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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05161989 - IO.4 I.0. 4 TO. Board of Supervisors •, _— , FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE DATE: May 8, 1989 rA enu1S SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON FOLLOW-UP TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG SUMMITS Specific Request(s) or Recommendations(s) & Background & Justification RECOMMENDATION: Request the Health Services Director, in consultation as appropriate with the County Administrator, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, County Probation Officer and Social Services Director to report to our Committee on June 26, 1989 at 9:00 A.M.recommending a timetable and framework for appropriate follow-up to the recent Drug Summit I and Alcohol Summit I. This should include recommendations regarding how Opportunity West and their grant from the United Way should be fully integrated into these plans. BACKGROUND: As the Board Members are aware,the County has recently sponsored two very successful Summits on two elements of the substance abuse problem in this County,Drug Summit I and Alcohol Summit I. Each Board Member has been encouraged to sponsor a regional drug conference in his or her Supervisorial district,leading up to a planned Drug Summit II in October, 1989 in conjunction with"Red Ribbon Week". We understand that Supervisors Powers and Fanden are sponsoring a regional drug conference in West County on May 19, 1989. In addition, Supervisor Fanden has indicated that she plans to sponsor a regional conference in the Lafayette-Moraga-Orinda area. Supervisor Torlakson is working on a similar conference in East County. Supervisors McPeak and Schroder are cooperating on a Central County Regional Conference,with the cooperation of Supervisors Torlakson and Fanden in regard to the Clayton and Martinez areas. With the overwhelming success of Alcohol Summit I some thought has been given to combining the problems of drug abuse and alcohol abuse in terms of the next Summit conference. At the same time,the complexity of putting together several regional conferences makes the timing of Summit II something of a problem because it appears likely that the Central County Regional Conference will not be able to take place before late September or early October,thus placing it very close to Red Ribbon Week. Some consideration,therefore,might be given to holding the Central County Regional Conference during Red Ribbon Week and moving the Summit 11 Conference to the spring of 1990. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT. YES SIGNATURE: Recom end n of County istrator Recommendation of Board Committee pro Other: Signature(s): OM OWERS SUNNE WRIGHT McP A� Action of Bo don: May 16,1989 Approved as Recommended X Other Vote of Supervisors _ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND X Unanimous(Absent ) CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND Ayes: Noes: ENTERED ON HE MINUTES OF THE BOARD Absent: Abstain: OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. cc: County Administrator ATTESTED /G 0. /98 9 Health Services Director PHIL BATCFOLOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD District Attorney SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Sheriff-Coroner County Probation Officer Social Services Director Jody Parsons,County Manager,United Way BY: 0441J�✓ ,Deputy Clerk Opportunity West clvm:eh(io4.bo) Consideration has also been given.to the feasibility of focusing the Summit II Conference on the problems of funding solutions to the drug and alcohol problems in the County in view of the possibility of a statewide initiative campaign being launched in 1990 with a view to putting an initiative on the ballot in 1990 to increase the excise tax on alcoholic beverages, with the proceeds being used to combat the drug and/or alcohol problems in California. Opinion is divided on whether it is wiser to combine drug and alcohol problems since alcohol is admitted to be the drug which is most abused in this country and since alcohol is the entry drug for many of our young people, or to try to separate the drug issue from the alcohol issue since the drug problem is,to a large extent,a law enforcement and public education problem whereas the alcohol problems are different, simply because alcohol is a legal drug for adults and is socially more acceptable than are many illegal drugs. For all of these reasons, we are recommending that the Health Services Director and his staff review each of these issues and return to our Committee on June 26, 1989 with a recommended timetable and framework for our follow- up activities. L r ;;��C .OL JJi II` I� I /24/89 COMMENTS 1 . Fantastic! Please keep me on your mailing list for next one. By: Rev. Virginia Linn (Moraga) 2. To Board of Supervisors - Thank you a million times for trying to raise the community consciousness level on alcohol. I wish the summit could have encompassed more people. We need to reach our teenagers and young adults. I have five children, unfortunately all alcoholics. Thankfully, we are in counseling but the young adults need peer support and places of entertainment where they can get support; instead of bars . Again, this is the best thing that's happened in Contra Costa County and I'm very proud to be a part of it. Thank yout Thank you! By: Anonymous 3. To Nancy Fanden, Supervisor - Superb Workshop Nancy. The public needs to be made aware of the magnitude of the problem. Our County Dental Society has a Well Being Committee which I chair devoted to helping with chemical abuse within the Dental profession. I'm sure we can find many avenues of closeness in our interest and recognition of the problem. I've retired from dentistry, but am excited about working in this field for dentistry. By: Carlos Cabrera, DDS - Contra Costa Dental Society 4 . To: Board of Supervisors - This program was well presented. Needs to be repeated across the nation. Meeting the challenge is a very good title. By: Anonymous 5-. To: Board of Supervisors - The entire summit was absolutely superb. By: Hope Ewing, M.D. , Merrithew Memorial Hospital 6. This was a wonderful idea to open it up to the general public and bring in such noteworthy and interesting speakers . By: Anonymous 7. Excellent program! Excellent speakers - especially Dr. Garry, Sunne McPeak and Jerry Moe. Also excellent were the variety of characters chosen as speakers . By: Anonymous 8 . Very good; I think that the next time there should be a larger facility to hold this in. Enjoyed it very much; good planning; great speakers . Have learned much about my problem and a little insight how alcohol affected my whole family. By: Anonymous 9 . Excellent! A tremendous effort for an extremely difficult problem. I learned a great deal about the kinds of efforts 10. Good speakers! Very good seminar. By: Anonymous 11 . To: Sponsors and Presenters: A very well put on program. Interesting, educational, useful information and to top off the first half - a tasty lunch that was light and not too filling. Joviality of the speakers was appreciated. By: Anonymous 12. A great conference) Excellent planning! A written synopsis of Dr. Arthur Curry's presentation (plus the man (36 year old) ..who spoke on prevention) to be made available would be useful and greatly appreciated. In fact, short summaries of several of the speakers (e.g. , Jerry Moe and Carol Leahy) on paper would be good to have. Thank you. By: Anonymous 13 . This conference was very well organized and "put together" . Each speaker was dynamic. Each perspective exciting. For anyone unaware of the problem - this. conference would inform as to the scope of the truth of the situation. By: Anonymous 14 . To: Conference Organizers: I came to Alcohol Summit I only to find some justification for the cost of alcohol and drug programs in Contra Costa County. It has been a wonderful experience. I have been amazed at the quality of the members organizing the conference and the professionalism of the speakers. The summit has been marvelous . With all the brains and hearts involved, I am now much more convinced we can beat the terrible drug problems of our society. Thanks and -God Bless . By: Mary Caldera (private citizen) 15. To: Summit Planners: Bill Caughron was the best speaker of alll Clarified issues and approaches to solutions and was inspiring too. It was a pleasure to have a good lunch nicely served - not a usual happening at these type of conventions ) . Also, much appreciated having coffee in the a.m. break and cold soft drinks in the aft. Keeping the price low helped many more of us to attend. I wish we had planned time for smaller discussion groups which would include people for 3 or more different organizations attending. By: Anonymous 16 . For a first - it's great! Not enough room to exhibits - a hit tho. The speaker following Coughlin (Bill Caughron) was terrific - good ideas clearly presented! By: Anonymous 17 . Very informative day - well organized; excellent speakers . Thank you for the handouts . The portfolio was/is really slippery. (I almost lost it! ) Thank you for a great day! Please keep me informed. By: Helen Williams 858 Retch Court Rodeo, CA 94572 18 . To: Conference: This summit was well handled and very professional. The speakers were very enjoyable. I 'm from Alameda County, and it's wonderful to see the involvement of the Supervisors in Contra Costa County. The whole climate of the summit was one of building excitement and energy to make changes in the country. By: Anonymous 19 . Very good seminar in general. Many speakers spoke too loudly, which was annoying. My company is small (350 people) . The founding President doesn't feel an EAP is necesary nor do the officers of the company. How to handle these objections would be a nice topic -to address next year. The food was great, the smokers were the pits! ! Too small for smokers - (too tight of quarters) . By: Anonymous 20. To: Board of Supervisors: All speakers were great. Maybe next time include the FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) Workshop. By: Anonymous 21 . To: Mark Finucane: Today's Alcohol Summit was excellent. As a mental health professional and an Aids Group Coordinator for Contra Costa County Public Health, I found the information useful and informative. The summit was well organized and flowed nicely inspite of the large crowd. Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to next year's summit By: Mary T. Parish 22. Need to make this summit into a video and available to the public.* Perhaps available through public libraries for home use; for groups and all types of gatherings, senior citizen groups, schools including PTA's, etc. Children centers and community-based organizations/churches . To help with informing public so they can learn what and how large the problem is . By: Anonymous 23 . To: Organizers of program: Speakers were interesting (some too loud) . Overcrowding was apparent - biggest distraction/ problem was SMOKE and SMOKERS! By and large a good conference. There is a definite need for more awareness in Solano County. Can you forward your "plan" to our supes . I doubt they'd really do anything at this point because there seems to be a generalized "head in the sand" feeling that we ,really don't have a problem in Solano County. By: Anonymous 24 . Thank you! The people that put this Alcohol Summit I together. It is a wonderful thing you are doing. (1 ) legalize drugs - take the profit away from the criminal; (2 ) Incorporate the helping agencies so they can be more effective; (3) Keep raising sin tax. I like turning off TV and having a family night. 25 . To whom it may concern: Hi, I'm 14 and I would like to say thank you to the guy from the Dodgers team and the guy from Channel 7 (the anchorman) . I am a recovering alcoholic and their speech really helped me out alot. It's people like them who give speeches like that that help me to stay sober. Again, thanks. By: Anonymous 26 . Wonderful presentations. More help in seating people when they first come in. What is the role of society in creating conditions (poverty, our population, etc. ) that lead people to escape into drugs and alcohol. No smoking except outside. By: Anonymous 27 . More space. Smaller workshop settings might be good. The doctor was great; more time with him would be nice. By: Anonymous 28 . To: Board of Supervisors . Reference to suggestion of a Contra Costa Day to Turn Off TV's" - a great idea; a way for the community to be together and powerful. By: John Kiefer 29 . To: Mark Finucane. I think the Summit was great. It could be a two day seminar. We hope that it will happen again soon! It's great to know our County Supervisors care about the_. people in recovery or who work in recovery. I'm glad to be a citizen in Contra Costa County. By: Suzanne Novo 1915 Clayton Way #4 Concord, CA 94519 30 . To: Any supervisor: Intervention and prevention are wonder- ful. Recovery in the adolescent community is fairly high. You see alot of teenagers at the AA and NA meetings . My concerns are we really need more treatment facilities for teenagers in order to help these kids . Most can't stay at home with their families and recover. Most of the teens who use or are in recovery have parents who use or deal in drugs I know many children either sit in the hall or are on the streets . By: Anonymous 31 . Thoroughly enjoyed today especially Bill Caughron, MFCC Arthur Garry, M.D. and Jerry Moe, M.A. By: K. Manzer 32 . I was very impressed by the speakers who were all dynamic, knowledgeable and most importantly interesting. By: Anonymous 33 . To whom it may concern: Great day; great speakers; great packets; just wish lobby was smoke free. By: Anonymous 34 . Should have been held in a larger facility; i.e. , Russ Coughlin's suggestions. This would have permitted many more individuals to attend and participate in an overall excellent program format. Perhaps Richmond Auditorium would have also permitted not only the space, but participation from more residents of Contra Costa and it's borders. Overall good presentations. By: Anonymous 35 . Keeping to time/agenda really important. Narrow corridor and display tables made movement in and out slow. Afternoon sessions very strong - content and deliveries . Need to get communities planning and involved first by getting community leaders involved. Congratulations to Board and administrators for confronting the problem and working to solutions . 36 . To everyone involved: Excellent! ! A suggestion for next year might be to rent the Pavillion. This would allow each of the programs to bring along their residents and possibly their families . The information is valuable to all. P.S. warmer weather of course. By: Dale 37 . The MFCC from Kings View was good (Caughron) . He had something real to say. Coughlan was of no value to this kind of group. More of the day should have dealt with real programs presented by smart, well-informed people who are actually working on these problems . 38 . To: Cathy Carpino: We are from the non-profit foundation called "Fixing on Reality" . We heard of what some of the alcohol does to you and your family, but we did not 'hear anything about DRUNK DRIVING and what it does to you, your family and anyone who is involved. People shy away from the "Real" fact about the consequences of driving drunk. By: Steve and Cathy Bennett 39 . To Board of Supervisors : Well done! Suggest next time workshops that explore some topics in depth be included. Also, please use overhead projectors so more of us can see! By: Ann Alton, American Indian Education Program. 