The Real Normal

About The Real Normal

What is normal?  It’s a question we can ask ourselves and never truly find an answer.  That’s because every person views what is normal differently.   The point of this is to let you show what “normal” activities mean to you.   It’s a fact that over two-thirds of North Country teens DO NOT engage in binge drinking.   It can be easy to think otherwise with all the publicity given to underage drinking parties but it’s just not true.  The point of this website is to overcome those misperceptions and stereotypes and to show your friends and other North Country Teens what normal really means in your world!

The Real Normal is a program of the North Country Health Consortium.

The seniors of Lin-Wood’s Prevention Youth Council Inspire, an adolescent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention group, departed from Lincoln with excitement in the early morning on Saturday, December 17th. The group embarked on a trip to New York City to experience the classic vibe of Christmas time in the Big Apple. Accompanied by chaperones Sean O’Brien, Kelsee Beaudin, and Joe “Chat” Chateauneuf, nine students were present: Christopher Coyne, Joseph LaBrecque, David Walker, Chelsea Etheridge, Alex Rich, Spencer Ham, Nick Smith, Kristen Shou, and Jaimie Sams.
The drive lasted almost five hours. When the group arrived at the train station in Connecticut, the excitement that lay ahead got everyone’s blood flowing. After boarding the train to NYC and having another hour of sitting to go through, the group was greeted by the beautiful ceiling of Grand Central Station in the heart of Manhattan, NY. In awe, the group immersed itself in the spectacle of New York in Christmas mode. After arriving in the city, our group of twelve popped out of Grand Central Terminal and walked with our heads up and necks turning in all directions taking in the sights. We then boarded the subway, which was a first for most. We took the subway to the financial district and then walked to pay our respects at ‘Ground Zero”. After a stop for coffee we then walked over the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn, where we dined on some of the best pizza in the U.S. of A., a reward for our travels.
During the trip, the group visited the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza, the neon jungle of Times Square, buzzing with store advertisements, the snare drums of an Occupier Parade, honking drivers, hipsters, and the aroma of an arsenal of deep-fried delicacies. Macy’s was stereotypically crowded and festive as ever; it was as if a wave of cultural significance hit the group. Nintendo World was a dream come true for anyone in touch with their inner 3rd grader. Most people know it as a gaming outlet store, but to the 90’s kids who grew up too quickly, a factory of pure happiness and nostalgia.
The rendezvous drew to a close around 8:30 p.m. The group made its way back to Grand Central Station, where the students would break up to explore the station and eat dinner before the ride back to Connecticut. The group would crash at the Marriott in Stanford. We left the hotel at 9:00 a.m. and hit the road, having eaten a breakfast of New York style bagels and cream cheese. We took a leisurely drive home stopping at a few outlets stores to do some last minute Christmas shopping and then at High Five Burgers and fries for an awesome lunch. We were home just in time to watch the Pats beat the Broncos, which was the perfect ending to such an amazing trip!
Inspire is dedicated to providing unforgettable experiences like these to student of the Lincoln and North Woodstock area. These teens bring something truly significant, an even greater awareness of the fact that they can have a good time in high school while remaining drug free. For more information about Inspire and the many programs that ADAPT facilitates please contact Sean O’Brien at 603-236-9227 or sobrien@lin-wood.org

Talking points for your Banner Swap campaign:

· Including subways, billboards, buses, and stadium signs youth are exposed to 45% more beer ads, and 27% more liquor ads.



· There is 2 billion dollars spent on ads every year that advertize alcohol.



· It has been found that alcohol advertisements often reach teens and in many cases are specifically targeted at teens on billboards or signs of he like.



· The ratio of seeing an alcoholic beverage add compared to a non-alcoholic borage ad is 1.5 to 4.6.



· The typical 18 year old will have been exposed to 100,000 alcoholic beverage ads.



· If someone prior to the age of 15 has a drink than they are 5 times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction.



· In 1996 Budweiser used a frog as an advertising plot. In that year the Budweiser frog was more recognizable to children age 9-11 than the Power Rangers and Tony the Tiger.



· The typical 8-12 year old can name more beer brands than U.S. Presidents.



· 25% percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed by underage drinkers.

This is a copy of the Lin-Wood Public School ATOD Policy. It will provide you with talking points for your discussion with your school administration.

STUDENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

A student shall not possess, use, transmit, sell, give, manufacture, be in the presence of, or be under the influence of any unlawful drug on the school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity on or off school premises.
For the purpose of this policy, an unlawful drug is defined as alcohol, tobacco, abused or misused prescription drugs/commercial products (e.g. inhalants) (over-the-counter medication) illicit drugs, or any other illegal substance.

