HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for your opinion--abook on Substance Abuse

Tue Aug 11 16:32:28 CDT 2009

I had originally just replied privately to the request, but now wish to
chime in on the list.  There are good reasons for including references
to specific drugs.  

While parents often worry most about illicit drug use, alcohol is by far
the most popular drug of choice for youth. And it causes a lot of
problems.  While tobacco use does not create the kinds of acute problems
(highway fatalities, violence, overdoses) that other substances may
cause, ultimately tobacco use leads to more health problems and deaths
than other forms of drug use, and it seems that if a person does not
start smoking prior to age 18 they are unlikely to begin.  So I would
advise including these in the book.  

If specific drugs are to be covered then the fastest growing type of
drug abuse among youth- prescription drug abuse deserves mention.

But in many ways it is not productive to focus on particular kinds of
drugs.  True, some measures, such as compliance checks on alcohol
retailers, are better suited to specific drugs.  However, the same
underlying risk and protective factors seem to be associated with all
drug use among youth.  (tobacco is a little different, in that I have
not seen much research on the association between tobacco use and family
or neighborhood disruption, or school failure.  But it may be there.)

I've always felt that the best substance abuse prevention may well be
efforts that do not even mention drugs.  Creating healthy classroom
climates, positive social attachments, etc lead to many healthy
outcomes, including reduced substance use and abuse.  

I envisioned this not as another tool to help parents cope with
recognizing drug use among their own children.  The NCADI clearinghouse,
and many other resources exist for that purpose.  I presumed the book
would be aimed two audiences.  One would be people like those on this
list.  That is, people who are trying to promote healthy youth and
healthy communities by creating conditions in which these things can be
achieved.  The other would be decision makers and informed members of
the community who might be concerned about substance abuse, but not be
sure what to do about it.  For that purpose, for me, the book would
focus on harnessing the principles of asset development to address the
specific problem of drug abuse.  It would be a way to convey the message
that asset development is not just something that is "nice to have" but
something which can help communities solve some very real problems they
are concerned about. 

________________________________

From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Meg
Crady
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 3:20 PM
To: Mel Tremper
Cc: Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: Re: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for your
opinion--abook on Substance Abuse

Diedra - 

  I like your thoughts -- 

  May I ask your ideas on also including prescription drugs? Currently
where I live there is a HUGE problem with abuse from drugs readily
available in tweens & teens homes. 

    Meg

On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 11:11 AM, Silbert, Diedra
<DSilbert at courts.az.gov> wrote:

Kate,

I would suggest emphasizing the most commonly abused substances-alcohol,
tobacco, and marijuana.  I would also include info on the others,
especially on huffing.  Lots of parents could use the info and even
though the others are less common, you never know who might be seeking
info and whose life it could impact.  There definitely are other
resources available for parents related to identifying drug use in their
children, but Search could have its own unique audience and angle by
approaching it from an Assets perspective.  I think that could be very
useful for parents who sometimes, out of fear, take actions which are
more punitive than boundary-setting, values- and relationship-based, and
Asset-building!

Diedra Silbert

Prevention and Mentoring Supervisor

Coconino County Juvenile Court Services

1001 E. Sawmill Rd.

Flagstaff, AZ  86001

(928) 226-5431

dsilbert at courts.az.gov

From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Kate
Brielmaier
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:59 AM
To: Silbert, Diedra 

Cc: Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for your
opinion--abook on Substance Abuse

Hello all!

Search Institute Press recently put out a customer survey, and in it we
asked people what kinds of topics they'd like us to publish about. We
received a lot of comments recommending that we publish a practical
guide to help teachers, youth leaders, and caring adults identify and
deal with youth and substance abuse, which we think is a great idea.

What we'd like to know is: 

If we did a book on youth and substance abuse, what "substances" do you
think we should include?

Alcohol and tobacco?
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs?
"Other drugs" by themselves?

And are there any drugs in particular you think we should focus on?
(Marijuana? Meth?)

You can send your answers directly to me at kateb at search-institute.org

Thanks so much for your help!
Kate

-- 
Kate Brielmaier
Editor
kateb at search-institute.org
612-399-0225

Activities on the Go: One-on-One Fun for Kids and Adults
Check out this handy new resource for adults who want quick and easy
ideas for interacting with kids:
https://www.searchinstitutestore.org/Activities_on_the_Go_p/0344-w.htm

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