News Releases

2000 News (Archive)

South Carolina Program Receives National Recognition
December 18, 2000

South Carolina Receives Federal Prevention Grant
Grant is largest prevention award in state's history
October 24, 2000

State Agencies Work Together to Enforce Laws Prohibiting Underage Tobacco Sales
October 10, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - It just got riskier for merchants to sell tobacco products to underage youth in South Carolina.

Religious Leaders and Laity Invited to One-Day Conference
September 29, 2000

Governor Celebrates New Home of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Authority
September 27, 2000

State Department Warns Parents of the Dangers of Jimson Weed
September 27, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In the wake of recent occurrences of jimson weed poisoning involving South Carolina teens, parents need to be aware of the dangers posed by this potentially harmful plant.

More Young Offenders Gain Access to Needed Substance Abuse Treatment
September 11, 2000

State Agencies Join Forces to Help Hardest-to-Serve Clients Fight Addiction
August 3, 2000

DAODAS Receives Grant to Combat Youth Tobacco Use
July 17, 2000

Statewide School Begins Sunday at Furman University
July 14, 2000

Physicians and Substance Abuse Professionals Join Forces to Address Addiction
June 6, 2000

South Carolina Surpasses Goal for the Year 2000
Governor Hodges Praises State's Efforts to Reduce Youth Access to Tobacco
May 17, 2000

Governor Designates April as Alcohol Awareness Month
April 7, 2000

Supreme Court Ruling Hits Home in South Carolina
March 21, 2000

State Agency to Assist Greenville Detox Center
February 4, 2000

Governor Hodges Unveils New Prevention Materials
January 24, 2000

South Carolina Program Receives National Recognition
December 18, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Bridge, an initiative of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), is one of two adolescent programs in the nation to be recognized by the Office of Justice Programs of the U.S. Department of Justice as an effective strategy to reduce substance abuse and related crime.

This recognition, which is highlighted in the department's publication titled Promising Strategies to Reduce Substance Abuse, is the fourth national honor that The Bridge has received since the program was founded in 1994.

The Bridge - which serves Bamberg, Calhoun, Charleston, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland and Spartanburg counties - is a comprehensive, individualized, family-centered program that provides specialized wrap-around services. Designed primarily for adolescents who are preparing to leave an alcohol or other drug inpatient treatment program or a juvenile justice facility, the program works to reduce their risk of recidivism and increase their chances of a successful return to the community.

The Bridge strives to reduce delinquency and alcohol and other drug use, increase family harmony, and improve educational outcomes and employability. The program is now an integral component of the state's service-delivery system for alcohol- and other drug-involved juveniles. It is estimated that The Bridge saves the state of South Carolina approximately $1.5 million per year in incarceration and other related costs.

"This new honor proves that our efforts to reach South Carolina's young people who are encountering problems with substance abuse are having a positive impact - not just in our state, but throughout the nation," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS.

The Bridge's other national awards include being recognized as an "Innovative Provider of Substance Abuse Services to Juvenile Justice Youth" by the American Probation and Parole Association in 1996; as a "Promising Approach to Serving Juvenile Offenders in Drug Treatment" by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 1997; and as a "Best Practice" by the National Mental Health Association in 2000.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.

South Carolina Receives Federal Prevention Grant
Grant is largest prevention award in state's history
October 24, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - As the result of efforts by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), the Office of the Governor has received a federal State Incentive Program (SIP) grant totaling nearly $3 million a year for three years to reduce drug abuse among youth ages 12 to 17.

The awarding of the grant -- the largest single prevention award in the state's history -- was announced during a news conference today by Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS, and representatives of the Governor's Office and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), which is a part of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant was awarded following a competitive application process in which states from across the nation submitted proposals on how they would use the funds to fill identified gaps in service delivery and support existing community-based prevention programs. DAODAS prepared and submitted the state's winning application on behalf of the Governor's Office.

"South Carolina is ready for a new beginning in substance abuse prevention efforts directed toward young people and welcomes the State Incentive Program as a catalyst for improving our statewide prevention system," said Governor Hodges.

"As part of our mission to stem the tide of substance abuse in our state, we know that the battle has got to begin with our kids," said Wade. "SIP provides an exciting opportunity to empower local initiatives to work with our state's youth."

"SIP grants address the regional nature of substance abuse," said Ruth Sanchez-Way, Ph.D., acting director of CSAP, in a prepared statement. "By collaborating with federal agencies, state and local governments, and community anti-drug coalitions, we can work toward lowering the serious economic and social costs of substance abuse in our nation."

A cornerstone of South Carolina's SIP is the creation of the Governor's Council on Substance Abuse Prevention, composed of state agencies with a mandate to deliver substance abuse prevention funding or services, as well as non-governmental agencies that represent the diversity of the state's population. The council will provide the overall policy and planning for the State Incentive Program. DAODAS will provide the project management and has developed a partnership with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) to deliver technical assistance, training and evaluation.

Project goals will be accomplished through a plan that will assess current funding and resources, identify needs and develop a comprehensive prevention strategy that will utilize 85 percent of the funds for competitive grants to implement science-based prevention projects focused on youth ages 12 to 17 and their schools, families, workplaces and communities. A two-step process -- consisting of regional workshops on effective prevention practices and proposal development -- will be used to assist communities in developing proposals. After funding, grantees will be provided ongoing technical assistance by the DAODAS/PIRE team. A comprehensive statewide evaluation will document activities and accomplishments to include both process and outcome measures derived from quantitative and qualitative data that can be linked to similar efforts within South Carolina and throughout the nation.