Policy Statement:
This policy is based on the conviction that school should be a drug free environment. Effective identification of substance abuse problems begins with consistent consequences incurred for violations of the school’s chemical use policy. Therefore, violations of the substance abuse policy incur simultaneous disciplinary action and referral to the student assistance program, emphasizing both our adherence to the code of conduct, the interscholastic athletic code, and our commitment to help troubled students.
Medications which a student has on prescription and carries onto school property for ingestion as prescribed by a doctor with be kept in the nurse or Principal’s office.

If drug use or possession is suspected, the following procedure will be followed:
A. Upon establishing suspicion that a student is engaged in the use of drugs, the staff or faculty member is to notify the office and request that an administrator or school official come to the location immediately. The treatment of and transfer of the student from the classroom or other locale should be handled as tactfully as possible. Faculty, staff member, or school official initiating this process should follow up in a timely manner, listing/detailing the observed behaviors/indicators which aroused suspicion.

B. Student is then escorted to the office for further evaluation.

C. If the administrator determines that a search is needed, the search procedure should be handled as follows:
1. Personal Search: The Principal or designee should secure from the student the known or suspected contraband. The search procedure should be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy KNAJ.
2. Lockers, Desks, etc.: When there seems to be reasonable cause to believe that a locker or desk should be searched for contraband, the search should be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy KNAJ.
3. Automobiles: When there seems to be reasonable cause to believe that an automobile should be searched for contraband, the search should be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy KNAJ.

D. Student will be questioned by the Principal or his/her designee and one other staff member to determine admission or denial or guilt or involvement.

E. School Resource Officer or other certified personnel will then assess the student for presence of substantial indicator or substance abuse. (This assessment may include a field sobriety test, HGNA, or other means.)

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F. Upon establishing support for original suspicions of substance use, the parent/guardian is contacted and notified of the offense.

G. The student will participate in a short-term substance abuse educational program. Confirmation to the school will be needed within three days of the offense that the student will be entering the substance abuse program.

H. The student will undergo an informal assessment which will be conducted by a staff assessment team which may consist of a representative of the Administration, a Guidance Counselor, and /or a substance abuse resource person.

I. If deemed appropriate by the staff assessment team, the student may be required to undergo a formal assessment to be conducted by a psychologist or other person qualified to conduct such an assessment. (This will be at the expense of the parents/guardian).

J. The student will participate in a program designed to respond to the individual student’s problem/degree of substance abuse. Such a program may include a related educational, preventative program, counseling by a specialist, and/or therapy. Parents/guardians will be financially responsible for such a program. The student and parents will also be made aware of the available support systems within the school and community.

K. Any student found selling, possessing, distributing, or giving away unlawful substances will be turned over to police authorities immediately and suspended from school at once pending School Board action.

L. The parent/guardian may, if they wish, have the students blood/urine tested (at the school’s expense, if necessary) to confirm or refute suspected drug use. The school will receive a copy of any tests paid for by the school.

Upon confirmation of drug use through blood/urine testing OR upon refusal to submit to testing the student will be suspended for five days. Prior to returning to classes, a meeting with family, the student, and SAP (Student Assistance Person) will be arranged to determine the next steps.
The general criterion to be used by the Principal/Assistant Principal in administering these guidelines shall be in the best interests of the total school population and the maintenance of the educational environment for Lin-Wood Public School.

Legal Reference:
RSA 571-C:2, Intoxicating Beverages at Interscholastic Athletic Contests
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SB 120 Happy Hour Signage

Sample letter to town administrator:

Dear [Mr. Joseph],
On behalf of [the Lin-Wood Public School Inspire Prevention Youth Council], we write to you as the Town Manager of Lincoln for two reasons:
First, to make sure that you are aware of the passage of SB 120 (Chapter 238 of the Laws of 2011; Effective Date July 5, 2011) which amends RSA 179:31, XI to repeal all restrictions on "happy hour" advertising; and
Second, to respectfully request that the Town of Lincoln exercise the local control authority given to it by RSA 179: 31, XI-a to "adopt a provision prohibiting exterior signs or signs in view of any public way promoting the sale of liquor or beverages at reduced prices by an on-premises licensee …"
By way of background, under prior law the advertising of "happy hour" (a limited time period when on-premises licensees offer alcoholic beverages at reduced prices) had been restricted to signs within the establishment and advertising on the licensee's website. SB 120 amended RSA 179:31, XI to eliminate all restrictions on "happy hour" advertising and permits the advertising of reduced price alcohol by:
Exterior signage or outward facing interior signs;
Newspapers, magazines, or other forms of print media;
Flyers, handbills, posters;
Radio and television;
Social media.
Recognizing that the increase in "happy hour" advertising resulting from SB 120 may be of concern to cities and towns, SB 120 included a local control provision that states:
"RSA 179:31, XI-a. Notwithstanding paragraph XI, if the legislative body of a city or town adopts a provision prohibiting exterior signs or signs in view of any public way promoting the sale of liquor or beverages at reduced prices by an on premises licensee, such signs shall not be permitted in that city or town."
SB 120 greatly expands the ability of on-premises licensees to advertise "happy hour." The local control option in RSA 179:31, XI-a applies only to exterior signs and signs in view of a public way.
We believe that exercising local control to prohibit "happy hour" signage as provided in RSA 179:31, XI-a is the right thing to do for [name of city/town] because it balances the economic interests of a small group of businesses that offer "happy hours" and the broader public health and safety interests of the our community.

