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North Country Prevention Newsletter
"Working together to create healthier communities for
our children and families."
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Greetings!
Welcome to another edition of the North Country Prevention Newsletter. This is a monthly electronic communication to and for the North Country Prevention Coalitions including the Colebrook Area Community Action Team, Berlin Area Community Action Team, the Lancaster Area Community Action Team, the Littleton Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Task Force, the North Country Prevention Network, community partners, program participants and interested stakeholders. This newsletter is a project of North Country Health Consortium.
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Prevention Youth Council Blog:
"For youth, by youth"
Check it out!
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Congratulations, Bob Thompson!
Bob has been selected as New Hampshire's first ever
'Prevention Professional of the Year'!
 | Pictured above: Joseph Harding, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services Director, and Bob Thompson, North Country Prevention Network Coordinator/CSAP Programs Manager.
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 | Pictured above: Betsy Houde, Executive Director of The Youth Council; Bob Thompson, North Country Prevention Network Coordinator/CSAP Programs Manager; and Mary Forsythe-Taber, Greater Manchester Regional Network/Makin' It Happen Coalition Coordinator.
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 | NCHC Staff Members were eager to congratulate Bob on his recognition:(from left to right) Diana Gibbs, NCHC Program Manager; Bob Thompson; Drew Brown, NCHC Program Specialist; and Nancy Frank, NCHC Executive Director.
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Obama Administration Releases 2013 National Drug Control Strategy: New Strategy Emphasizes Prevention, Treatment, and Early Intervention
 While law enforcement will always play a vital role in protecting our communities from drug-related crime and violence, we simply cannot incarcerate our way out of the drug problem. Put simply, an enforcement-centric "war on drugs" approach to drug policy is counterproductive, inefficient, and costly. At the other extreme, drug legalization also runs counter to a public health and safety approach to drug policy. The more Americans use drugs, the higher the health, safety, productivity, and criminal justice costs we all have to bear. The Administration's 21st century drug policy plan provides an evidence based alternative to these approaches. Here's how it works. Emphasizing prevention over incarceration. Preventing drug use before it begins- particularly among young people- is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences. In fact, recent research has concluded that every dollar invested in school-based substance use prevention programs has the potential to save up to $18 in costs related to substance use disorders. That's why the President's plan promotes the expansion of national and community-based programs-such as the Drug Free Communities Support Program-that reach young people in schools, on college campuses, and in the workplace with tailored information designed to help them make healthy decisions about their future. But prevention alone isn't enough. Training health care professionals to intervene early before addiction develops. Early detection and treatment of a substance use problem by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional is much more effective and less costly than dealing with the consequences of addiction or criminal justice involvement later on. Therefore, the Administration's plan works to expand programs that train health care professionals to identify and treat problematic drug use before the condition becomes chronic. By supporting programs like Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, we can promote healthy lifestyles, prevent addictive disorders from taking hold, and reduce the number of people entering the criminal justice system. For too many, however, drug use has progressed to the point of a disorder and requires treatment. Expanding access to treatment. Today, about 22 million Americans need treatment for a substance use disorder, and yet only 2 million-about 1-in-10-actually receive the treatment they need. This is unacceptable. Research shows that addiction is a disease from which people can recover. In fact, success rates for treating addictive disorders are roughly on par with recovery rates for other chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. Recognizing this, the Obama Administration has taken unprecedented action to expand access to treatment for millions of Americans. Through the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies will be required to cover treatment for addiction just as they would cover any other chronic disease. We estimate that with the Affordable Care Act, 62.5 million people will receive expanded substance abuse benefits by 2020, with 32.1 million gaining those benefits for the first time. To support this expansion, the President's FY 2014 Budget includes an increase of $1.4 billion for treatment over the FY 2012 amount, the largest such request for treatment funding in decades. Taking a "smart on crime" approach to drug enforcement. Drugs and crime are often linked, which is why addressing serious drug related crime and violence will always be a vital component of our plan to protect public health and safety in America. But at the end of the day, we cannot arrest our way out of the drug problem. The Obama Administration has made clear we will not focus limited Federal drug enforcement resources on individual drug users. Instead, our drug policy emphasizes the expansion of innovative "smart on crime" strategies proven to help break the cycle of drug use, crime, arrest, and incarceration. Our plan calls for substantial reforms to the Nation's criminal justice system to lower incarceration rates and reduce recidivism while protecting public safety: Reforms like the expansion of specialized courts that divert non-violent drug offenders into treatment instead of prison. Reforms like smart diversion programs that identify first time offenders who have a substance use disorder and provide community health services instead of a jail cell or arrest record. Reforms like reentry programs, which help guide former offenders back into society, support their recovery from addiction, and help them avoid a return to the criminal justice system. Giving a voice to Americans in recovery. Millions of Americans successfully make the journey from addiction to recovery. Yet too often, these Americans face barriers to maintaining their sobriety, including a lack of access to housing, employment, or even getting a driver's license or student loan. In support of the roughly 23 million Americans in recovery today, the President's plan seeks to eliminate legislative and regulatory barriers facing Americans who have made the successful journey from addiction to sobriety. As part of this effort, the Obama Administration has, for the first time, established a Recovery Branch at the Office of National Drug Control Policy to support Americans in recovery and help lift the stigma associated with addiction. This is what a 21st century approach to drug policy looks like.
