The ATOD Prevention Group

Alcohol’s role in causing cancer becomes clearer each year—and now United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has joined the chorus of researchers and advocates in flagging the risk. On January 3, 2025, Dr. Murthy’s office released Alcohol and Cancer Risk, calling attention to alcohol’s status as one of the leading behavioral risk factors for cancer, and urging Congress to reconsider the existing outdated cancer warning labels. The report shines stark light on how current federal policy has failed U.S. residents, falling well short of the state of medical knowledge and leaving most alcohol consumers to either educate themselves or die trying.

Tell Congress & the TTB - Require Cancer Warning Labels on Beverage Alcohol NOW! - Alcohol Justice Alcohol Justice prevents the proliferation of misuse of alcohol and other related drugs and reduces the harms associated with populations targeted by the alcohol industry through evidence-informed advocacy and community organizing.

A study of 250 children in Central Ohio, published Tuesday, found that prenatal cannabis exposure was associated with poorer thinking skills and poorer levels of impulse control, ability to pay attention, ability to plan and more aggressive behavior, 'all of which play a vital role' in a child’s early performance in school and social settings.

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Young women are consuming more pot than men for the first time in a historic shift in the $30 billion U.S. cannabis industry, prompting companies to revamp products and step up investments. Women now make up 55% of the user base on Jointly, a cannabis product discovery app, and are even surpassing men in spending in certain areas.

Women aged 19 to 30 surpassed men of the same age in cannabis consumption for the first time in 2023, according to a survey by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Pot firms rethink strategy as young women lead cannabis use Young women are consuming more pot than men for the first time in a historic shift in the $30 billion U.S. cannabis industry, prompting companies to revamp products and step up investments.

The Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has notified Greenleaf Apothecaries, doing business as “The Botanist,” that they are being fined $150,000 for unapproved distribution of food and beverages from an ice cream truck on the dispensary’s premises, unapproved advertising of “free ice cream” on social media, and unapproved use of signs and use of non-compliant signs.

While that case is ongoing, Greenleaf Apothecaries separately agreed to pay a $12,500 fine for another advertising violation.

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“Gaming is going to be expanded,” Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said. “I mean, to think that we’re somehow going to go back to the puritan age where gambling is not prevalent in Ohio is foolishness.”

Throughout the spring, lawmakers like DeMora sat on a study commission for the “future of gambling in Ohio.” They released their recommendations and findings last month and now the co-chair of the commission, Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville), said they are starting to think of how the legislature can move forward.

On both sides of the aisle, members of that study commission also put an emphasis on continuing investments for gambling addiction services. In 2022, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services found that one in every five gambling adults are at-risk for developing a gambling disorder, or nearly 2 million Ohioans.

Lawmakers discuss expanding Ohio gambling laws to phones COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An expansion to different types of gambling could soon be coming in Ohio. “Gaming is going to be expanded,” Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said. “I mean, to think th…

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will move to reclassify ma*****na as a less dangerous drug, The Associated Press has learned, a historic shift to generations of American drug policy that could have wide ripple effects across the country.

The election year announcement could help Biden, a Democrat, boost flagging support, particularly among younger voters.

Biden and a growing number of lawmakers from both major political parties have been pushing for the DEA decision as ma*****na has become increasingly decriminalized and accepted, particularly by younger people.

US poised to ease restrictions on ma*****na in historic shift, but it'll remain controlled substance In a historic shift, the U.S. moves to reclassify ma*****na as a less dangerous drug, AP sources say.

Ohioans should “check in on their relationship with alcohol use” during Alcohol Awareness Month, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Liquor Control (DOLC).

“Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to potentially serious health complications and interfere with all aspects of life, including work, school and relationships,” DOLC said in a news release.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6,750 Ohioans die each year from excessive drinking. In addition, approximately 20 percent of Ohio adults report they binge drink, which is greater than the national rate of 17 percent.

Ohio Capitol Connection Ohioans should “check in on their relationship with alcohol use” during Alcohol Awareness Month, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Liquor Control (DOLC).

Approximately 11 percent of 12th-grade students across the U.S. reported the use of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the past year, according to data from the 2023 Monitoring the Future survey, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance that is typically derived from h**p, and has intoxicating effects similar to delta-9-THC, the primary THC component responsible for the “high” people may experience from using cannabis, NIH said in a news release.

Ohio Capitol Connection Approximately 11 percent of 12th-grade students across the U.S. reported the use of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the past year, according to a new study.

DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost worked with local governments to form the private, nonprofit OneOhio to manage the bulk of proceeds from settlements with drug manufacturers and distributors over their role in the opioid addiction crisis.

“You now have the responsibility to determine how that money is going to be spent, and that was the whole idea. It would be spent by people like you who represent different parts of the state,” the governor said.

Ohio Capitol Connection Gov. Mike DeWine visited Wednesday the monthly meeting of the OneOhio Recovery Board, whose creation he brought about, sharing a few key principles he thought they should consider but emphasizing that he will not seek to steer their efforts.

"With sports betting now legal, we need everyone to understand the risks and learn about setting limits," said Derek Longmeier, executive director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

Longmeier said early detection is key to limit gambling from getting out of hand. He said there aren't physical symptoms to problem gambling, but there are behaviors that tend to be red flags. ***de

Link Between Problem Gambling and Su***de Highlighted During National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month A 70% increase in calls for help with problem gambling year to date versus the same timeframe last year has alerted Ohio's prevention and clinical professionals to be aware of potential dangers stemming from challenges with gambling. In advance of World Su***de Prevention Day on Sept. 10 and through...

Ohio, which launched sports betting on Jan. 1, requires 2% of the tax revenues to go to a “problem sports gaming fund.” The state law also requires all sports betting ads to include a phone number for a problem gambling helpline. Through the first seven months, calls to Ohio’s helpline were up about 150% compared to the same period a year ago.

The surge appears driven by a spike in sports betting marketing, though some callers had problems with other types of gambling or weren’t actually seeking help, said Derek Longmeier, executive director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

As sports betting spikes, help for problem gamblers expands in some states When the NFL season kicks off, Kentucky residents will be able to legally bet on games for the first time.

New York parents are being warned that illegal va**ng devices disguised as school supplies — including highlighters, USB drives and ballpoint pens — are being peddled just in time for fall.

“These predatory overseas products are clearly targeted to kids and intentionally manufactured to look like school supplies to evade detection from teachers and parents,” said NYACS President Kent Sopris in a release.

Some of the items peddle vapes in kid-friendly flavors, including mango, strawberry banana and blueberry ice.

Parents warned about vapes disguised as school highlighters, USB drives and ballpoint pens “Since they are unregulated, they could contain dangerous substances that can cause long-term damage to users,” a longtime cop familiar with illegal va**ng devices said.