Exterior signage promoting reduced price alcohol presents the following risks to the [name of city/town] – consider the impact of such advertising on:
The image of the community. Such signage contributes to an image of a community focused on alcohol and could change the environment and atmosphere of the main street and downtown.
Neighboring businesses open during the "happy hour" period whose customers might be discouraged by such signage – for example, families shopping with children or other restaurants seeking to promote a different image.
Public safety. "Happy hour" signage actively encourages excess consumption in a short period of time and communicates the social norm that excess consumption is acceptable, necessary to have fun, and without risk. The greater the consumption, the more alcohol problems, including disruptive behavior and motor vehicle accidents.
Youth. "Happy hour" signage will increase the amount of alcohol advertising to which underage youth are exposed. Current research clearly establishes that:
Exposure to alcohol advertising affects the age at which youth begin to drink; and
Youth who see, hear, and read more alcohol advertising are more likely to drink more heavily than their peers.
For the reasons stated above, we respectfully request that the [name of legislative body] exercise the local control authority in RSA 179:31, XI-a to adopt a provision prohibiting "happy hour" signage. We submit the following draft language for your consideration:

The [insert reference to legislative body] of [insert reference to city or town], pursuant to its authority under RSA 179:31, XI-a hereby adopts an ordinance prohibiting exterior signs or signs in view of any public way promoting the sale of alcoholic beverages at reduced prices by a person or business holding an on-premises license issued by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.

Thank you for your attention to our request. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss this with you.

Sincerely,
The Lin-Wood Public School Inspire Prevention Youth Council

Lin-Wood does Sticker Shock!

Sticker shock was started as a community awareness project, to inform people that providing alochol to minors is a felony, and will recieve a $2000 fine. The Inspire group at Lin-Wood went around to the stores in Lincon and Woodstock and asked if they would like to participate, and most said yes. We would like to thank every store who participated in this campaign to help prevent alcoholic beverages being sold to minors. We are heading in the right direction, so thank you to Goodies Mobile, Waynes super market, and the Irving!

Lin-Wood does Banner Swap!

Through a collaborative effort with the New Hampshire Center for Excellence, new community-friendly, seasonal banners have been created endorsing that "the North Country welcomes tourist and visitors" to the region rather than Budweiser or Coors being the welcoming party. The PYCs have been provided with important talking points regarding the research around alcohol advertising and youth alcohol consumption. It is a hope of the campaign that business owners truly develop an understanding of the negative influence that the advertisements have on youth and their decisions to drink alcohol. In creating this understanding, a reduction in youth exposure to alcohol signage can be achieved if the businesses agree to take down their alcohol banners and trade them in for community-friendly banners provided free to them through the North Country Community Substance Abuse Prevention Program.

 

 

Lin-Wood does Sticker shock! Sticker shock was created to bring awareness to communities about providing alcohol to minors. We put stickers on all cases of beer throughout the stores in Lincoln and Woodstock that say "providing alcoholic beverages to minors is a $2000 fine and possible jail time." We are proud of all the participating stores who are helping us with this project!

Attention Basketball Players!

Lin-Wood Public School Is hosting a weekly open gym on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Lin-Wood High School gym. All are welcome.

North Country Prevention Youth Council Decathlon checklist:
Sponsored by North Country Health Consortium

1. Banner Swap
2. Project Sticker Shock
3. Weekly Posting on Real-Normal
4. Speak with your town manager about policy surrounding alcohol signage (Happy Hour)
5. Speak with School administration about school policy surrounding substance use and abuse
6. Create a PSA on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
7. Send at least one member of your PYC to bi-weekly regional PYC meetings
8. Submit an article about your group’s efforts to the local newspaper
9. Do a presentation to your school board about your prevention efforts
10. Have fun!

The first PYC to complete all 10 tasks will win first prize!
1st prize $700
2nd prize $200
3rd prize $100

There will also be bi-weekly drawings. The winners will be announced on the real-normal website

For more information contact Sean O’Brien at sobrien@lin-wood.or or 603-236-9227