40 . To Board of Supervisors : I think it might be a great help if you could invite supervisors from other counties to your next summit to show them how well your openness and determination and your new ideas really do work. Congratulations on doing a great job. Thanks alot. * y: Anonymous 41. To Board of Supervisors and Health Services Staff: Thank you for getting this group together to heighten the awareness of the pervasiveness of alcohol problems. Perhaps we could have more information in small groups at Alcohol Summit II . By: Anonymous 42. To Board of Supervisors: Great job you guysll Parents looking for support group . . . phone Toughlove (415) 455-1451 for valley group meeting dates. By: Anonymous 43 . I have no questions, but I would like to thank you for this wonderful day. I work in the Alcohol field and have found this a very helpful day. By: Evelin Hinker 44 . The conference was excellent; keep up the good work. I support not serving alcoholic beverages at county paid for functions . By: Anonymous 45 . To Phil Batchelor: Regarding panel of recovering people - I felt the panel would have been of much greater value to us if they had been given the "respect" of time to tell "their story" instead of being guided with questions and little time to develop what was on their mind to share. These are our community people, not people with well known professions, etc. The woman's side of the story still remains obscure a weakness that needs strengthening in the conference or other planned conferences. By: Anonymous 46 . To: Planning Committee - smoke from smokers in the lobby should be eliminated. It's totally unacceptable and a health hazard. By: Anonymous 47 . Nobody has addressed elderly, widowers and loneliness, etc. in the entire program. By: Anonymous 48 . May I comment about drug awareness training of teachers in two thirds of the County middle schools supported by Lions . 76 clubs in 2 counties, 3,000 volunteers in service to community. By: Tom Florine 49 . To Mark Finucane: Raise consciousness of some of the speakers not to make jokes about "drive me to drink" or "give her or him a drink" . It's just in bad taste. 50. To Russ Coughlan: The traditions don't say you can't talk about being an alcoholic or recovery just to maintain a balanced r•go by not talking about memberships in our AA Club. You can tell people where to go for help; i.e. , AA publically . I am a member of . . . publically enhances ego whether we like it or not. By: Anonymous 51 . Your folders are really neat with one exception - too slippery. Get the cheaper rough texture material for your next Alcohol Summit. Awareness in School Children and Building of Self Esteem (within schools) should start in first 3 grades. Can I be of any service? My experience is 18 years sobriety, part time teaching, past chairman of speaker's bureau Public Information (within AA) in Santa Clara County. By: Elaine Kansier 124 Poppy Dr. Hercules 94547 (415) 799-4514 52. To Board of Supervisors : Please consider sending a copy of "Not My Kid" to every family that has adolescent approaching 12-13-14 year olds - "Ounce of Prevention (Identification) is Worth A Pound of Cure" 11 By: Anonymous 53. To All Paid Professionals in the Drug War: (On our side of Prevention, Cure) - If you are not getting results from your work - why, why don't you resign and do something worthy of your efforts. We hear too much about how you cannot do what you're paid for. Anonymous 54 . Talk more about AA. By: marilyn Clark 55 . To Arthur Garry, M.D. - I was very interested to hear Dr. Garry address the issue of treatment for professionals . I feel he did not address this issue (1 ) those who work in the field of alcoholism when they need therapy; (2) ACA in the role of staff of a alcoholism treatment center and (3 ) resources to send staff members to for treatment. By: Anonymous 56 . Willing to help with petition. Call Virginia Brunk, 3701 Sattler Drive, Concord 94519; 685-6471 . 57 . Two young recovery people to use: Karin - Alcohol and r. Drug Abuse Council and Wendy from ThunderRoad. 58 . A very informative day. I am interested in alcohol tax initiative petition. Norene Mason, 1230 New Hampshire, Concord 94521 QUESTIONS/SUGGESTIONS 59 . Larger quarters next. time. Time spaced more realistically. Good speakers; good information. 60. Put anti-drug and alcohol messages into school curriculum. Start education as young as possible. Alternatives to the start of social drinking. Taxing alcohol will reduce its use. 61. Change the title to "Chemical Dependency" instead of Alcohol Summit. Link schools with better health education or have support/health aide type people on staff . 62 . To Board of Supervisors: Who will be coordinating the ongoing programs that may come out of this summit? A very good conference - something for each person present. 63. To Board of Supervisors: My personal opinion is that you should really focus more on the youth; give them more time to share their experiences, hope, dreams, ideas, suggestions . I personally feel that they are the ones who can break the chain of addiction and alcoholism. They're the future generation and their opinion is extremely important. Thanks . 64. To Tom Torlakson: Tax the liquor - not the property owner. Tax the user not the non abuser. Don't support denial. 