Kandiyohi County ————————— Drug Free Communities Coalition

One glass of red wine a day???

Many of us have heard the phrase, “Red wine is heart healthy.” From this statement many of us began to assume that red wine was good for our hearts, and drinking red wine was a good prevention for heart disease. Yet, not many of us know the supportive evidence behind this phrase. Dictionary.com (2011) defines a rumor as, “A story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts,” which is what this phrase is – a statement that has been spread without definite evidence. According to the staff at Mayo Clinic, red wine does have some possible hearth healthy properties (“Red,” 2011). For instance, research indicates that Resveratrol may assist in lowering the low density lipids and help in the prevention of unwanted blood clot formation.
When talking about heart disease prevention, lowering low density lipids and
decreasing the probability of clot formation in your blood stream also
decreases the probability of developing heart failure (“Red,” 2011). However,
the research that has provided the links between Resveratrol in red wine and
its heart healthy properties were clinical experiments conducted on mice not
humans. Furthermore, it should be clarified that even if the studies done on
the mice would reflect the same effects on humans, a human would need “…to
drink over 60 liters of red wine every day” in order to receive the proven
heart healthy benefits (“Red,” 2011).

In an article produced by Mayo Clinic, it was concluded that red wine may have “…even more hearth-healthy
benefits than other types of alcohol, but it is possible that red wine is not any better than beer, white wine or liquor for the heart health” (“Red,” 2011). In fact, this article did not recommend anyone to begin drinking red wine as a heart disease prevention method. The faculty at Mayo Clinic determined that the   harmful effects that alcohol has on the body greatly outweighed any possible benefits that the red wine may provide.

Therefore, is red wine really heart healthy? Studies are inconclusive. Should someone begin to drink red wine for
its heart healthy properties? According to Mayo Clinic standards – “no” is the answer.
Truth be told, drinking one
alcoholic beverage on a daily basis does not appear to be harmful for a person
25 years or older. So, if you are of age, it is up to you to decide whether to
drink or not. Around age 25 is considered the age at which the pre-frontal
cortex has completed its development.
This area of the brain helps with critical thinking, governs impulse and
exercises judgment among other very important aspects of brain development and
drinking before this age can have a negative effect.
Sources:

Heart Disease. (2011,
March 4). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/ health/red-wine/HB00089
Red Wine and
Resveratrol: Good for your heart?. 2011. In Dictionary.com.
Retrieved May 28, 2011, from

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rumor

Reference:

Barrett, Stephen.
(2009). Resveratrol: Don’t buy the hype. Quakwatch.
Retrieved from http:// www. quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/resveratrol.html

The Minnesota Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law a bill that will make illegal possession of most of the synthetic cannabinoid products like K2 and Spice, as well as many of the synthetic stimulants products sold as “bath salts” and synthetic stimulants 2CE and 2CI.

Many of these products along with their analogs will be illegal as of July 1st.

See the wording at:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=53&year=2011&type=0

Illegal drug use in the U.S. is estimated to have cost the economy more than $193 billion in 2007, according to a government study.

The study, released today by the Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center, includes costs associated with crime, health and productivity.

The study says the cost of illegal drug use is comparable with diabetes, which a 2008 government study said cost more than $174 billion each year.

“This study shows the economic cost of illicit drug use is significant,” said Michael F. Walther, director of the drug intelligence center, in a statement. “This nation’s drug problem is on par with other health problems.”

Ignition Interlock device

On July 1, Minnesota inaugurates the latest in a series of ever-tougher DWI laws
that aims to slam that door shut. For the third time within a decade, the state
is making major changes, including one that will require some offenders to have
a breath-testing ignition lockout device on any vehicle they drive.

Going after repeaters:

Before 2002, there was no law addressing repeat drunken drivers, which is why
Garay and others like him were able to rack up long arrest records. Before then,
DWI was merely a gross misdemeanor. Now, four such arrests in a 10-year period
mean a felony charge and serious prison time.
In Minnesota, one in 17 drivers has two or more DWI arrests, according to
Brenda Thomas of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Four DWI arrests in 10 years just shows a pattern of complete disregard public
safety
On July 1, first-time drunken-driving offenders who blow 0.16 percent or
more, and every repeat offender, will be required to have the breath-testing
ignition lockout device on their vehicle. The device, a portable breath tester,
keeps vehicles from being started if the blood-alcohol level is above 0.02
percent. They are monitored remotely.
The devices cost $50 to install and remove, and another $100 a month to
monitor, though costs could fall as their use becomes more widespread.
It’s a double-edged sword, It will allow people to get their
driving privileges back so people can earn money and take care of their
families. On the flip side, they aren’t going to be cheap, and some people won’t
be able to pay for it.