State Agencies Work Together to Enforce Laws Prohibiting Underage Tobacco Sales
October 10, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - It just got riskier for merchants to sell tobacco products to underage youth in South Carolina.

Earlier this year, DAODAS and SLED signed a memorandum of agreement to enforce State Law 16-17-500, which makes it a crime to sell or supply cigarettes or other tobacco products to a minor. Violation of this law is a misdemeanor, with fines beginning at $25 plus court costs for a first offense.

"The longer our young people stay away from tobacco, the greater the chance they'll stay tobacco-free for life," said Governor Jim Hodges in a prepared statement. "I commend DAODAS and SLED for their efforts to work together to keep tobacco products out of the hands of our state's children."

"This dedication to keeping tobacco out of the hands of our young people is an important step in combating the $5.6 billion a year that the tobacco industry spends to market its products," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS, during a news conference held today at SLED headquarters. "With SLED's participation in this effort, we can seek to reduce the 15,000 children in South Carolina who become daily cigarette users every year."

Through this collaborative effort, SLED will conduct enforcement activities to identify retail establishments that sell tobacco products to minors, as well as charging and prosecuting the clerks who make the sales. DAODAS has provided enforcement training for SLED agents and will provide ongoing technical assistance and consultation on issues related to tobacco-use prevention.

South Carolina youth typically begin experimenting with spit tobacco around age 11 and with cigarettes around age 12. Research shows that underage smokers are much more likely than nonsmoking teens to use alcohol and other drugs. This group also is much more likely to perform poorly in school, to cut classes, to drop out of school by the 10th grade, and to become involved in crime.

Religious Leaders and Laity Invited to One-Day Conference
September 29, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - FaithWorks, a new faith-based outreach initiative stemming from a collaborative effort of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and the faith community, will host its first statewide summit, titled Wading in the Water, on Monday, October 9, 2000, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FaithWorks is designed for members of faith-based communities -- both professionals and laity -- and prevention professionals. The summit will address the need for substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment professionals to unite with faith communities and faith organizations throughout the state. Through a variety of presentations and planning sessions, participants will learn how to become more actively involved in efforts to help others who are experiencing problems with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Keynote speaker for the summit, the Rev. Dr. Julius Scipio, founder and director of a non-profit organization known as "The Elephant Men," will elaborate on his analogy of prevention that is based on the behavior of wild elephants who encircle their young and form a protective buffer when threatened. Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS, will address the importance of partnerships involving the faith community and the field of alcohol and other drug abuse.

"We know that churches can make a difference," said Wade. "Recent studies show that adolescents who come from families with strong religious ties are less likely to engage in activities that promote the use of alcohol and other drugs."

FaithWorks will attempt to work with all aspects of the state's faith community, which in South Carolina includes -- but is not limited to -- the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. FaithWorks partners include DAODAS, the South Carolina Coalition of Black Church Leaders Inc. and interfaith coordinators employed by the county alcohol and drug abuse authorities in five regions of the state.

Cost for the summit is $25, which includes lunch.

For more information or to register for the summit, contact Harry Prim, prevention consultant with DAODAS, at (803) 896-1199.

Governor Celebrates New Home of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Authority
September 27, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Jim Hodges joined the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) today for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the department's new state-of-the-art facility. Approximately 300 guests attended the event and had the opportunity to learn about the programs offered through the department and tour the new facility.

Jimson weed, which is considered a hallucinogen, is part of the belladonna alkaloid family and grows throughout the United States, especially in the Southeast. Ingestion of the plant poses serious physical and psychological problems for the abuser.

"The abuse of jimson weed by teens is just one example of the problems that can be prevented by parents' involvement in their kids' lives," said Rick C. Wade, director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. "If parents take the time to talk with their kids about the dangers of such seemingly harmless substances, those dangers can be avoided."

"Red as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter" is an old saying that describes the symptoms of jimson weed abuse, which include reddening of the face and neck, dry mouth, dilation of the pupils, fever, rapid heartbeat, constipation and urinary retention. These symptoms may be accompanied by hallucinations, agitation, confusion, seizures, a comatose state and even death. Such symptoms can occur anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours after ingestion and may last from 24 to 48 hours. Pupils can remain dilated for up to one week.

Other names for jimson weed include ditch-weed, thorn apple, stinkweed, angel's trumpet, moonflower and locoweed. The jimson weed plant can reach a height of five feet, with white flowers and prickly seed pods that split open when ripe.

Several chemicals and toxins that affect the central nervous system -- including atropine, hysocamine and scopolamine -- are contained in jimson weed. Although all parts of the plant contain the toxic chemicals, the highest concentrations are found in the seeds. Toxicity, however, varies significantly from year to year within the plant and even among different leaves of the same plant.

Immediate medical attention should be sought if jimson weed is ingested.

The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.

