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Let’s Start Talking Community Forum on Underage Drinking

Let’s Start Talking Community Forum on Underage Drinking. Holliston Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative March 26, 2008 Holliston Town Hall. Classified ad placed in Des Moines Register.

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Let’s Start Talking Community Forum on Underage Drinking

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  1. Let’s Start TalkingCommunity Forum on Underage Drinking Holliston Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative March 26, 2008 Holliston Town Hall

  2. Classified ad placed in Des Moines Register “OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totallyuncool parents who obviously don’t love teenage son, selling hiscar. Only driven for three weeksbefore snoopy mom who needs toget a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanestmom on planet”

  3. Purpose of the Forum • To understand the data and the risks of teen drinking • To explore reasons why teens drink • To discuss strategies Holliston adults and youth can use to reduce underage drinking • A Call to Action

  4. Recent Studies on Underage Drinking • US Surgeon General Report: May 2007 • Teens who drink by age 15 are 5 times more likely to have school problems, suffer from alcohol dependence later in life, and smoke cigarettes • US survey of 43,000 adults: 2001-2002 • 47% of those who began drinking before age 14 became alcohol dependent vs. 9% who didn’t start drinking until they were 21 Source: NIAAA Study Boston University School of Public Health and Youth Alcohol Prevention Center

  5. The Facts: Underage Drinking • Alcohol use among children starts early and increases rapidly with age • Drinking before age 15 contributes to future problems • More teens drink than smoke or use drugs • Higher percentageof youth ages 12-20 (29%) use alcohol than illicit drugs (14%) • 42% of Holliston High School students in 2006 survey report drinking in the last thirty days • 58% of 12th graders report current use Sources: MWAHS 2006 Monitoring the Future Survey 2007

  6. Holliston Student Self-reported Lifetime Alcohol and Drug Use: 2006 MWAHS

  7. Holliston Reported Current Alcohol Use by Gender & Grade: 2006 MWAHS

  8. Holliston Student Self-reported Past 30 Days Binge Drinking: 2006 MWAHS

  9. Why Teens Drink • Social acceptance • To be more outgoing, less inhibited • For fun • To feel more relaxed/to calm down • Boredom • The feeling of losing control • To feel more courageous to do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do. • Stressed out by parents, school, life Source: Driven Magazine, 2004

  10. Adolescent Brain Development Alcohol affects teen brains differently than adults • The areas of the adolescent brain that are in development involve such functions as judgment, reasoning, decision-making. • These areas are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and other drugs. • Could cause permanent impairment with memory, cognition Source: Surgeon General’s Report 2007

  11. Adolescent Brain Development • “There is no doubt about it now. There are long-term cognitive consequences to excessive drinking of alcohol in adolescents. We didn’t know until 5-10 years ago that alcohol affects teen brains differently. The damage to young brains may be irreversible.” Source: Duke University

  12. Consequences of Reported Youth Alcohol and Drug Use Overall death and injury rate between early teens and adult years increases by 200% largely due to alcohol use • Drinking and Driving • Of 61% of Holliston students who drove a car, average of 18.5% report driving after drinking on one or more occasions • 28% of 12thgraders report this • 24% of Holliston high school students report riding in a car with someone who had been drinking Sources: Surgeon General’s Report 2007 MWAHS 2006

  13. Access to Alcohol 81% Holliston parents think it is easy for youth to get alcohol in Holliston (strongly agree/agree) • Nationally 93% of 12th graders and 64% of 8th graders said it was fairly easy or very easy to get alcohol • 65% of underage youth who drink said they got it from family and friends • 2 out of 3 teens say it is easy to get from their parents without their knowing • 1 out of 3 teens say it is easy to get from their own consenting parents Sources: Parent Survey Holliston 2007 National Federal Trade Commission