For some people alcohol is simply too hazardous.
About 35,000 to 40,000 Minnesota drivers are convicted of drunken driving a
year — about 100 a day, according to Brenda Thomas, executive director of
Minnesota’s MADD chapter.

Laws passed in 2010 and taking effect July 1 aim to make a dent in those
numbers:

•Ignition interlock. First-time DWI offenders with blood-alcohol
content over 0.16 percent, and repeat offenders, are required to install and use
the cellphone-like devices in any vehicle they drive. Failing to do so could
mean losing driving privileges for one to six years.

•New “aggravated” standards. The level considered “aggravated” DWI is
lowered from 0.20 percent to 0.16. The average level for a DWI arrest is 0.15
percent. The penalties are more severe for “aggravated” charges.
•License revocations. Will double for most offenses, but drivers who
agree to have the ignition interlock installed can drive while under
revocation.

Source: MADD, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Letter to the Editor

May 16, 2011
Dear Editor,
Buckling your seatbelt is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash and it only takes a few seconds.  In 2008, seat belts saved more than 13,000 lives nationwide, including mine.  I hit black ice one morning in January of 2008, and it took me into the ditch.  My car ended up upside down.  I walked away from the crash uninjured.  I was wearing my seatbelt. It kept me safe and secure inside my vehicle. If I wasn’t wearing a seat belt, I could have been completely thrown out of my vehicle which almost always ends up with one having serious injuries or in death.  From 2004 to 2008, seat belts saved over 75,000 lives — enough people to fill a large sports arena. During a crash, being buckled up helps keep you safe as well as your passengers.  Allowing an unbelted passenger in your vehicle is not a smart idea either, they can turn into a deadly weapon in a crash, literally crashing into you and causing injuries. Seat belts are proven to be the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.
BUCKLE UP for your safety, but BUCKLE UP because it is also the LAW.
Laura Lindeman

Kandiyohi County Safe Community Coalition Member

CMCS Rollover Demonstration SCC Activities 5.11

Click on the link above to see the newpaper article.

Just sharing a few things we did at CMCS lately.

In April, we watched a YouTube video of a young man (Tony Crescio from WI) who had an accident as a result of drunk driving & killed his best friend.  If the kids brought someone along to watch, they got a reward.  The young man refers to his Christian faith throughout the whole video and it’s called “Tony’s Story” and was posted by “thatyouthpastordude”.  He was sentenced to 2 1/2 yrs initial confinement, 7 1/2 years extended, 5 yr license revoked, must go to school/work full-time after prison & must continue to reach out to community.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1ztSoplNXM

 

This past week we had a focus on distracted driving/seatbelt use at our school.  Before school on Tuesday, two SWAT kids, myself and Superintendent Pete Van Der Puy watched kids (9-12) pull into the parking lot to see who was/wasn’t wearing their seatbelts either as a passenger or driver.  Anyone who was “caught” wearing their seatbelt was given a card for a free download of one song provided by the Safe Community Coaltion and Stephanie Felt – SCC Coordinator. That afternoon, Trooper Kathy Pederson from Springfield, MN came and played the video “Forever Young” and did a rollover demonstration.  Both were very powerful.  We also hung a poster in the lunchroom for kids to sign pledging not to drive distracted.

Brenda Van Der Puy

CMCS SWAT Coach

Last October, in honor of Red Ribbon Week, most of the SWAT Teams were able to plant red tulips!  We were all hoping that they would come up in April, in honor of “April is Alcohol Awareness Month” but they are just coming up now.  This picture was taken on April 27, 2011.

This next picture was taken on May 11, 2011.

Kandiyohi County Public Health is collaborating with the Redwood Area
Bike & Hike Commission and the Lion’s Club to host the event on Friday June
10, 2011 in Redwood Falls.  The event will include a 5K
Run/Walk and a Kids Fun Run.  Everyone is invited to come and be a Parade
Crasher at 5:30 p.m. before the parade that evening.
The cost for the 5K is $10 per person before May 20^th or $15 per person
on race day or after May 20^th.  Participants must register by May 20^th to be
guaranteed a T-shirt on race day!

The kids fun run will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is open to anyone age 12 and under.
The distance of the kids fun run will be approximately ½ km or 500 meters.  The
cost for the kids fun run is FREE and child will receive a prize for
participating.

Here is a flyer for the 5K.

Runners can get more information and print registration
forms from http://paradeday5K.weebly.com.

Elizabeth Malmberg Health Educator

Redwood County Public Health Services

266 E. Bridge St.

Redwood Falls, MN 56283

(507) 637-4041