Substance Abuse: The Problem and Strategies to Reduce Use
The Issue:
Substance abuse among both adults and youth is a serious problem in the communities of Southern Kennebec County. The most commonly used drugs are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
The Data:
We know a lot about substance use and related risk and protective factors in southern Kennebec County from: a) student survey data (the Maine Integrated Yout Health Survey, 09); b) interviews with student opinion leaders in two area schools (09 data), and c) focus group discussions held over the past two years ('08 and '09)
Our research tells us that there is Good News and Cause for Action. For example:
Good News!!
A) From
middle school to high school, most youth choose not to use
alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.*
B) Most
youth leaders in our community don’t tolerate the use of tobacco by others
around them.**
C) Even
youth who use try to stay safe: most youth don’t drink and drive and
report they will take action to protect others who may choose to drink and
drive.**
Cause For Action!!
D) There
is a steady, dramatic rise in use from 7th to 12th
grade: the older youth get, the more likely they are to use.*
E) Students
report that when their peers use drugs, it is often for “the thrill of
it.”**
F) Most
students who do drink, drink to excess—5 or more drinks at one time.*
* Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey '09
** Student Opinion Leader interviews '09
The Solution:
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, working through the Southern Kennebec Substance Abuse Work Group (SAWG), is currently implementing five broad strategies for preventing and reducing substance use. For more information about the each strategy, and the available data, click on the items below
1) Reducing
access to alcohol and other drugs by
those who will misuse them
2) Increasing individual and community awareness
of the risks of use, by drug and
target population
3) Increasing
both the consequences, and awareness of the consequences of unhealthy substance use
4) Increasing
the skills of those who are at risk
of unhealthy choices related to use, to make healthy choices
5) Increasing
community assets that have been
proven to reduce substance use and abuse
.For more information on how our communities are taking action in each area, and you can get involved, click on these links:
Reducing Access: Working With Law Enforcement; Schools and Communties; Retailers; Parents
Increeasing Awareness of the Risks of Use: Working With Youth; Schools and Communities; Parents
Increasing Consequences, Awareness of Consequences: Law Enforcement; Schools and Communties; Parents
Increasing Skills to Make Healthy Choices: Youth
Increasing Community Assets: Under development
Guiding and managing ALL these strategies:
The Southern Kennebec Substance Abuse Work Group: Its Members and Partners
Our local service area includes: Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Richmond, Vienna, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winthrop.
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