State Department Warns Parents of the Dangers of Jimson Weed
September 27, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In the wake of recent occurrences of jimson weed poisoning involving South Carolina teens, parents need to be aware of the dangers posed by this potentially harmful plant.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place during Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in South Carolina, proclaimed by Governor Hodges earlier this month. The theme, "Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time," provided a timely backdrop for this event.

"On behalf of all South Carolinians, thank you for the tremendous personal dedication and professionalism you exhibit each day as you help those in our state who are fighting to overcome alcoholism and other drug addiction," said Governor Hodges. "The work you are doing to help make our state a better place in which to live, learn and work is so important to rebuilding destroyed lives, devastated families and shattered careers across our state."

"I am honored today to join with Governor Hodges to celebrate the opening of the new headquarters for the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "I am excited about the potential of this new facility to improve the way we are helping the people of South Carolina overcome the ravages of alcoholism and other drug addiction."

Hodges also praised the department's community-based system of care, which has long been hailed as a model for the rest of the nation. In South Carolina, direct services are provided at the local level through a statewide network of 34 county alcohol and drug abuse authorities that serve all 46 counties of the state.

More than a million South Carolinians have received direct services through the county authorities since the system's creation in 1973, and millions more have been positively affected by the many types of activities coordinated at the state and county levels.

Two of these individuals, both former clients of the William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility in Orangeburg, S.C., also were present for the event. One of the two young men had ended up at the McCord Center after being involved in an alcohol-related accident that took the life of his best friend. The other had been referred to the program through one of the state's juvenile drug courts. Both are doing remarkably well in their recovery, and one has even established a support group for other adolescents who have experienced similar problems.

Operated by the Dawn Center (the county authority serving Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties), the McCord Center is designed exclusively for adolescents ages 12 to 17 who are fighting addictions. Named for the founder and long-time leader of the state alcohol and drug abuse system who led the system from 1959 to 1995, the McCord Center provides inpatient treatment for adolescents from throughout the state. It is the system's only inpatient treatment program for adolescents.

Also participating in the event were the Boyz of Gospel, a choral group consisting of young males from Bennettsville, S.C., one of the many youth-oriented prevention programs supported by the department.

The new DAODAS facility occupies 31,000 feet of office space, including a 1600-square-foot, state-of-the-art education and training center that can hold up to 125 people. A satellite dish on the building's roof enables the department to downlink teleconferences via satellite through the South Carolina Educational Television Network (SCETV). In addition, the education and training center will include a rear-screen projection system and an electronic whiteboard to assist in capturing written information as a computer file to be kept for future reference and/or printed for distribution to training participants.

The office is located at 101 Business Park Boulevard in Northeast Columbia just off Farrow Road at I-77. The department currently consists of 105 employees.

More Young Offenders Gain Access to Needed Substance Abuse Treatment
September 11, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - More young offenders will now have access to needed substance abuse treatment in South Carolina's institutions with the new expansion of a substance abuse treatment program, announced the South Carolina Departments of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) during a ribbon-cutting ceremony today. The program, which previously served only up to 36 youths at DJJ, has been transformed into a campus-wide therapeutic community that will span five dormitories and house as many as 160 juveniles at the John G. Richards Campus in Columbia.

Today's ribbon-cutting ceremony took place during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in South Carolina, proclaimed by Governor Jim Hodges earlier this month. The theme, 'Recovering Our Future: One Youth At A Time,' provided a timely backdrop for today's events.

"A recent study showed as many as 67 percent of our committed juveniles have significant histories of alcohol and/or other drug abuse, a percentage confirmed by the National GAINS Center for People with Co-occurring Disorders, " said DJJ Director Gina E. Wood. "This expansion is a significant step forward in providing substance abuse treatment to young people who are at high risk of returning to alcohol, drugs and/or crime once they are transitioned back into their home environments."

"We are excited to be working with DJJ on this program to help juvenile offenders become better prepared to deal with life's challenges once they leave these facilities," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "It's absolutely critical that these young people receive alcohol and other drug treatment and ongoing aftercare services, so they can return home with a greater chance for success in life. This expanded effort supports our ongoing commitment to ensuring the future of our young people."

By transferring the original 36-bed Omega Therapeutic Community to the John G. Richards Campus, the state will now be equipped with a greatly expanded treatment facility that will use a multidisciplinary approach to meet the individualized needs of young people. Specific services will include individual counseling, group counseling, family/multi-family counseling, 12-step support groups, anger management, life skills training, recreational therapy, education and vocational training.

The program will focus on the following objectives:

to stop the addiction process among high-risk adolescent males and initiate a commitment to recovery;
to reduce recidivism by eliminating criminal behaviors;
to develop prosocial attitudes and behaviors; and
to promote a successful reintegration into the community by providing access to aftercare services.

The program is based on a therapeutic community model, which offers a highly controlled and structured environment with a clear definition of boundaries and expectations to ensure accountability. It employs community-imposed sanctions and penalties, as well as earned advancement of status and privileges, as part of the recovery and growth processes.

The therapeutic community works by changing an individual's lifestyle through a community of concerned members, all of whom work together to help themselves and one another. Through this type of environment, the juveniles can develop a better understanding of their previous criminal behavior while learning to improve their interpersonal functioning, first within the therapeutic community environment, and ultimately, within the wider community.

