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 Welcome to the Health Promotion & Prevention Newsletter, released every two months by Marion County's Health Promotion & Prevention Team! In this newsletter, our team shares information, tips, news, and updates on community work being done to promote health and prevent disease in Marion County.
Help us spread awareness by sharing this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and many people in Oregon may be drinking more than they realize. In the U.S., 1 in 5 deaths among adults aged 20-49 is linked to excessive drinking.
Excessive drinking includes:
- Binge drinking - 4 or more drinks (for women) or 5 or more drinks (for men) on a single occasion.
- Heavy drinking - More than 1-2 drinks per night over the course of a week.
Binge drinking is a concern in our community. According to the 2021 Oregon Behavioral Health Risk Factors Surveillance System, in Marion County, 19% of adults aged 19-34 and 15% of adults aged 35-54 reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
Alcohol remains the most widely misused substance in Marion County, resulting in a significantly higher number of emergency department and urgent care visits than opioid overdoses. In Marion County, during October 2024, there were 193 urgent care or emergency visits related to alcohol use, compared to 25 visits for opioid overdose (Source: Oregon ESSENCE).
If you are looking for resources to cut back on drinking or need help, visit rethinkthedrink.com.
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Trainings
March 6th, 7th, and 8th: Free Video Production Workshops for High School-aged youth
Click here to register for High School Video Production Workshop Series
Thursday, March 20th: The Power of Social Connection Event
Click here to register for The Power of Social Connection
Tuesday, April 15th: Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition Meeting
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Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition meeting – April 15, 2025 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at 1407 Monmouth Independence Hwy, Monmouth (Behind Roth’s ).
For more information visit: Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition
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April 28th-30th: 2025 Oregon Suicide Prevention Conference in Portland
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Lines for Life, in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority and our community collaborators, is excited to host the 2025 Oregon Suicide Prevention Conference in Portland, Oregon.
To register for this event visit: Home - 2025 Oregon Suicide Prevention Conference
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Following is a list of additional health promotion trainings and education opportunities.
Know of another organization that provides great trainings? We'd love to share them with our network. Let us know at MCHDPrevention@co.marion.or.us.
 The Power of Social Connection
As humans we are wired to be social, and these connections are important to our well-being. Yet, we are becoming more isolated as a society. In a study from the Surgeon General, Our Epidemic of Loneliness 2023, it was found that approximately half of American adults experience loneliness.
Social connection plays a vital role in both physical and mental health. Individuals with strong social relationships have a lower risk of illnesses such as heart disease, stroke dementia, depression, and anxiety. In fact, people with more social connections tend to live longer.
Here are some ways to become more connected:
- Prioritize relationships - Make time to connect with others.
- Explore hobbies - Try a new activity or revisit an old one.
- Volunteer - Helping others can increase your sense of purpose and connection.
- Spend time in nature - Socialize while enjoying the outdoors.
- Connect with neighbors - Build relationships in your community.
- Join a group - Participate in a club, service organization, or faith-based community.
For more ways to foster social connections, visit Social Connection | HHS.gov or join us at the Silverton 50+ Center on March 20th for a presentation on the Power of Social Connection. Click here to register.
Middle School Problem Gambling Awareness Art Search
For the 2024-25 school year, Marion County is hosting a countywide art contest for middle school-aged youth to raise awareness about problem gambling.
Students can participate through their classroom or as an independent home protect. The top 12 submissions will receive prizes. Join the art search and showcase your creativity!
Click here for more information on the Middle School Art Search
Healthy Choices High School Video Contest
Marion County and Polk County, in partnership with Capital Community Media and Salem Health, are hosting a Healthy Choices Video Contest for high school-aged youth. The top three winners will receive $500-$1,000 in prizes, based on educational content, creativity and video production quality.
To enter, download the contest registration form and submit your creative video by April 18, 2025 for a chance to win!
For more information visit: Join the 2025 High School Video Contest!
Meet New Prevention Team Members!
