ACE Anti-Inhalant Efforts Gain Momentum in MD

Building on strong momentum of the fall 2007 launch of its Inhalant Abuse Prevention Campaign in Maryland, the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) is carrying its anti-inhalants message in the media and distributing its educational materials throughout the state.

Recently, ACE’s program and its efforts in Maryland were profiled in a special inhalant prevention segment by WJZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Baltimore.  The news feature about ACE was part of a story of a local family that lost a young member to inhalant abuse in February 2002.  The CBS crew, producer and news anchor visited ACE at its offices in Washington and filmed interviews with CSPA President and ACE Secretary Chris Cathcart and ACE Executive Director Colleen Creighton.

The two and a half minute piece aired several times on Feb. 11 and the following weekend, accompanied by heavy on-air promotion of the segment for WJZ-TV’s “February Sweeps” programming.

The ACE campaign, launched at a press conference on Oct. 2, 2007 in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Education and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was spurred by the passage of Mackenzie’s Law.  Named for a child who died of inhalant abuse, the law mandates inhalant abuse education and educational resources in all Maryland schools and communities.  The importance of the ACE-Maryland partnership was underscored by the presence of both Department Secretaries at the press conference that was held at the state house in Annapolis.  Also present were parents of children lost to inhalant abuse.

ACE also has been working with Pam Powers, the mother of Mackenzie, who died five years ago.  As legislative director for Delegate Tawanna Gaines, Maryland General Assembly, Powers worked in 2007 on drafting and spearheading the legislation until it became law.  Additionally, ACE is working with Gaines to engage the National Conference on State Legislatures and obtain its assistance in replicating Mackenzie’s Law in other states.

In April, the Alliance will continue its work with the Maryland Department of Education with a presentation to hundreds of its key leaders, and follow up with individual contact to ensure that the ACE kit and materials are thoroughly distributed throughout their divisions.

For further information, please contact Colleen Creighton, 202/862-3902, ccreighton@consumered.org.

Back to Top