  14. Mental Health: Holliston Students Youth report stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and attempts • 40% of MS students and 32% HHS students report feeling somewhat tovery stressed in the past thirty days • 13% of MS students and 21% of HS students felt sad/hopeless for 2+ weeks in the past year. • 7.5% of MS students seriously considered suicide in their lifetime; 10% of HS students did so in the past year. • 2% of MS students attempted suicide in their lifetime; 5% of HS students (38 students) did so in the past year. Source: MWAHS 2006

  15. Mental Health and Substance Use: Holliston Students Depression and suicidal ideation are associated with substance use • MS youth who felt depressed are more likely to use alcohol (44% vs.16%) and cigarettes (14% vs. 3%) in their lifetime. • HS youth who felt depressed are more likely to use alcohol (52% vs. 40%), marijuana (31% vs. 22%), and cocaine (12% vs. 3%) in the past 30 days. Source: MWAHS2006

  16. Sexual Behavior Underage alcohol use increases risk of risky sexual behavior • Fewer MetroWest youth are sexually active in comparison with the state and nation. • One-third (34%) of Holliston students who are sexually active used alcohol or drugs before sex on the last occasion(7 students) • Holliston students report higher use of alcohol or drugs before sex than Metrowest (27%) and the US (23%) Sources: Surgeon General’s Report MWAHS 2006

  17. Misuse of Prescription (Rx) Drugs Misuse of Rx drugs and mixing alcohol and Rx drugs can be fatal • 12% lifetime misuse reported at Holliston High School • 78% of HHS students who misused Rx drugs in their lifetime used alcohol in the past thirty days (84 students) • Many of these drugs can be addicting. Hospital admissions for Rx painkillers increased by 300% in past decade • 70% obtained from friend or at home (nationally) Sources: SAMHSA2007 MWAHS 2006

  18. School Attachment and Adult Support: Holliston Students Having a trusted adult – inside or outside of school – is associated with less risk-taking. • 2 out of 3 youth have a trusted adult at school. • 9 out of 10 youth have a trusted adult outside of school. • The minority of youth who do not have a trusted adult are more likely to engage in multiple risks. Source: MWAHS 2006

  19. Strong Connection to School can be a Protective Factor Holliston High School youth with high levels of school attachment report less: • Substance use (41% v. 49% for alcohol use*) • Sexual activity (20% vs. 31% for sexual activity**) • Depression and suicide attempts (10% vs. 37% for depression; 1% vs. 17% for suicide attempts***). *past 30 days **past 3 months *** past 12 months Source: MWAHS 2006

  20. Strategies:

  21. School strategies • Peer Leaders/Mentors • Activities & Community Service • Wellness Curriculum • SADD • Student Resource Officers • Information and Referral of students in need of counseling • MIAA policies for athletes • School policies regarding alcohol and substance use

  22. Parent Strategies Perceived parental disapproval is powerful influence on youth alcohol use • What Parents Say Matters: Start Talking Early & Often • Parental Monitoring • Decrease access to alcohol (and Rx drugs) in the home • Parent Coffees: Social networking • Parent Education: Forums, Pre-prom evening • Parent Agreement (for hosting teen parties) Source: Surgeon General’s Report

  23. Community strategies • Active Referral and Treatment Services: Youth & Family Services (YFS) • Court Diversion Program • Blurring the Lines: school social workers • Alternate Youth Activities: • Friends of YFS (virtual youth center), Churches, Youth Fundraisers, Community Service (schools) • Limiting Access • Alcohol (server/seller) Bylaws • Liquor Store Compliance Checks- Hey You Campaign • Enforcing Social Hosting Laws

  24. Plan of Action • Sign the Parent Agreement • Take one idea home and use with your family • Talk to each other: Get the word out • Find a way to get involved • Host a parent coffee • Create opportunities for youth • Join parent outreach network

  25. Thank you for coming! Thanks to: • Holliston Schools • Holliston Police and Fire Departments • Holliston PTSA • Holliston Youth & Family Services • MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation • National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration • Contact: Holliston Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative Ellen Freedman, Coordinator freedmane@holliston.k12.ma.us 508-429-0620

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