Tania Ateeque joined the Health Promotion & Prevention team as a Health Educator in February. She will be leading healthcare provider outreach as part of our Opioid Prevention Campaign, working to identify gaps in opioid misuse and prevention resources. Her efforts will primarily focus on teens, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age.
Tania has a strong healthcare background and holds a Master's in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Oregon State University. She is also certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).
Having previously worked as a clinician, Tania is excited to shift her focus to prevention, believing it to be a more effective approach to improving healthcare outcomes. She is excited to work with Marion County's Opioid Prevention team to raise awareness, enhance resource accessibility, and ultimately save lives.
Outside of work, Tania enjoys cooking and baking with her daughters Mahveen (13), Maryam (7) and Ambar (4). On weekends, she loves going on long walks and hikes with her family.
Please join us in welcoming Tania to the team!
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Rachel Levine is one of the new Health Promotion and Prevention interns at Marion County Health and Human Services. As a member of the Environmental Health Resiliency team, she will be assisting in the creation of the Climate and Health Adaptation Plan for Marion County Public Health.
Rachel is currently a senior at Willamette University with a double major in Environmental Science and Public Health, as well as minors in biology and sustainability. During her time in undergrad, she has been heavily involved in Growing Oaks, a Willamette University student grant project dedicated to restoring the Oregon White Oak population.
After graduating from Willamette, Rachel plans to attend law school to pursue a career in environmental or public health law. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and yoga.
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Alexia Gookin Lopez, Willamette University student, is interning with the Health Promotion and Prevention team.
As part of her internship, she will work with the Alcohol & Drug Prevention and Education Program (ADPEP) to develop an organizational process to aid in the analysis of the incoming Student Health Survey Data.
During her time with the program, Alexia will also conduct a thorough literature review on the prevalence of youth substance abuse in Marion County. This review will explore key risk factors, including socioeconomic conditions, family dynamics, and peer influence, to better understand what contributes to substance use among youth.
The goal is to create a review that will aid in improving prevention efforts for youth residing in Marion County.
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1. My Worth: Classroom Guest Speakers for Middle School Classrooms
FREE 6th grade curriculum to support health programs, that engages students in conversations about peer pressure, online safety, social media and healthy choices. For more information visit irespectandprotect.com/for-orgs or contact Max Gutfreund, Prevention Education Project Coordinator: MGutfreund@LibertyHouseCenter.org or (503) 510-0299
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2. Sesame Workshop: Parent and Classroom learning materials for young children
Free videos, storybooks, lessons, and more for parents, daycare, and classrooms for young children. Learn social-emotional skills, health, hygiene, science, building resilience, and much more. Resources in various languages. Go to sesameworkshop.org
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3. Doing Good Together:
Doing good together helps parents raise kids who care and contribute! Browse their catalog of games, DIY kindness kit, nature scavenger hunt, book suggestions, and more to increase compassion, kindness, and big-heartedness in the next generation. Resources available in English and Spanish. Go to doinggoodtogether.org.
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In honor of pets being health heroes, the Prevention Team at Marion County Health and Human Services is highlighting their amazing pets.
In this edition, we get to know the pets of Kelly Martin, our Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Kelly shares her home with two cats and a dog, all of whom are cherished members of her family.
Turbo and Nitro, two spoiled kitty brothers, were adopted almost nine years ago after being found near a local drag racing track - hence their racing-themed names.
Turbo (pictured in the Santa hat)may look festive, but he's not a fan of dressing up. However, he'll do anything for his favorite "girl." He enjoys opening doors, cupboards and drawers and is known for his loud meows.
Nitro is the quieter of the two. He loves snuggles, turning on sinks, and lounging by the fire.
Ziva, a 2-year-old German Sheppard, is Kelly’s first-ever dog! Full of energy, her favorite toy is a soccer ball and she loves running and staying close to Kelly at all times.
These fur babies are a beloved part of the Martin family.
 By Ben Turner, Marion Polk Food Share
The Marion Polk Food Share distributes nutritious food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners across Marion and Polk counties, including food pantries and meal sites, and delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities within Salem & Keizer. The Food Share also operates an urban farm, supports a network of community gardens, and mobilizes community members to address systemic issues that lead to hunger.