Recognizing the importance of helping young offenders make successful transitions into that wider community, the expanded DAODAS/DJJ effort will provide a range of transitional and aftercare services through The Bridge, a nationally recognized program operated by DAODAS. By working with offenders and their families both before and immediately after their release from DJJ, the program is designed to facilitate their successful return home and reduce their risk of reincarceration.

The Bridge has yielded many positive results, including helping juvenile offenders avoid recidivism following their release from incarceration, increasing levels of abstinence, improving life skills and family harmony, and reducing costs to the state, families and society. The program has been recognized by the American Probation and Parole Association as an innovative provider of substance abuse services for juvenile offenders and by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice as a promising approach to treating substance-abusing adolescents.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level department charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions. DJJ is the cabinet department dedicated to providing a continuum of effective interventions that enable juveniles to take personal responsibility and become productive citizens and that foster safe and healthy communities.

State Agencies Join Forces to Help Hardest-to-Serve Clients Fight Addiction
August 3, 2000

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - During the darkest days of her addiction, Lori would take her 30-day prescription of Xanax in three or four days, often washing the pills down with liquor. While under the influence of these substances, she experienced blackouts and committed numerous criminal acts, including receiving stolen goods, purse snatching and criminal domestic violence involving her abusive boyfriend with whom she lived. She struggled to care for her two-year-old son and 14-year-old sister, but was unable to hold a job and ultimately lost custody of the children.

Then, just when she was prepared to give up hope, Lori's social services case worker referred her to the Spartanburg Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, where she was enrolled in a new project designed to help needy families who are battling addiction. After only five months of receiving services through the project, this 29-year-old has achieved sobriety, gotten a job, begun working toward her GED, moved out of her former boyfriend's home, and purchased land and a mobile home of her own. Most important of all, however, her son and younger sister have been returned to her custody, and she has realized a level of self-esteem she never thought possible.

This is just one of many success stories found throughout the state as a result of efforts by two state agencies to increase the effectiveness of treatment services for their hardest-to-serve clients -- substance-abusing individuals whose families also are struggling to become economically self-sufficient. During a news conference held today at the Spartanburg Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) highlighted the successful outcomes that have been realized during the demonstration phase of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Project.

The TANF Project, which was initiated in October 1999, helps parents whose substance abuse is an obstacle to their ability to become self-sufficient. A partnership between DAODAS and DSS, the project enables the state's county alcohol and drug abuse authorities to provide additional services for TANF-eligible parents, so that they can break free from welfare.

"I am proud that DAODAS and DSS are working together to break the cycle of addiction and dependency," said Governor Jim Hodges. "This partnership will expand treatment throughout South Carolina."

"Together, the state's social service and substance abuse systems are addressing a critical need for services, having formed a partnership that is a great example of the partnerships I hope we will continue to build across the state," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "This is a great opportunity to show our mutual clients how much we care about them, their families, their recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction, and their return to self-sufficiency. Through this initiative, DSS is providing resources to 15 of our county alcohol and drug abuse authorities to enhance services for this critical population."

"DSS is so pleased by the success of the demonstration phase of this initiative that we're committed to working with DAODAS to find the resources necessary to expand it statewide to include all 34 of the state's county alcohol and drug abuse authorities during the next year," said Elizabeth G. "Libba" Patterson, J.D., director of DSS. "This project is an excellent example of how two systems have worked together to find effective solutions to address the needs of a very difficult population to treat -- those who have problems of addiction, coupled with issues of domestic violence, loss of custody of their children, lack of employability, lack of transportation and other problems that can otherwise cripple their ability to achieve self-sufficiency."

Through the project, intensive case managers help clients address their specific needs for housing, medical care, child care and vocational services. By providing financial and other support for local service providers, the TANF Project removes the economic barriers that often prevent heads of households from seeking treatment for their addiction. To date, the TANF Project has proven itself to be cost-effective in its use of federal funds to help get parents off public assistance rolls.

During the first five months of implementation, the project has served more than 200 TANF and TANF-eligible clients. As of June 30, 2000, 56 clients had received transitional services in the state's four women's residential facilities, and 145 clients had received case management services in their local communities.

The TANF Project grew out of a $200,000 grant from DSS to the Chrysalis Center, a residential treatment facility for women operated by Circle Park Behavioral Health Services (Florence County's alcohol and drug abuse authority). DSS provided these funds to the Chrysalis Center when the facility's contract with the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment expired and the center was in danger of closing due to lack of funds. After seeing the successful outcomes achieved for women at the center, some of whom were also DSS clients, DSS agreed to provide additional funding for such services. As part of what then became known as the TANF Demonstration Project, DAODAS proposed that these funds be used to enhance service delivery at the state's four residential treatment programs for women (Chrysalis Center in Florence; New Life Center in Charleston; Lowcountry Crossroads in Walterboro; and Serenity Place in Greenville). Funds also were used to introduce the concept of intensive case management for TANF recipients and TANF-eligible individuals, through which case managers help coordinate all necessary services to facilitate a client's return to a productive, healthy, drug-free lifestyle, as well as help DSS identify potential cases and offer crisis support to clients.

For more information on the TANF Project, contact BJ Preston of DAODAS at (803) 896-1197; e-mail: bjpreston@daodas.state.sc.us.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions. DSS is the cabinet department dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of children and adults who cannot protect themselves; helping parents provide nurturing homes; and helping people in need of financial assistance reach their highest level of social and economic self-sufficiency.

