Great resources to share with you.

Up-to-the-minute information

Once again our clearinghouse has lots of great resources to share. The following free or low-cost items are available through the MPRC by calling 612-427-5310, 800-247-1303 in MN, or by sending e-mail to mprc-order@miph.org. (MN residents only please)

Reducing Tobacco Use Among Youth: Community-Based Approaches
CSAP, 1997
This is the first in a series called the Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS). PEPS provides "a systematic process for evaluating prevention research and practice evidence, assessing the strength of that evidence, then developing recommendations for practice."
For this title, three pieces are available:

1. Guideline: A comprehensive guide that covers a number of approaches to the prevention of tobacco use: economic interventions, counter advertising, interventions directed toward tobacco retailers, multicomponent community approaches, tobacco-free environment policies, and advertising and promotion restrictions.
2. Guideline for Prevention Practitioners: This guide summarizes the findings of the more comprehensive guideline. It is also available online at www.health.org/pepsprac-titioners/index.htm.
3. Community Guide: Containing recommendations to communities based on the comprehensive guideline, this is a convenient 12-page booklet that includes a list of organizations, their phone numbers and Web sites. This piece is out of stock in print but available online at www.health.org/pepscommunity/index.htm.

Preventing Substance Abuse Among Children and Adolescents: Family-Centered Approaches, Reference Guide (part of the second set of the PEPS Series)
CSAP, 1998
This comprehensive text is intended for state substance abuse agencies, as well as national, state and local organizations and researchers that are concerned with issues relating to children and families, such as substance abuse, delinquency, child health and welfare and family support. This is a guide for considering the advantages and disadvantages of specific interventions and for planning prevention initiatives in the community.

Keeping Children Drug Free: Using Family-Centered Approaches, Parent and Community Guide (part of the second set of the PEPS Series)
CSAP, 1998
An informational brochure for concerned citizens.

Nicotine Addiction
From the NIDA Research Report Series, July 1998
This eight-page booklet defines nicotine and discusses its addictive nature. It also discusses the extent and impact of tobacco use, with special emphasis on adolescent use. Medical consequences of nicotine use, including the risks of smoking during pregnancy, are addressed. Treatment for nicotine addiction is also discussed.

Cigars: Health Effects and Trends - Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph 9
National Cancer Institute, 1998
Over 50 scientists contributed to this monograph that addresses the questions: Who is using cigars? What are the health risks? Are premium cigars less hazardous than regular cigars? What are the risks if you don't inhale the smoke? What are the health implications of being around a smoker?

Drug Addiction Research and the Health of Women
NIH, 1998
Builds on presentations from the 1994 national conference, Drug Addiction Research and the Health of Women and tries to determine what is known about drug abuse and women's health, and to fill in knowledge gaps in this area. The reviews in this book "emphasize that the causes, correlates, pharmokinetics, mechanisms, and consequences of drug abuse and addiction vary considerably between men and women."
An executive summary is also available. This publication is available on the World Wide Web at www.nida.nih.gov/WHGD/DARHW-download.html.

The Synar Amendment
The Synar Amendment mandates the reduction of tobacco sales to minors. Several new pieces provide information on the implementation of this legislation

Synar Regulation Implementation: Report to Congress on FFY 1997 State Compliance, Summary
CSAP, 1998
This is a brief report that describes how SAMHSA is implementing the Synar legislation. State efforts to enforce related laws and regulations are also discussed.
Among the major findings: Pre-1997 noncompliance rates of sales to minors were found to be 60 to 90 percent, which was reduced to a median rate of 40 percent in 1997. By the Federal Fiscal Year 2003, states expect to have a maximum noncompliance rate of sales of 20 percent.

Implementing the Synar Regulation: Tobacco Outlet Inspection, Implementation Guide
CSAP, 1998
This document provides methods for performing inspections of retail tobacco outlets as required by law. Designed to help states develop a scientifically credible and reliable protocol, some suggestions go beyond minimum reporting requirements to enhance implementation results.
Sections included are:

• Using Minors to Conduct Inspections of Retail Tobacco Outlets
• Data Collection Methods
• Sample Inspection Protocol

Implementing the Synar Regulation: Strategies for Reducing the Sales of Tobacco Products to Minors, Technical Report
CSAP, 1998
This report discusses important issues and strategies related to preventing tobacco sales to minors. Topics covered include policy/regulatory approaches; merchant education; enforcement of merchant compliance; and community education and support. Case studies are also provided.

Safe Schools, Safe Students: A Guide to Violence Prevention Strategies
Drug Strategies, 1998
This guide assesses 84 violence prevention programs for general classroom populations. The introduction includes a discussion of key elements of promising violence prevention programs and of violence pre-vention components that are of dubious value or possible harm.

The MPRC can arrange a three-week loan for Minnesota residents.