Current Issues
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| show & tell PARENTS GIVE THE MESSAGE The Youth Issues Committee, a sub-group of the Chippewa Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP), focuses on addressing the problems of underage drinking in Chippewa County. This collaborative group has representatives from other local agencies which share this concern, including Chippewa County Public Health, UW- Extension (Chippewa County), Chippewa Falls School District, and Pathways. Rhonda Brown (CHIP) serves as chair. Recognizing that the solutions must include the improvement of parent-child communication about the negative behaviors and consequences resulting from underage use, they have developed a project entitled "Show & Tell." This project has and will have a variety of strategies which encourage parents to communicate their expectations regarding underage use, and provide education and information which promote community awareness of the mental, emotional, and physical damage which may be caused by underage use. In 2008 they received a grant from the Community Foundation of Chippewa County to kick off the "Show & Tell" campaign. Strategies implemented so far include:
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| The Case For a Higher Tax on Beer There are compelling public health and financial reasons to increase the excise taxes on beer. Wisconsin's beer excise tax has not been increased since 1969 and is the third lowest beer excise tax in the nation. Contrast this with Wisconsin's rating as highest in the country for underage drinking, for binge drinking (all populations), and for women drinking while pregnant. Our state also has some of the highest rates of drunken driving and related road deaths. According to state law Wisconsin's tax on fermented malt beverages is currently just $2 a barrel. This breaks down to about 3 cents per six-pack or about half a penny per bottle. Consider this: How many six-packs would you have to buy to pay the same amount of tax as you would on a carton of cigarettes? (answer: 210!) The increase in the excise tax on beer still does not come near the amount of public cost from the abuse of beer and other alcoholic beverages nor does it keep up with the inflation rate if the tax had been incrementally raised over the last 40 years. Think About It! |
| SAFE & GREEN SWEEP Recycle Old or Unwanted Medications! The residents of Chippewa County will have an opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of old or unwanted medications properly. It is not safe to dump old medications down the drain or place in the trash -- residues find their way into lakes, streams, and drinking water. Also, prescription drug abuse continues to be a serious problem, especially at our high schools. Principals and law enforcement report that students are coming to school with prescription drugs to trade, sell, and ingest. When asked where they're getting them from, many students state their source is a grandparent's medicine cabinet or from within their own home. On Saturday, April 25, 2009 a collection of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications will take place as part of the county's annual "Clean Sweep." The collection will be held at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds from 8:00 AM until noon. County residents may bring in medication either in the original containers or in plastic bags. Law enforcement and volunteers from several community agencies will be on hand to assist. No sharps (waste) will be collected. The Safe & Green Sweep is a project of the Chippewa County Drug Response Task Force. For more information, please call the county recycling coordinator at 715-726-7999. |