DAODAS Receives Grant to Combat Youth Tobacco Use
July 17, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) has received a $100,000 grant from the American Legacy Foundation for the establishment of the Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use.

DAODAS will partner with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Greenville Leaders Against Drugs (GLAD) youth group to create this initiative, which is designed to empower youth to develop into productive citizens who contribute to their communities and to reduce youth tobacco use.

"I applaud the efforts of DAODAS and DHEC to obtain funding to combat the use of tobacco by our state's young people," said Governor Jim Hodges. "This grant from the Legacy Foundation and the possibility for continuation grants will strengthen our activities in this area and supplement the funds from the state's tobacco settlement that the General Assembly has earmarked for fighting underage tobacco use."

"We are excited about this opportunity to help empower South Carolina's youth and impact the use of tobacco by our state's young people," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "With its long history of addressing the dangers of tobacco use, DHEC is a natural ally for this initiative. In addition, GLAD youth leaders represented South Carolina during the recent American Legacy Foundation Youth Summit and have already participated in foundation training and activities, making them the perfect cadre to spearhead the youth movement."

DAODAS and DHEC are sharing the cost of the $100,000 match required of the grant by the American Legacy Foundation. If the foundation approves of the state's efforts during the planning year, it could award up to two one-year program grants of $1 million per year.

The one-year planning grant will be used to: (1) conduct a youth tobacco survey in January 2001 to determine rates of tobacco use among young people; (2) develop a method for determining the current level of youth empowerment in South Carolina; (3) identify areas where youth tobacco-use prevention and youth empowerment are strong, thereby identifying areas of challenge; (4) develop plans for a youth web site to help locate youth groups that are not yet identified, to provide a basis for marketing the Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use and to provide a "home base" for online communication and youth meetings statewide in "real time"; and (5) measure progress and process with guidance from evaluators who will be hired to provide formal evaluation for the planned first two years of the initiative.

For more information on the Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use, contact Kathleen Leopard of DAODAS at (803) 896-1175; e-mail: kleopard@daodas.state.sc.us. DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.

Statewide School Begins Sunday at Furman University
July 14, 2000

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Approximately 400 professionals from throughout South Carolina will arrive on the campus of Furman University this weekend for an intensive weeklong education and training program designed to further their knowledge and skills in the area of alcohol and other drug abuse issues.

Sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) in cooperation with several other state agencies and organizations, the 26th South Carolina School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies will begin on Sunday, July 16, and end on Friday, July 21. The event will involve professionals from the fields of addictions, social work, criminal justice, mental health, education and others.

Designed to meet a variety of educational needs, the School will consist of nine full-week and 14 half-week courses that are offered at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The courses will cover a wide range of topics designed to enhance the participants' abilities to prevent and treat problems related to the use of alcohol and other drugs. Courses include "Prevention, Addiction and Recovery"; "Anger Therapy with Recovering Clients"; "The Care of Dually Diagnosed Individuals"; "Prevention Strategies to Keep Youth Safe and Drug-Free"; "Psychopharmacology of Abused Drugs"; "Substance Abuse...A Disability?"; and others.

In addition, the School will feature three plenary sessions. These are:

"Rainbow Warriors and the Circle of Support" will be presented at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 17, by Terry Tafoya, Ph.D., a Native American storyteller. Tafoya is a Taos Pueblo and Warm Springs Indian who uses American Indian ritual and ceremony in his work as a family therapist while serving as clinical faculty and senior staff for the University of Washington's School of Medicine.
"Trends and Trafficking Around the Globe: Cultivation to Distribution" will be presented at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19, by Jim Cappola, a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A 31-year veteran of law enforcement, Cappola will discuss the DEA's role in national and international drug control strategy and how the agency's work impacts the drug trade around the world and at home in South Carolina.
"Gladness in the Now, Celebrating What We Do!" will be presented at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 21, by David Austin Sky, a storyteller whose diverse experiences as a bar band musician, a crew chief in the U.S. Air Force, a counselor, a writer and performer with the Great American Traveling Medicine Show, a graduate of the Methodist Theological School and a janitor at Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum have provided him with a rich background to write and perform his stories. Through this session, Sky will share stories to help the audience celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy their profession.

Joining DAODAS as cosponsors of this year's event are the South Carolina Departments of Education, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, Social Services and Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as the Southeast Addiction Technology Center at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

For more information about the School or to arrange an interview with any of the presenters, please contact Joel Urdang or Madelaine Miller at the School office located on campus in the University Center at (864) 294-2900. Urdang and Miller are serving as the on-site coordinators for the event.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.

Physicians and Substance Abuse Professionals Join Forces to Address Addiction
June 6, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Physicians and substance abuse professionals from throughout South Carolina will come together later this week for a conference designed to improve services for individuals and families who are suffering from the disease of addiction.

More than 125 professionals will attend a two-day conference titled "Medical Aspects of Addiction: Adolescents and Older Adults" during which they will enhance the early identification and treatment of substance abusers by working to improve communication and collaboration between the two fields.

"Studies show that adolescents and older adults are at high risk of experiencing problems related to substance abuse, but in many cases, their problems go undetected for far too long," said Rick C. Wade, director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), one of the conference sponsors.