65 . Please let us put more focus on adult education. Both this summit and the drug summit ended up focusing on kids . Kids learn by example, especially adult example. We adults should clean up our own acts and walk our talk. More focus on promoting by example sober and clean behavior at family and peer gatherings, and education of our peers. Thanks . P.S. Good Summit! ! By: Elaine Eubanks 66 . A Bill has been introduced to lower presumption of Drunk Driving vs . Blood Alcohol level. Will this if enacted have a positive effect on alcohol abuse. Do "get tough DUI laws" really work as a deterent? 67. Why not bring back recreational activities that Prop. 13 took away. Coulf be a good deterent to alcohol and drugs - swimming pools, drive ins, after school sports, recrea- tion. 68 . Have you considered the fact that alcohol and drugs are "escapes" and wondered what so many (masses ) people are wanting to escape from? Is it that our society offers little to look forward to (except for every day struggles) that people turn to alcohol and drugs? By: Suzanne Adelson 69 . What can we do at the community level to respond to the presence of advertising? Billboards. Mazagines, etc. Can we limit this somehow? 70 . To Jerry Moe: Since alcoholism and drug abuse seems to start these days more often in Junior High; during the vulnerable pre-teen years, what do you think of making the junior high setting a smaller or more protected environment, where teachers and students communicate more readily and where parent participation could be encouraged. There's a big opportunity for assessment of substance abuse that we are missing at that age. 71 . To Sunne McPeak: Why can't we have a county tax on alcohol sold in this county and have it earmarked for prevention, treatment, and recovery? 72 . To Board -of Supervisors: Is it possible to have open door treatment program that offers free services to any user, especially the "average" street user that can't afford to pay for the program. 73 . Do you think by continuing to use the "disease" concept in describing alcoholism we are keeping people from seeking treatment because we usually think of disease as "not our fault" . "I can't help it" . 74 . What is the possibility of someday Contra Costa County or any county in California becoming a dry county? Such as in the Prohibition era? If alcohol is as bad as you say, why not make it illegal as is; say, cocaine, crack, etc. - 75 . Maybe we could organize an "on the road" conference for kids at school. They need to be informed. We need to let them know that we're out here. How about the PTA - Parent Teacher Association. The parents are the most important teachers ! ! 76 . To Tom Torlakson: When is the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors going to take a stand by issuing a proclamation and/or passing a county ordinance - that would ban the serving of alcoholic beverages in public buildings, parks, etc. , at political gatherings and fundraisers; and "endorsing" the sale of alcoholic beverages at other types of fundraisers put on by non- profit groups? Note: It's a much bigger problem than smoking! 77 . Would it be a good idea in order to promote public aware- ness of the influence of our TV media, to pick a day in Contra Costa County and ask people to turn off their TV's and have a "family night" . It might make the networks aware that we are very serious about what messages we want our children to hear. 78 . Question about steroid use in high schools . What can be done to address this issue, and to ma'..e coaches, etc. accountable? In other words, not to avoid and keep silent about what's going on because teams are winning and that's all that's important. 79 . Will someone please define "High Bottom Alcoholic"? Listed as one of the myths of alcoholism on program. 80. How can we restrict liquor licenses for convenience stores (7 eleven, etc. ) , advertising for alcohol - TV, radio, newspapers, billboards. 81 . To panel and politicians: Is there any truth to the news that this past month, there are millions of dollars in Federal Grants available, some left over from last year, for treatment and recovery for drug and alcohol, not being used? What do we need to do as a group together as citizens and politicians to get the ball rolling? 82. To Supervisors: Do you have any plans to address the problem of duel diagnosis? If so, what? 83. Regarding the story of the 4 teenagers (girls) smoking pot. What do you say to let the younger sister know drugs are not the answer? 84 . To the panel: What is the possibility of intervention in a dysfunctional alcoholic family Before they reach _ bottom; i.e. , loss of job, money, etc. and/or breakup of family. If this is possiblr, what are the most effective, least destructive intervention procedures? 85 . To Board of Supervisors: Will Alameda County put on similar seminars. 86 . Could more -information (workshop) be provided next time on the etiological factor; ie. historical, psycho- social factors as particular populations are affected such as American Indian, Hispanic, etc. Also, concern that in looking for a factor in alcohols in that one will be trapped into blac and white. Answers, rather than viewing alcoholism from a multi-casual perspective. By: Ann Alton, Amer. Indian Education Program.