Governor's Office Grant Helps Prevent Underage Drinking

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) awarded a $60,000 grant to The Council on Alcohol and Drugs to prevent and reduce underage drinking through a statewide website, stopalcoholunder21.org. The grant also provides for radio PSAs and newspaper print ads in ten counties in Georgia determined to be most at risk via a 2010 Underage Drinking Needs Reassessment conducted by Georgia State University and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs.

Underage drinking and the consequences of juvenile alcohol use are serious issues in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) has awarded a $60,000 grant to The Council on Alcohol and Drugs to prevent and reduce underage drinking by providing a statewide website, stopalcoholunder21.org.

The website includes features designed to help parents, youth, educators, alcohol retailers and others. Those features include downloadable:

* Public Service Announcements for Radio Broadcast
* Newspaper Print Ads
* Parenting Manuals for Parents of Children Ages 6-11 / 12-14 / 15-18/ and 19-20
* 1/2 Hour Video: "The Worst Drug of All"
* Video Vignettes on various topics related to Underage Drinking
* Resource Links to Other Web Sites related to Preventing Underage Drinking
* Additional Print Resources


The grant also provides for radio PSAs and newspaper print ads in ten counties in Georgia determined to be most at risk for underage drinking via a 2010 Underage Drinking Needs Reassessment conducted by Georgia State University and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs. The counties being served by the grant's Media Campaign are Ben Hill, Bulloch, Candler, Catoosa, Fannin, Lanier, Lowndes, Walker, Wilcox and Worth Counties.

This program is made possible with funding from the Governor's Office for Children and Families under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Block Grant Program, CFDA 16.727.

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FDA Warns Public of Continued Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scam.

The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.

The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm, and or incarceration.

"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment.”

FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action, with fines payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official who is seeking money to settle a law enforcement action for the illegal purchase of drugs over the Internet should refuse the demand and call the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office at (800) 521-5783 to report the crime.

In addition to posing as FDA officials, criminals have posed as special agents of the DEA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs Service, as well as U.S. and Dominican prosecutors and judges. In response, the FDA, in conjunction with various federal, state, and local agencies, is actively pursing criminal charges.

The FDA also reminds consumers to use caution when purchasing prescription drugs over the telephone or the Internet. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, there is the danger that personal data can be compromised. For more on FDA’s concerns about unlawful drug sales on the Internet, see http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/default.htm.

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Bremen BRIDGE Festival to Help Combat Drug Usage in West Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- The City of Bremen will usher in summer with the Bremen BRIDGE Festival on Saturday, May 9. This annual family celebration benefits BRIDGE, a West Georgia program designed to Build Recovery in Drug Gripped Environments. The theme of this year's event is "Bremen is building a BRIDGE and working to get over it." Activities will include a 5K Fun Run, a children's bike ride with bike safety course, a children's arts and crafts area, live performances by local artists and churches and food vendors. Visitors will also have the chance to learn about living healthier with on-site information booths and complimentary basic health screenings.

"It's important that we teach our children the benefit of living well, including saying no to drugs," said Dr. William Parrish, a physician with Primary Care of Bremen and an event sponsor. "It's an issue that affects the entire community, but is also one we can help resolve together."

Georgia, with its extensive network of highways, large coastal line, and airport connections is a major location for drug trafficking. In smaller communities, such as Bremen, the effects can be devastating.

"Programs such as BRIDGE enable us to work as a community to both improve the health and help prevent relapse for those affected by drug abuse," added Dr. Parrish.

Proceeds for the Family Fun Day will go in support of BRIDGE. Activities will take place in downtown Bremen at the Public Service Building from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include:

-- 5K Fun Run with prizes for top finishers ($10 donation/entry fee)
-- Children's Bike Ride and Bike Safety Course ($5 donation/entry fee)
-- Children's Craft Area
-- Kid's Play area including Inflatables
-- Festival Food Vendors
-- Live musical performances
-- And more...



To become a sponsor, vendor or to register for the fun run or ride, please call 404-961-2230 or email interest to: bridge@co-pinteractive.com. Additional information is available at www.co-pinteractive.com/clients/bridge.

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