To view the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy, please visit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ndcs_2013.pdf The following table depicts the funding shifts for Fiscal Year 2013 to support the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy |
2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) Survey Results Highlight Trends in Substance Use Since 2008
~ Parents' Lax Attitudes and Behavior Linked to Teen Rx Drug Misuse and Abuse ~ ~ Nearly One-Third of Parents Believe Stimulants Can Improve Academic Performance, Even for Teens Who Do Not Have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ~ 2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, sponsored by MetLife Foundation
New, nationally projectable survey results released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation confirmed that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime -a 33 percent increase over the past five years. The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found troubling data on teen misuse or abuse of prescription stimulants. One in eight teens (13 percent) now reports that they have taken the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall when it was not prescribed for them, at least once in their lifetime. Contributing to this sustained trend in teen medicine abuse are the lax attitudes and beliefs of parents and caregivers. In fact, nearly one-third of parents say they believe Rx stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall, normally prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can improve a teen's academic performance even if the teen does not have ADHD.
Parents are not effectively communicating the dangers of Rx medicine misuse and abuse to their kids, nor are they safeguarding their medications at home and disposing of unused medications properly.
Concerning Trends in Teen Prescription Drug Abuse According to the New PATS Data (2008-2012)
- One in four teens (24 percent) reports having misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime (up from 18 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2012), which translates to about 5 million teens. That is a 33 percent increase over a five-year period.
- Of those kids who said they abused Rx medications, one in five (20 percent) has done so before age 14.
- More than a quarter of teens (27 percent) mistakenly believe that misusing and abusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.
- One-third of teens (33 percent) say they believe "it's okay to use prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them to deal with an injury, illness or physical pain."
- Almost one in four teens (23 percent) say their parents don't care as much if they are caught using Rx drugs without a doctor's prescription, compared to getting caught with illegal drugs.
Significant Increase in Teen Abuse of Stimulants Ritalin and Adderall, Rx Painkiller Abuse Flattening
- One in eight teens (about 2.7 million) now reports having misused or abused the Rx stimulants Ritalin or Adderall at least once in their lifetime.
- 9 percent of teens (about 1.9 million) report having misused or abused the Rx stimulants Ritalin or Adderall in the past year (up from 6 percent in 2008) and 6 percent of teens (1.3 million) report abuse of Ritalin or Adderall in the past month (up from 4 percent in 2008).
- One in four teens (26 percent) believes that prescription drugs can be used as a study aid.
Parents' Missed Opportunity: Lax Attitudes and Permissiveness About Rx Drugs Linked to Teen Abuse
- Almost one-third of parents (29 percent) say they believe ADHD medication can improve a child's academic or testing performance, even if the teen does not have ADHD.
- One in six parents (16 percent) believes that using prescription drugs to get high is safer than using street drugs.
- Teens reported that during the last conversation they had with their parents regarding substance abuse, only 16 percent said they discussed the misuse or abuse of prescription pain relievers with their parents, and just 14 percent indicate the same for discussions about any type of prescription drug. In comparison, a majority of teens (81 percent) say they have discussed the risks of marijuana use with their parents, 80 percent have discussed alcohol and nearly one-third of teens (30 percent) have discussed crack/cocaine.
- More than half of teens (56 percent) indicate that it's easy to get prescription drugs from their parent's medicine cabinet. In fact, about half of parents (49 percent) say anyone can access their medicine cabinet.
- More than four in 10 teens (42 percent) who have misused or abused a prescription drug obtained it from their parent's medicine cabinet. Almost half (49 percent) of teens who misuse or abuse Rx medicines obtained them from a friend.
Teens are more likely to use prescription drugs if they believe that their parents are more lenient toward prescription drug misuse or abuse compared to illegal drug abuse, and if their parents use drugs themselves.
- One in five parents (20 percent) report that they have given their teen a prescription drug that was not prescribed for them.
