HCHY List: Search Institute Press is
lookingforyouropinion--abook on Substance Abuse
Ronni Katz
RMK at portlandmaine.gov
Wed Aug 12 10:19:34 CDT 2009
I sent a single reply but the discussion is motivating me to comment as wel=
l. I spent 8 years as a drug prevention/intervention counselor in a NYC Hi=
gh School. We put more of the focus on why they used than on the actual su=
bstances. I used to make a list with each class that listed reasons why yo=
uth use drugs and alcohol in one column and then listed positive alternativ=
es in the second column. The positive alternative list was always so much =
longer than the other one and the kids were usually surprised to see that. =
On Drugfree Red Ribbon Day, we had a sign that said, "Instead of just sayi=
ng no to drugs, say YES to positive alternatives." We had a big fishbowl w=
ith positive alternatives and the kids would pick one as they stopped by th=
e table. It really got them talking and thinking.
=
I left NY in 97 but I still hear from those kids today and most of them hav=
e made it in life. We also spent a lot of time looking at addiction as a f=
amily disease. I could go on and on but I will stop myself!
=
Ronni
=
Ronni Katz
Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator
City of Portland, HHSD, Public Health Division
389 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101
tel 207.756.8116 fax 207.874.8913
=
www.substanceabuse.portlandmaine.gov =
=
>>> "Cathy Dandy" <Cathy.Dandy at kinark.on.ca> 08/12 10:52 AM >>>
Hello,I enjoy the emails from HCHY but rarely jump in. However, as someone =
working in mental health, a school trustee and the mother of three (two tee=
nagers), I feel I must comment. My 15 year old has struggled with the drug =
issue and I am very struck by the fact that it really doesn't matter what s=
ubstance it is (as already noted) but rather that she and her peers believe=
that it's normal and "no big deal" to consume substances to bring relief/p=
leasure.We live in an age where adults self-medicate all the time and the u=
se of prescription drugs as a means to improving life is accepted. I would =
be interested in giving children and youth an understanding of the power th=
ey have over their feelings and their bodies using the asset model. Perhaps=
linking this information to other techniques that help give relief/pleasur=
e such as yoga, meditation, exercise, support networks, etc.I think that ch=
ildren and youth witness our general ways of coping as adults and think tha=
t drugs in any form are given an endorsement. We can provide a better alter=
native.Cathy Dandy
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org [mailto:hchylist-bounces@=
lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Montelle, Donna
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:28 AM
To: Cathy Dandy
Cc: Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: RE: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking foryouropinion--a=
book on Substance Abuse
I agree whole heartedly with the comment below. There are numerous books, =
brochures and references regarding substance abuse and ways adults can prev=
ent and intervene. I believe that addressing the problem of substance abus=
e by using the asset model would be most effective way to go. It would als=
o help those community members who feel that the asset model is just anothe=
r one of those "Warm and Fuzzy" kinds of things, to see the it as a credibl=
e solution to big problems in the community such as substance abuse.Donna M=
ontelle
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org [mailto:hchylist-bounces@=
lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Mel Tremper
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:32 PM
To: Montelle, Donna
Cc: Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: RE: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for youropinion--=
abook on Substance Abuse
I had originally just replied privately to the request, but now wish to chi=
me in on the list. There are good reasons for including references to spec=
ific 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 o=
f 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 pri=
or 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.B=
ut 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 pro=
tective factors seem to be associated with all drug use among youth. (toba=
cco is a little different, in that I have not seen much research on the ass=
ociation between tobacco use and family or neighborhood disruption, or scho=
ol 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. Creat=
ing healthy classroom climates, positive social attachments, etc lead to ma=
ny healthy outcomes, including reduced substance use and abuse. I envision=
ed this not as another tool to help parents cope with recognizing drug use =
among their own children. The NCADI clearinghouse, and many other resource=
s 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 tr=
ying to promote healthy youth and healthy communities by creating condition=
s in which these things can be achieved. The other would be decision maker=
s and informed members of the community who might be concerned about substa=
nce 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 a=
ddress 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 th=
ey are concerned about. =
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org [mailto:hchylist-bounces@=
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 wher=
e 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, to=
bacco, 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 it=
s own unique audience and angle by approaching it from an Assets perspectiv=
e. I think that could be very useful for parents who sometimes, out of fea=
r, 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@=
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--abo=
ok on Substance Abuse
Hello all!
Search Institute Press recently put out a customer survey, and in it we ask=
ed 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 t=
eachers, 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 thi=
nk 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? (Mariju=
ana? 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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This message contains confidential information and is intended for Donna.Mo=
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