The Food Share's work aims to increase food security in our community. A household is food secure when all members have access, at all times, to the food they need to live an active and healthy life. Unfortunately, an increasing number of people in Marion and Polk counties are experiencing food insecurity. According to Feeding America's most recent Map the Meal Gap report, there are about 58,000 people in Marion and Polk counties who are facing food insecurity.
If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, you can find a place to get free groceries by visiting www.marionpolkfoodshare.org/find-food/ or by calling (503) 581-3855. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with the Food Share, you can visit https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/volunteer/.
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By Phoebe Barker, MCHHS Prevention Coordinator
You may see us out and about in your communities across Marion County!
This spring, Marion County Health and Human Services (MCHHS) and Willamette University (WU) are teaming up to conduct the 2025 Tobacco and Alcohol Retail Assessment (TARA) across Marion County. The assessment will involve visiting local retail locations to document tobacco and alcohol advertising, product types, minimum advertised prices, and other store characteristics. The data collected will help us better understand marketing tactics, product availability, and inform local tobacco control efforts.
Who: MCHHS’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) and WU students will conduct the assessment. This project provides valuable training for the future public health workforce and helps us understand the tobacco and alcohol landscape in Marion County, particularly marketing that may appeal to youth.
What: Conducted every five years, TARA surveys tobacco and alcohol products available in grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations. The Prevention Team and student volunteers will visit retail locations, ask employees for permission, and collect data without interfering with customers or staff.
When: This spring (2025), MCHHS TPEP and WU will survey all tobacco retailers in the county.
Why: We are conducting a full census of the county’s 271 tobacco retailers to gain more accurate data on tobacco and alcohol availability. This helps inform policies and efforts to reduce health risks like heart disease, cancer, and liver disease linked to these products. Better data helps us answer questions from community members and policymakers.
Photo credit: www.CDC.gov
Written by Conor Foley, MCHHS Prevention Coordinator
The 2025 legislative session is well under way and there are several tobacco prevention-related bills to watch. Below is a brief description of a few bills we are tracking, along with their current status. If you'd like to stay informed, you can look up specific bills and sign up for updates through the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS).
SB 702 and HB 3437 (companion bill in the House)
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Summary – Prohibits distributing, selling, attempting to sell or offering to sell flavored inhalant delivery system products or flavored tobacco products in this state.
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Bottom line – This bill would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including inhalant delivery systems (vapes).
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Status – Public Hearing scheduled for March 3, 2025 at 1pm in the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health
HB 2528
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Summary – Adds “nicotine derived from any source” to the definitions of “inhalant delivery system” and “tobacco products.”
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Bottom line – This bill would clarify the definition of tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems (vapes) to include those that use synthetic nicotine, bringing those products under current tobacco product regulations including tobacco taxes.
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Status – Public hearing scheduled for February 27, 2025 at 1pm in the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
HB 2053
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Summary - Creates the offense of a minor purchasing or attempting to purchase, possessing or attempting to possess or using in public an alternative nicotine product, inhalant delivery system or tobacco product.
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Bottom line – This bill would reinstate “PUP” laws, laws prohibiting the possession, use, and purchase of tobacco products by minors. For more information on PUP laws read the overview from ChangeLab Solutions.
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Status – Assigned to House Committee on Judiciary
SB 544
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Summary – Requires vaporizing detection devices to be installed in certain areas of high schools that have 1,000 or more enrolled students.
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Bottom line – Requires the use of vaping detectors in schools. Many schools that received Juul settlement funds used a portion of those funds to purchase vaping detectors to limit student vaping. For more information on evidence-based school prevention strategies and the role of vaping detectors see this article from the Public Health Law Center.
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Status – Assigned to Senate Committee on Education
Marion County Health Promotion & Prevention will highlight various programs and health topics in our upcoming newsletter to keep you informed about important health promotion issues. Our next newsletter will be released in the first week of March 2025. If there is a subject you would like us to cover, please let us know by emailed us at the address below.
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