"In many cases, the symptoms of substance abuse and addiction 'mask' themselves as other problems, and as a result, the true nature of their problems can slip by even the most well-trained medical professional," said Wade. "For example, substance abuse among adolescents can easily be dismissed as 'typical' adolescent behavioral problems, while problems among older adults can present themselves as a number of serious health conditions, such as liver disease, hypertension, coronary heart disease and many types of cancer, all of which are linked in whole or in part to substance abuse."

A public-private partnership, the conference is sponsored by DAODAS in conjunction with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the South Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine, and the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center at the Morehouse School of Medicine. One of the primary goals of the conference is to help participants understand the factors involved in substance abuse among the two critical populations and to make sure that the public and private sectors are working together to offer a seamless approach to treatment.

The conference will be held Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, at the Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach. In addition to Wade, who will be present throughout the two-day event, the following state and national leaders are scheduled to deliver presentations during the conference:

Henry Wechsler, Ph.D., director of the College Alcohol Studies Program and lecturer in the Department of Health and Social Behavior at the Harvard School of Public Health, will present a general session titled The Epidemiology of Heavy Episodic Alcohol Use: Binge Drinking in Adolescents and Young Adults at 8 a.m. on Saturday, as well as a concurrent workshop titled The Nature of Underage Drinking at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday;
Robert L. DuPont, M.D., of DuPont Associates in Rockville, Md., will present a general session titled Addictions in Older Adults: Treatment Issues at 9 a.m. on Saturday, to be followed by a concurrent workshop titled Treatment in Older Adults: Practical Tips at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday;
Hugh V. Coleman, M.D., chairman of Physicians Assistance and Advocacy Committee in Columbia, S.C., will present a general session titled The Role of the Recovering Professional Program in South Carolina: A Unique Relationship With Adolescents and Older Adults at 10 a.m. on Friday;
Michael Dennis, director of the William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment facility in Orangeburg, S.C., will present a concurrent session titled Treatment Strategies for Adolescents at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday;
John E. Emmel, M.D., immediate past president of South Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine, and Timothy Fischer, D.O., medical director of the Dawn Center and William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Center in Orangeburg, S.C., will co-present a general session titled An Overview of Adolescent and Older Adult Substance Abuse Issues at 8:10 a.m. on Friday;
Elizabeth F. Howell, M.D., medical director of Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences, will present a general session titled Addictions in Older Adults: Screening and Assessment at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, as well as a concurrent workshop titled Screening and Assessment in Older Adults: Practical Tips at 1:30 p.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday;
Catherine McDonald, M.D., medical director of Adolescent Treatment Centers Inc. in Oakland, Calif., will present a general session titled Cutting Edge: Addressing Tobacco in Adolescent Drug Treatment at 9:10 a.m. on Friday, as well as a concurrent workshop titled Motivating Clients to Stop Smoking at 1:30 p.m. and again 2:30 p.m. on Friday; and
Tommie M. Richardson, M.D., medical director for George W. Hartman Center in Smyrna, Georgia, will present a general session titled Adolescent Substance Abuse: Best Practices at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, as well as a concurrent workshop titled Working with Adolescents in Treatment at 1:30 p.m. and again 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance use and addictions.

South Carolina Surpasses Goal for the Year 2000
Governor Hodges Praises State's Efforts to Reduce Youth Access to Tobacco
May 17, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Jim Hodges today praised the state's efforts to reduce tobacco sales to minors during a news conference to release the results of the 2000 Youth Access to Tobacco Study, the seventh annual study to determine the extent of the problem of underage access to cigarettes in South Carolina.

Conducted by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), in conjunction with the state's 34 county alcohol and drug abuse authorities, the annual study monitors the state's compliance with the Synar Regulation of the federal Public Health Service Act of 1993. The Synar Regulation is a federal mandate that requires each state to document a rate of tobacco sales to minors of no more than 20 percent by the year 2000. States that fail to meet this requirement risk losing millions of dollars in federal funds for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and treatment services.

"For South Carolina to safeguard more than $7 million in federal funds, we must continue decreasing youth access to tobacco," said Governor Hodges. "The longer our young people stay away from tobacco, the greater the chance they'll stay tobacco-free for life. I commend DAODAS for their efforts to work with law enforcement, public health organizations and the business community to keep tobacco products out of the hands of our children. The results of this year's study reflect their hard work."

"It gives me great pleasure to announce that South Carolina has continued to improve on the 1999 youth access rates, when we surpassed our goal for the year 2000," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "Not only have we met the federal requirement of a 20-percent sale rate, we have once again surpassed it.

"This year in South Carolina, only 18.7 percent of the state's youth ages 14 to 17 were successful in their attempts to purchase cigarettes, down from 19.8 percent in 1999," he said. "This is the lowest rate ever documented since South Carolina first conducted the study in 1994."

This year's rate reflects a substantial reduction since 1994, when 63.2 percent of the state's underage youth were sold cigarettes as part of the study. In 1995, the rate was 54.2 percent, followed by 41.3 percent in 1996, 22.6 percent in 1997, 24.7 percent in 1998, 19.8 percent in 1999 and 18.7 percent in 2000.

