentanyl

https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. As a result, it is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.

There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Doctors prescribe pharmaceutical fentanyl to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. In addition, it is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.

*The Critical Risks of Fentanyl Poisoning – It’s Killing Kids

The Risks of Fentanyl Poisoning To Teens – NaturalHigh.org

 

Comments Off on Be Informed on the Dangers of Drugs

Dangers of Drunk Driving, Drowsy Driving, and Distracted Driving

Posted on 16 May 2022 by Monica Zech

Taking a Look At The Dangers of Drunk Driving, Drowsy Driving, and Distracted Driving.

A research article from Injury Trial Lawyers Meirowitz & Wasserberg in New York, compares the dangers of drunk driving, drowsy driving, and distracted driving. Not surprisingly, they are all terrifyingly dangerous often resulting in injury and death on our roadways.

To see these articles, as well as some specific statistics and details about drunk driving, click on the link below:

samndan.com/drunk-vs-drowsy-vs-distracted-driving/

Comments Off on Dangers of Drunk Driving, Drowsy Driving, and Distracted Driving

Alcohol, Depression, and Intervention – Resources

Posted on 07 February 2022 by Monica Zech

Find Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You – A Variety of Resources Provided Below:

If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction to drugs and alcohol, get the help you need today. We will find a top-rated treatment program.

https://www.addictionresource.net/ 

 

From the “Addiction Experts,” a helpful resource on “intervention.” 

https://addictionexperts.com/intervention/

 

A Resource to Help You Pay for Rehab

Paying for Rehab and Knowing Your Options – Rehab Spot

 

DetoxRehabs.net’s overall goal is to provide trusted resources, relevant information, and referral services for addicted individuals and their families.

This new resource provides valuable information regarding “alcohol and depression.”

Please click on the following link for additional information.

Alcohol and Depression: https://www.detoxrehabs.net/blog/does-alcohol-cause-depression/

The following link can help you find a “rehab center” in your area.

Drug and Alcohol Detox Centers Directory – Find Detox Near You (detoxrehabs.net)

-0-

Drug Rehab & Alcohol Treatment Center in Massachusetts

NorthEast Addiction Treatment Center is an accredited Massachusetts Drug Rehab that provides guidance and treatment for individuals and family members who struggle with addiction. Our facility provides individuals with tailored treatment plans in a culturally humble and gender-responsive environment and evidence-based treatments for addiction, trauma, and co-occurring disorders.

Alongside our decades of knowledge in recovery treatments, we’re also proudly accredited by the Joint Commission, which is considered “The Gold Standard” in accreditation for behavioral health facilities and organizations.

Because of this, we strive to have our site be an educational resource by providing up-to-date, accurate, and evidence-based information related to addiction, substance abuse, mental health, and treatment on our blog. This is done to increase understanding and awareness of addiction – a disease that affects many.

Please don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

Community Outreach
Northeast Addictions Treatment Center

-0-

Additional Resource:

Defining Wellness Centers

What is Medical Detox from Alcohol and other Drugs?

It’s sad to see friends and family have a mental illness or substance misuse, especially nowadays when overdose deaths have topped 100,000 in the past year, according to the CDC. This is where we come in. My department does ongoing research,  writing and publishing educational articles covering subjects of alcoholism, substance misuse, and mental health.

Please take a look at our mental health and detox guide. It’s incredible to see how interconnected the body and mind are, especially when one-third of people with a physical health condition also suffer from some form of mental health ailment.

Get help today by calling – (855) 466-4146

-0-

Boca Recovery Center

A free web resource that provides information about addiction, pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental health issues.

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common substance use disorders. Many consider consuming alcohol a socially acceptable activity, but some struggle to monitor their consumption and suffer mental and physical consequences.

At Boca Recovery Center, we strive to help those struggling with alcohol addiction, inspiring the creation of our Alcohol Addiction guide. In the guide, we answer common questions like:

– What are the health impacts of alcoholism?
– How can you recognize alcohol addiction?
– What do detox and rehabilitation look like?
And more.

Please visit: bocarecoverycenter.com/addiction/alcohol/

-0-

How To Deal With Depression: 11 Holistic & Clinical Approaches

Understanding how to deal with depression can help anyone affected by different kinds of clinical depression. Clinical approaches may include pharmaceuticals or behavioral therapy, while holistic methods may involve yoga, breathwork, and meditation.

Click on this link for resources from Free Rehab Centers.net.

How To Deal With Depression: 11 Holistic & Clinical Approaches – FreeRehabCenters.net

Comments Off on Alcohol, Depression, and Intervention – Resources

Website Links on Safety

Posted on 25 January 2022 by Monica Zech

The following are valuable websites providing more information on driving safety:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Check their Catalog Materials page for free safety information materials.

 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

IIHS

Here’s another good one – “Is Your Car Safe?” – Safer Car.gov

Safer Car.org

 

Help Prevent Drowsy Driving

Each year, there are approximately 100,000 car crashes and 1,500 deaths caused by drowsy driving. To help spread awareness on this issue, an article was recently published that explains common warning signs, which may be at risk, and tips on preventing drowsy driving. 

You can find it here: https://sleepopolis.com/education/drowsy-driving/

 

Car Emergencies Guide:

A big “thank you” to Blake Stevens for making me aware of the following website:

 

This website has an extensive list of essential items every driver should have in their vehicle in an emergency. It covers the basics for driving during bad weather and general road safety. In addition, this website offers additional links on driving safety. It’s all about being prepared – and saving lives!

Thank you, Blake!

Monica Zech
Veteran Air Traffic Reporter/Safe Driving Educator

Comments Off on Website Links on Safety

Important Safety Web Sites

Posted on 16 January 2022 by Monica Zech

The following are web sites I highly recommend that offer important safety information:

  • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation’s highways. Excellent web site!
  • MADD – Mother’s Against Drunk Driving MADD 24-Hour Live Helpline.  This number provides emotional support, guidance, and referrals are now available to victims/survivors of drunk driving, as well as friends and families, around the clock through a toll-free helpline. If you are a victim of drunk driving in need of assistance, please call MADD’s toll-free helpline at 1-877-MADD-HELP to speak with a counselor who is ready to help you.
  • Mesothelioma.net – Comprehensive information on mesothelioma cancer and the dangers of asbestos – www.mesothelioma.net
  • Educate Yourself about mesothelioma.  Learn everything you need to know about mesothelioma through many numerous resources and informational books for patients and their loved ones. Go to: https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes.  This is accomplished by setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and through grants to state and local governments to enable them to conduct effective local highway safety programs.
  • NationalRoadSafety.org The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3)non-profit charitable organization dedicated to reducing collisions, death, and injuries on our nation’s highways by promoting safe driving habits through greater public awareness.

Read More

Comments Off on Important Safety Web Sites

Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking Resources

Posted on 06 August 2021 by Monica Zech

Many of us know of a friend, family member, or someone that’s suffering from a mental health ailment, co-occurring disorder, or addiction. To make things worse COVID continues and more people have turned to alcohol to cope with the unprecedented uncertainty and stress. Even though fewer people are driving, more have been using alcohol. This has, unfortunately, lead to a 9% increase in alcohol-related deaths on the road. The largest jump since 2007 according to MADD, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving.

 

What to Know About Binge Drinking

Comments Off on Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking Resources

Advertise Here

Videos

The Real-Life Dangers of Texting and Driving!

Advertise Here