April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

April 2015 Volume 7, Issue 1

A monthly newsletter to keep you current and In The Know on topics related to the Prevention of Substance Abuse

Do you or someone you care about need help because of Drugs, Alcohol or Gambling call:

1-877-8HOPENY(1-877-846-7369)

24 hours a day, 7 days a week * Free & confidential information and referrals.

There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of Sexual Assault. It’s important to protect yourself and your friends when these dangerous situations arise. Having a buddy system is a great way to eliminate the root of many sexual assault crimes. You should never leave a friend who has been drinking by themselves at a social gathering. Make sure you have a safe ride home or walking buddy for the end of the night.

If one of your friends looks uncomfortable or at risk of sexu-al assault, step in and disrupt the scene. Discourage your friends from leaving social gatherings with individuals who they have just met. It’s important to talk to your friends about the dangers of sexual assault. Set clear limits and be firm when someone is making you uncomfortable.

Alcohol is a factor in almost all sexual assaults. Leaving your drinks unattended is very dangerous. Whenever you lose sight of your drink, throw it out and get a new one. Many people who become victims of sexual assault are

drugged without knowing it. Leaving your drink unattend-ed is an easy way for a pred-ator to lace your drink with drugs. Always stay in control of your body. One out of every 3 sexual offenders is intoxicated by either drugs or alcohol, making this a bigger risk factor. Looking at recent college data, 90% of all rapes on campuses in the US either the victim, the offender or both were intoxicated at the time of the assault.

Bring a charged cell phone with you when you are out, and set up check points with your friends. Do not give your number or any personal information to strangers. Taking these measures can help you and your friends reduce some risks from becoming victims of sexual assault.

Reducing the risk

What is Sexual Violence? Sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual com-ments or advances, acts to traffic, or other activities di-rected against a person using coercion by any person, re-gardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. The ability to give consent is an important consideration in any sexual act. A person who is unable to understand the nature or condition of the act in order to decline participation, or to communicate unwillingness to engage in the sexual act, e.g., because of illness, disability, age or the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or due to intimidation or pressure, is unable to give consent.

Mission of the NYSDOH Rape Crisis and Sexual Violence Prevention Program

The goal of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Rape Crisis and Sexual Violence Prevention Program is to improve societal response to rape, provide supports and services to victims of rape and sexual assault and to promote primary prevention efforts that reduce the incidence of rape, victimization and sexual violence. The Department approaches sexual violence from a public health perspective, recognizing that primary prevention,

including efforts to change cultural norms, behaviors and practices, is essential to create a community climate free from sexual violence. (Information provided by the New York State Department of Health.)

The Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) in our area has a 24-Hour Hotline to assist individuals who need imme-diate support.

If you or someone you know has been hurt by sexual vio-lence, call now: 1-888-810-0093. The SARC hotline is: Free, Confidential, Available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, Staffed by trained rape crisis counselor advocates, A valuable quick-response tool for help and information

Upcoming Community Event: Ending Sexual Violence-What Will You Do? Friday, April 10, 2015 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm Corning Community College Commons, Triangle Lounge (M223). Open forum discussion about initiatives to end sexual violence, moderated by CCC President, Dr. Katherine Douglas. Participants include: US Congressman Thomas Reed, Joseph Storch, Associate Counsel with SUNY, Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss, Brooks Baker, Steuben County DA, Andrea Champion, Sexual As-sault Nurse Examiner. This event is free and open to the public.

Steuben Underage Party Tip Line Anyone with information about anything related to under-

age drinking - such as parties or underage sales - in Steuben County are urged to call the toll-free line. The tip

line will be monitored seven days a week, 24 hours a day. All calls are anonymous.

1-877-862-4847

Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience: School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades. Social problems, such as fighting and

lack of participation in youth activities. Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically

hurting someone while drunk.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month This April marks the 28th An-nual Alcohol Awareness month. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug De-pendence (NCADD) spon-sors this Nation-wide cam-paign to bring awareness and reduce the stigma at-tached to alcohol and alco-hol-related issues. Drinking and driving is the number one killer of Americans aged 17-24 years old. In the US, more than 18 million individ-uals suffer from alcohol-related disorders and more than 25% of children have been exposed to an alcohol-related disorder in their own family.

During the month of April, Prevention Educators are getting the word out by me-dia, prevention programming in schools and the communi-ty, and awareness events. It is vital to spread the word about the dangers and mis-conceptions around the use of alcohol. One in every twelve adults abuse alcohol

(NCADD). Although some may view alcohol an ac-ceptable drug; the truth is that it is the most widely abused drug in our country and causes 79,000 deaths per year solely from ingest-ing too much of it (CDC).

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the body’s cen-tral nervous system, which can result in drowsiness, sleep, impaired behavior, judgment or concentration; or pain relief. Excessive al-cohol use can result in res-piratory depression and death. A small amount of alcohol can unsafely interact with other medications, such as cold medicines, antide-pressants, or antihistamines. Research also shows that there is a strong correlation between alcohol abuse and violence, and it plays a role in 50% of all arrests.