"However, even though kids are finding it harder to obtain cigarettes, South Carolina is still among the 'top 10' states when it comes to rates of tobacco use by young people," said Wade. "So while we're winning the battle, we're losing the war. There are still far too many of our kids falling victim to the ravages of tobacco addiction. This fact drives home the need for an across-the-board approach to reducing youth tobacco use that includes prevention, education, law enforcement and counter advertising to combat the $5.6 billion a year that the tobacco industry spends to market its products. I am excited that we now have a working task force that is exploring ways to address underage use of both alcohol and tobacco, and we can now look forward to the rate of youth tobacco use declining along with the rate of youth access."

South Carolina youth typically begin experimenting with spit tobacco around age 11 and with cigarettes around age 12. Research shows that underage smokers are much more likely than nonsmoking teens to use alcohol and other drugs. This group also is much more likely to perform poorly in school, to cut classes, to drop out of school by the 10th grade, and to become involved in crime.

The news conference also featured several 14- to 17-year-old volunteers who assisted with this year's study.

"This annual project provides a tremendous opportunity for youth across our state to contribute time and energy to an effort that we believe will ultimately save lives," said Wade. "Their involvement is just one segment of a community-wide partnership effort to keep our children safe and healthy."

Wade also praised the many state and local agencies and organizations that have been working together to reduce youth access to tobacco in South Carolina, a number of which were represented at the news conference.

"Preventing initiation of cigarette smoking and use of other tobacco products among South Carolina's youth should be one of our top public health priorities," said Douglas E. Bryant, commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). "Over 80 percent of adult smokers began smoking while they were still under age 18. Limiting youth access to tobacco products through law enforcement and retailer education is one important strategy to address this issue. DHEC is pleased to support and coordinate with DAODAS in this effort and in promoting other strategies, including school programs, community programs and smoking-cessation programs."

"We know from our experience with alcohol enforcement how critical it is for the appropriate laws to be effectively enforced," said Chief Robert M. Stewart of the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). "We know that effective enforcement is a deterrent to youth alcohol use and plan to apply those same tactics to help keep our kids safe from tobacco use."

Also providing remarks during the news conference was James M. Hatchell, president of the South Carolina Merchants Association.

Sims Floyd, executive director of the South Carolina Petroleum Marketer's Association (SCPMA), and Gregory A. White, state director of programs and government affairs for the American Lung Association of South Carolina, also attended the news conference and provided written statements of support.

"The SCPMA and its members are quite pleased with the amount of success from increased public and employee awareness of restrictions involving sales of tobacco," wrote Floyd. "However, it should be noted that an illegal sale begins with a willing minor. The SCPMA believes there should be a balanced application of the law in the situations where an illegal sale has taken place."

"Fifteen thousand children in South Carolina become daily cigarette users every year," White wrote. "Keeping tobacco products out of the hands of our children is one step in reducing this alarming number. I commend DAODAS for serving as the leader for this much-needed initiative."

This year's study, which was conducted jointly through the state's 34 county alcohol and drug abuse authorities and other interested groups, took place during a 15-week period between January 3 and April 12, 2000, in 345 communities across all 46 counties of the state. The youth volunteers, who were accompanied by adult volunteer drivers, made 4,536 attempts to purchase cigarettes from convenience stores/gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores/pharmacies and discount stores, as well as through vending machines in restaurants, hotels and other establishments. Of these underage purchase attempts, 850 resulted in sales to minors.

Governor Designates April as Alcohol Awareness Month
April 7, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Recognizing that alcohol use by young people increases each year in conjunction with Spring Break activities, proms and "First Week" trips to the beach, Governor Jim Hodges has called for a focus on underage drinking by proclaiming April as Alcohol Awareness Month in South Carolina.

"Alcohol use by young people continues to be a critical problem in the Palmetto State," said Governor Hodges. "It is the major cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24, primarily as a result of alcohol-related car crashes, and 20 percent of South Carolinians ages 18 to 24 admit to recent binge drinking."

"Working together, however, we can reduce underage drinking throughout South Carolina and secure a brighter future for our young people," Governor Hodges said. "I want to encourage all South Carolinians to support efforts that will prevent underage drinking in our communities and to recognize and encourage young people who have made the decision to remain alcohol, tobacco and other drug free."

"The first line of defense against underage drinking can be found in the home," said Rick C. Wade, director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS). "As the number-one influence in the lives of their children, parents can serve as a major buffer against drinking by staying involved in the lives of their children. Parents who encourage participation in academics, sports, the arts and other positive activities help provide healthy alternatives to alcohol use."

Alcohol Awareness Month is sponsored at the national level by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. and is being implemented in South Carolina by DAODAS and the state?s 34 county alcohol and drug abuse authorities.

For local information and assistance on alcohol abuse, or for more information about local events planned for Alcohol Awareness Month in your community, contact your county alcohol and drug abuse authority. For the telephone number and address of your county authority, or for additional information about the prevention and treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse, visit the DAODAS Web site at www.daodas.state.sc.us or call 1-888-SCPREVENTS.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance abuse and addiction.

Supreme Court Ruling Hits Home in South Carolina
March 21, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In a ruling that directly impacts South Carolina's efforts to protect children from tobacco addiction, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in a 5-4 vote that the federal government does not have the authority to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug. For South Carolina, that means an end to the youth access to tobacco enforcement program funded by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and managed by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS).

