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ETC Newsletter

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The Enfield Together Coalition e-Newsletter

 Holiday Issue 2013
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In This Issue
In This Issue: Holidays offer teachable moments
Celebrate the Season with Spirit but Keep the Spirits in Moderation
Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping
Enfield Liquor Retailers Do Right

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Support Available at Enfield Youth Services

 

If you suspect that your child may be using substances or you have any concerns about his or her emotional/mental health, it is important to seek help.  Enfield Youth Services is available to offer support and resources. Contact us at 860-253-6380 or visit our office at 19 North Main Street. 

 

For youth programs, click here to visit the Enfield Youth Services Website.

 

 

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Tip Line Available to Report Underage Drinking   

 

The Enfield Police Department has an anonymous tip line for reporting any suspected criminal activity. If you know of underage drinking parties simply:

 

Call:  860-763-8918

 

OR

 

 Click here to go to the website.

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Get Involved!

www.EnfieldTogether.org

 

Learn More!

 www.SetTheRulesCT.org

 

Contact Us!

  

Christina Turner
ETC Prevention Coordinator

 

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Our Mission

The Enfield Together Coalition is united in the commitment to preventing and reducing underage drinking in Enfield, Connecticut.

The Enfield Together Coalition (ETC) was established to assess the extent of substance use in the community and develop ways to reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs by Enfield youth.

 

 

Our Members

 

Our members are representatives from Enfield Youth Services, East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination (ERASE), Youth Advisory Council, parents, school personnel, Town Council, Enfield Police Department, Police Steering Committee, substance abuse counselors, members of several different faith communities, business owners, and more. By raising awareness, educating parents and youth and enforcing underage drinking laws, the ETC is dedicated to preventing and reducing underage drinking in Enfield.

Holidays

Holidays Offer Teachable Moments

 

As we approach the height of holiday celebrations, there will be many opportunities for family and friends to gather. Just like Santa, your kids are watching and learning what it means to "celebrate." Take this opportunity to demonstrate that a good time doesn't have to center around drinking. Learn more in our article below.

With so much going on at this time of year, stress levels are sure to increase. So much to do, so little time. How will you get it all done? Check out our article on managing stress during the holiday season.

Liquor retailers in Enfield are helping to keep alcohol out of your teens hands this holiday season.  Learn about Enfield's most recent compliance check and how our retailers did.

We invite you to share this e-newsletter with your colleagues, neighbors and friends and to "like" us on Facebook. The more people who are tuned into the challenges facing our youth and who are engaged in learning more about how to prevent and reduce substance abuse in our community, the better!

On behalf of everyone at Enfield Together, we wish you and yours a happy and healthy 2014.
Celebrate the Season with Spirit but Keep the Spirits in Moderation
    
Santa isn't the only one watching you this season! As families and friends gather for the holiday, your children are learning what it means to "celebrate." 

What You Do is as Important as What You Say
Children look to their parents for direction and guidance on how to navigate social situations. When hosting a family get together or party with friends, take this opportunity to show your children that having a good time doesn't have to involve excessive drinking. 

Rethink Your Drink
During this holiday season, we ask that adults can model healthy behavior by monitoring how much they drink on each occasion or reconsidering alcoholic drinks altogether.
 
Alternate Activities
Kids get bored easily. Who knows that better than parents? One important way to prevent underage drinking is to keep kids engaged with activity that interest them. Host a movie fest, encourage outdoor activities, challenge them to a cookie baking contest... click here for a list of winter activities for teens. 
 
Monitoring Your Liquor Cabinet
In 2012, nearly 13% of Enfield youth surveyed report that they get their alcohol at home without their parents' permission. What does this mean? It's time to monitor - and in some cases - lock up your liquor cabinets. This prevents teen from easily accessing - and drinking - alcohol without your knowledge.

 Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping

 

The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests - stress and depression. And it's no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands - parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few.

 

But with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

 

Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression

When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.

  1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can't be with loved ones, realize it's normal to feel sadness and grief. 
  2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
  3. Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. 
  4. Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. 
  5. Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
  6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and make your shopping list. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
  7. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. 
  8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. 
  9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Breathe!
  10. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
Take control of the holidays

Don't let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands, so you can combat them before they lead to a meltdown. With a little planning and some positive thinking, you can find peace and joy during the holidays.

 

Source: Mayo Clinic

Enfield Liquor Retailers Do Right
Thank you to Enfield's liquor retailers for continuing to do right by our youth. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection recently conducted a random compliance check and our town performed very well!
 
"We congratulate the Town of Enfield for a nearly perfect score," Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said. "These ongoing, undercover compliance operations help us to identify licensed or permitted locations that are selling alcoholic beverages to minors and bring them into compliance with the law."
 
The Governor's Prevention Partnership trains volunteers youth who participate in the undercover operations. If the youth are asked their age before making a liquor purchase, they hand over their ID and tell their true age.
 
Agents from the Liquor Control Division, a youth volunteer, and officers from the Enfield Police Department, in partnership with the Enfield Together Coalition, conducted compliance checks of all package and grocery stores that sell beer in Enfield. Twenty four (24) stores were tested and 23 passed by not selling to the undercover minor.
 
"We express our thanks to Chief Sferrazza and the men and women of the Enfield Police Department for their assistance and to the Governor's Prevention Partnership for its ongoing support of our efforts," Rubenstein said.
 
Check out our results here.
 
BRAVO to our liquor and grocery stores for helping keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth!



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