NC ABC Commission Hosts First Meeting of Governor's Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
RALEIGH â€" Governor Pat McCrory opened the initial meeting of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Wednesday with special recognition for five North Carolinians who have helped raise awareness about the issue of underage drinking.
(Media-Newswire.com) - RALEIGH – Governor Pat McCrory opened the initial meeting of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Wednesday with special recognition for five North Carolinians who have helped raise awareness about the issue of underage drinking.
Governor McCrory presented Mayor of Harrisburg Steve Sciascia, Peggy Bennett, and Nancy Hunter with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and gave the younger recipients Josh Bennett and Autumn Zimmer special certificates to thank them for their service to North Carolina by sharing their personal stories in the statewide Talk it Out campaign.
“Substance abuse and underage drinking are serious problems that are starting earlier and earlier in life. However the effects linger for a lifetime and too often cut young lives short,” said Governor McCrory. “I created this task force so public safety, health and human services, education, and other related organizations can work together at all levels to end this culture and problem. I want to thank Commissioner Gardner, the courageous families who have let their story help raise awareness of this problem, and all those who are serving on this task force for working to find solutions to address substance abuse and underage drinking.”
NC ABC Commission Chairman Jim Gardner and NC Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry presided over the remainder of the task force meeting after NC Court of Appeals Judge Chris Dillon delivered the oath to the members: • NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Chairman James Gardner ( Nash County ) • N.C. Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry ( Wake County ) • Thomas Shanahan ( Orange County ) • Deborah Insley ( Rowan County ) • Mary Frazelle ( Wake County ) • Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest ( Wake County ) • Dr. Elizabeth Chaney ( Pitt County ) • Dr. Deborah Morris ( Buncombe County ) • Dr. Flo Stein ( Wake County ) • Leah Burns ( Wake County ) • Rodney Beckom ( Alamance County ) • Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes ( Guilford County ) • Phillip Mooring ( Wilson County ) • Nicole Augustine ( Mecklenburg County ) • N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Kelly Thomas ( Cumberland County ) • Timothy Kent ( Moore County ) • Jeffrey Hunt ( Transylvania County ) • Thomas Betts ( Nash County ) • William Pope ( Wake County ) • Emily Ranson ( Jackson County ) After the swearing-in, the task force heard a briefing from the ABC Commission about the ongoing Talk it Out media campaign to raise awareness and equip parents to talk with their children about issues of underage drinking. Since its December 2014 launch, Talk it Out has gained 121,096 website visits to talkitoutnc.org, 15,394 Facebook fans, 14,916 video views, and received more than 100 pieces of online, print and broadcast media coverage.
ABC Commission representatives also gave an overview about work to address the proliferation of fake IDs and the expanding reach of the campaign through community organizations and partnerships with statewide associations.
New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David provided information about a program under way in Wilmington and three other jurisdictions around the state to allow for deferred prosecution of underage drinking offenders who agree to take part in education programs.
Flo Stein, Deputy Director NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, provided an update to the task force on the Collegiate Wellness program.
ABOUT THE TASK FORCE
Governor Pat McCrory signed an executive order in May 2014 that creates a multi-agency task force aimed at reducing substance abuse and underage drinking. The Governor’s Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force will build on statewide prevention, treatment and enforcement initiatives implemented by the Alcohol Beverage Control ( ABC ) Commission, Alcohol Law Enforcement ( ALE ) Division, the Department of Health and Human Services ( DHHS ) and the University of North Carolina ( UNC ) System.
ABOUT THE NC ABC COMMISSION
North Carolina is one of 17 states to regulate alcohol through a control system. Since 1937, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has provided regulation and control over the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in the state of North Carolina. The commission oversees more than 25,000 permits allowing alcohol sales by more than 18,000 retail outlets across the state. http://abc.nc.gov.
This story was released on 2015-03-26. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.