"The FDA funding was critical to local and state law enforcement efforts to reduce illegal tobacco sales to minors," said Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS. "Enforcement of state and federal laws regarding youth tobacco use is an integral part of our approach to keeping our young people free from tobacco addiction."

The FDA had provided DAODAS just over $280,000 for the department to use for subcontracts with county and municipal law enforcement agencies to support their tobacco enforcement efforts. More than $266,000 of these funds were being used directly for officer pay and other local costs related to the program. Under the federal Synar Regulation, South Carolina must demonstrate that it is adequately enforcing youth tobacco laws and preventing youth access to tobacco or face more than $7 million in penalties.

"The loss of this funding makes it more important than ever for us to work with the General Assembly and other funding sources to ensure adequate support for our efforts to protect South Carolina's children from tobacco addiction," said Wade. Currently, South Carolina's youth tobacco use rate of 36 percent ranks the state in the top 10 nationally for adolescent tobacco use.

"We know that youth tobacco use is a warning sign for other substance abuse problems," Wade continued. "If we see young people in South Carolina using tobacco, we know that they are far more likely than their nonsmoking peers to use alcohol, marijuana and other drugs."

DAODAS is the cabinet-level agency charged with ensuring the provision of quality services to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of substance abuse and addiction.

State Agency to Assist Greenville Detox Center
February 4, 2000

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Rick C. Wade, director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), today joined an effort to ensure that the people of Greenville County have access to detoxification services. In partnership with the Greenville County Council, DAODAS is providing the Greenville County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse with an additional $30,000 to fund services for clients seeking detox services. The agreement was announced during a meeting of the board of directors for the Greenville County Commission.

"We are pleased to work with Greenville County Council, the commission and the Greenville community to ensure that clients have access to services," said Wade. "By matching funds with County Council, we are providing the Greenville Commission with the opportunity to develop an appropriate solution to the current funding crisis without adversely impacting clients," Wade continued. "Our overriding concern is that no client in need of detox services gets turned away while the commission works on a longer-term solution to their current situation."

As a result of this announcement, and an additional $30,000 in financial support from the Greenville County Council, the detox unit at the Greenville Commission will remain open for at least another 60 days. During that time, both state and local leaders will work to ensure that the commission develops an appropriate long-term solution for local detox services.

The Greenville County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse is a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors appointed by Greenville County Council. DAODAS is the state cabinet agency that ensures the provision of quality services to reduce or eliminate the negative consequences of addiction.

Governor Hodges Unveils New Prevention Materials
January 24, 2000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Jim Hodges joined the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) today in releasing the newest weapons in the state's efforts to prevent the underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

During a news conference held at E.L. Wright Middle School, Hodges was joined by Rick C. Wade, director of DAODAS; Michaele Lemrow, principal of E.L. Wright; and an audience of approximately 75 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders as he unveiled two new public service messages that target young people.

"I am committed to protecting our young people from the dangers of alcohol and other drug addiction," Hodges said. "These public service announcements send a strong message that there is nothing 'cool' about using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs."

The spots are part of the ongoing television component of SC PREVENTS, a statewide public information and awareness campaign that seeks to reach families in South Carolina, particularly those with children ages 10 to 17. One of the spots, titled "Cell Phone," is designed to prevent underage smoking; while the other, titled "Splash," is designed to prevent the underage use of both alcohol and tobacco.

In addition to releasing the two new spots to all commercial television stations in South Carolina, DAODAS is sending a VHS copy of the two spots to all public middle and high schools in the state for airing on their respective in-house broadcast programs. DAODAS also has had the "Cell Phone" spot copied to film, and it currently is being shown by Carmike Cinemas Wynnsong 10 on Forest Drive and Carmike Cinemas 14 in Harbison along with trailers of "coming attractions."

To complement the campaign's strong anti-smoking message, DAODAS also is distributing a new poster and sticker titled "Kiss This?" that are designed to prevent underage smoking. The artwork for the two pieces features an attractively "lipsticked" mouth whose appeal is destroyed by a protruding cigarette, as well as the simple question, "Kiss This?" Copies of these materials will be enclosed with the VHS tapes sent to the schools, along with the new DAODAS "Tobacco Fact Sheet," which is designed for use by teachers, counselors and other professionals.

"Without a doubt," said Wade, "we know that if we can prevent our young people from ever starting to smoke, we will see a huge reduction in the number of adults who are addicted. In South Carolina, children typically begin experimenting with spit tobacco around the age of 11 and with cigarettes around the age of 12. Unfortunately, the first use of tobacco is hard for some children to resist, especially considering the ease with which they can obtain cigarettes and the slick marketing and advertising campaigns used by tobacco companies to recruit new smokers. The startling truth is that the tobacco industry needs an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 new smokers every day to replace the ones who die from smoking-related illnesses. Sadly, these new smokers often are today's children and adolescents."

Newman Saylor & Gregory, a Columbia-based marketing and communications firm, assists DAODAS with the implementation of SC PREVENTS and the creation of the new youth-targeted material.

DAODAS is the cabinet-level department responsible for ensuring the availability of comprehensive alcohol and other drug abuse services for the citizens of South Carolina.