Although alcohol is not to be consumed until the age of 21, each day 7,000 kids in the US will take their first

drink, all under the age of 16 years old. Those who begin to drink before the age of 15 will be four times more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol than those who wait until they are 21 years old.

Alcohol has a negative im-pact on several organs and systems in the body. A young person who abuses alcohol interferes with nor-mal development of the brain. Alcohol use takes a toll on the liver, brain, kid-neys, stomach and heart. Chronic health, emotional, mental and social problems can arise from alcohol de-pendence and heavy use. Alcoholism is the third lead-ing lifestyle cause of death (CDC). Alcohol consumption can impact a person’s over-all wellbeing by diminishing overall health and creating conflicts at work and with friends and family.

Alcohol Awareness Month activities are planned throughout Steuben County

for the month of April. The Steuben County Task Force on Underage Drinking is conducting an alcohol awareness poster contest for students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Students will portray mes-sages to prevent alcohol use for underage people. This is one of several collaborations that Steuben Council on Ad-dictions is involved with. Over the next few months be looking in the Bath, Hornell and Corning areas for Steuben Council on Addic-tions and the Steuben Coun-ty Sheriff’s Department bill-boards that remind parents and adults about the legal consequences for providing alcohol to minors and host-ing underage parties.

If you have questions on this or other topics please con-tact us at (607) 776-6441. Prevention Educators are also available for screenings and referrals for anyone in need of help. Please, don’t wait!

Prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or illegal drugs by minors on

private premises in Steuben County. 1st Offense a violation

$250 fine & up to 15 days in jail

2nd Offense a misdemeanor

$500 fine & up to 60 days in jail

3rd / subsequent offenses misdemeanor

$1,000 fine & up to 1 year in jail

For every offense completion of a court-approved alcohol and drug awareness program is required. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It is NEVER legal for any adult to provide alcohol to someone else’s child even with the

permission of that child’s parent.

On Friday, March 20th Steuben Council was present at the Avoca Fami-ly Fling spon-sored by the Steuben County Task Force for the Prevention of Child Abuse. We had a great time talking with fami-lies and being a part of the evening!

Poster Contest

Don’t Forget that the deadline for all poster submissions for the Underage Drinking Poster Contest is no later than April 24th, submissions need to do to Steuben Council on Addictions, 8 E. Morris Street, Attn: Jim Bassage, Pre-vention Director, Bath, New York 14810. Questions-call (607) 776-6441 ext. 207

Steuben County Pinwheel & Promises Campaign

In recognition of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Steuben County Task Force for the Prevention of Child Abuse conducts its annual

county-wide Pinwheel & Promises Campaign.

The simple but beautiful pinwheel is a national symbol to raise awareness about the prevalence and preventability of child abuse. Through coordinated efforts, volunteers across the county create and proudly display pinwheels at schools, Youth Centers, Parent Re-source Centers, daycare centers, and even supporting businesses, to spread the message that we all make a prom-ise to do something to help prevent child abuse. The focus for the 2015 campaign is on the message- we all can help to prevent child abuse.

Make a pinwheel. Make a Promise. Prevent Child Abuse. In 2014, 3000 pinwheels were made and displayed across Steuben County!

The Council Corner

Steuben Council on Addictions is a division of Catholic Charities Steuben. In The Know is a regular monthly update about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to help in the prevention of substance use and abuse. For more information please contact Stacey O’Dell, Prevention Educator at sodell@dor.org.

Sexual Assault Statistics

• Every 107 seconds another American is sexually assaulted

• Each year there are about 293,000 victims of sexual as-sault

About victims

• 44% of victims are under age 18

• 80% are under age 30

• 1 out of every 6 American wom-en has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime

• 9 out of every 10 rape victims were female in 2003

• 17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape

• More than 50% of sexual assault incidents were reported by vic-tims to have occurred within 1 mile of their home or at their home

• Victims of sexual assault are 13x more likely to abuse alcohol and 26x more likely to abuse drugs

About offenders

• Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim

• 38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance

• The average age of a rapist is 31 years old

• In 1 in 3 sexual assaults, the perpetrator was intoxicated – 30% with alcohol, 4% with drugs

Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest Na-tional Network; www.rainn.org

A look at facts and figures relating to sexual assault.

8 East Morris Street

Bath, NY 14810

Phone: (607) 776-6441

Fax: (607) 776-6664

Prevention Director: Jim Bassage

Prevention Educators: Barb McCollumn, Stacey O’Dell, Erin Fleming, Michele Sexsmith

Administrative Assistant & DDP Coordinator: Diana McIntosh

Clerical Assistant: Peggy Wurzer

Drug Free Communities Coordinator: Norm McCumiskey

Drug Free Communities Program Assistant: Pam Aini

Bath Hope for Youth Counselors: Sherry Sutton—Campbell-Savona

Bridgette Lanphere—Hammondsport Jennifer Beaty—Haverling

Catholic Charities Steuben Catholic Charities Steuben Catholic Charities Steuben

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