- The PATS survey also found that 17 percent of parents do not throw away expired medications, and 14 percent of parents say that they themselves have misused or abuse prescription drugs within the past year.
Mixed Results on Teen Abuse of Other Substances
- Cigarette smoking rates have remained stable, with 22 percent of teens reporting they've used cigarettes in the past month.
- Inhalant abuse also remained stable, with 7 percent of teens indicating they've abused inhalants over the past year.
- In 2012, almost half of teens (45 percent) have used marijuana in their lifetime, four in 10 (39 percent) have used in the past year and one in four (24 percent) have used within the past month. Currently, 57 percent of all teens have used alcohol within the past year (a 10 percent increase from 2008).
- Past-year abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse has remained relatively stable at 7 percent (since 2008).
- Methamphetamine use has remained stable, with 4 percent of teens reporting having abused methamphetamine in the past year (since 2008).
- Past-year cocaine use remains at 7 percent (unchanged since 2008).
- Lifetime steroid use is stable at 5 percent (unchanged since 2008).
- Past-year use of Ecstasy is at 8 percent, and has been steadily declining since a surge in prevalence during 2009.
- Past-year use of synthetic drugs is mixed as well, with 12 percent of teens using synthetic marijuana, 4 percent using salvia and 3 percent using bath salts.
To view the PDF version of the PATS key findings summary, please visit:
http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PATS-2012-KEY-FINDINGS.pdf
To view the full report, please visit:
http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PATS-2012-FULL-REPORT2.pdf
To view a list of the 11 Most Abused Prescription Drugs, please visit:
http://medicineabuseproject.org/medicine
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Littleton Police Department Now Serves as a
Permanent Prescription Drugs Take Back Location!
The Littleton Police Department, in partnership with Littleton Regional Healthcare, has successfully installed a permanent prescription drug take back receptacle in their lobby! Individuals can drop off their old, unused, expired prescription and over the counter medications Monday through Friday from 8am-6pm at the Littleton Police Department located at 2 Kittredge Lane. The medications need to be in their original container or in a sealed plastic bag. If dropping off liquids, it's best to keep them in the bottle. No illegal drugs and/or needles, syringes, or lancets can be discarded into this receptacle.
 | To request some of these rack cards for your organization, please contact Dgibbs@nchcnh.org.
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Join our efforts...Become a member of the Coalition! All are welcome to attend! For more information regarding the Coos County Coalition or the Littleton ATOD Task Force, please contact Diana Gibbs at 259-3700 or at dgibbs@nchcnh.org.
2013 Coos County Coalition
Community Action Team (CAT) Meeting Schedule
Berlin CAT Meetings:
*May 8th, 2012: 12-1:30pm at Androscoggin Valley Hospital
Colebrook CAT Meetings:
*Next meeting date to be determined.
Lancaster CAT Meetings:
*May 3rd, 2013: 8:30-10am-location White Mountains Regional High School
Littleton Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD)
Task Force Meeting:
*Next meeting date to be determined.
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Sign the SafeHomes Pledge today!
The Project Monitor SafeHomes pledge is a voluntary pledge program that encourages parents and guardians of youth to join together with other parents in providing a safe home environment for their teens to socialize. The Pledge asks parents to educate their youth on the dangers of drug and alcohol use, providing a clear message that youth shall not use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in their community. What is Safe Homes? The Safe Homes Pledge is a non-legally binding pledge publicly stating that there will be no underage use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs in your home or on your property. Sponsored by the North Country Community Substance Abuse Prevention Program.
To sign the pledge or to encourage other parents to sign the pledge, visit and/or share the following link:
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Congratulations Regional Prevention Youth Council Members on Conducting
Another Successful Middle School Annual Conference!
 | 2013 Annual Middle School Conference Participants
and Regional PYC Youth Staff! |
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| We invite items for the newsletter from our readers that relate to prevention, youth and parent programs, new developments, training and opportunities. The deadline for submissions to this monthly newsletter is the 26th of each month. Send items to dgibbs@nchcnh.org. |
This newsletter is a project of the North Country Health Consortium, a rural health network improving the health of North Country residents through innovative collaboration. Working together with businesses and other community organizations, the health and human service provider members of the Consortium are building a regional health care system to address the needs of Northern New Hampshire.
"North Country Health Consortium leads innovative
collaboration to improve the health status of the region."
This newsletter is supported by funds from
SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and
New Hampshire's Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services.
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North Country Health Consortium
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
262 Cottage Street, Suite 230
PO Box 348
Littleton, NH 03561
Phone: (603) 259-3700
Fax: (603) 444-0945
www.nchcnh.org |
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