HCHY List: Search Institute Press islookingforyouropinion--abook
on Substance Abuse
Dee Debernardis
ddebernardis at tcadr.org
Wed Aug 12 10:36:49 CDT 2009
I think it was around 1993 that I discovered the asset model out of
SEARCH, and I had been working with youth and developing alternative
activities at my local YMCA. MY inner question was: WHAT WILL WORK? WHAT
WILL HELP KIDS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES? I could see that having a dynamite
speaker at a high school didn't work.
A drunken driving accident where 2 teens died and on was charged with 2d
degree murder didn't stop the partying.
Also, my kids (boy and girl) were in their early teens at the time. So I
kept talking with the teens in my town. The asset model made such sense
as an approach, I became a vocal advocate. It's been quite a journey
(I'm now 66, down to working 2 days a week in the field of prevention -
my end stage career!); and a grandmother of two children. My son
explained to me one day why he never did drugs and barely drank very
much - a little more in college - coming from a long line of alcoholics
on my side of the family and that he and his sister didn't really want
to embarrass me or their father. (WHO KNEW?) AND, The YMCA adopted the
asset model on a National level.
Assets are still used as the basis for teen and parent programs we do
here at the Center...it continues to be a journey - how to effectively
develop those assets in my grandchildren without anyone knowing I'm
doing it!!!
Keep up all of your great research and sharing of ideas. Because of
Search, there is rarely a teen I don't look directly in the eye.
Dee
Dee DeBernardis
Prevention Specialist
The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources
241 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
201- 488 - 8680, ext. 107
Fax: 201- 488-8724
ddebernardis at tcadr.org
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Ronni
Katz
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 11:20 AM
To: Dee Debernardis
Cc: hchylist at lists.search-institute.org
Subject: RE: HCHY List: Search Institute Press
islookingforyouropinion--abook on Substance Abuse
I sent a single reply but the discussion is motivating me to comment as
well. I spent 8 years as a drug prevention/intervention counselor in a
NYC High School. We put more of the focus on why they used than on the
actual substances. I used to make a list with each class that listed
reasons why youth use drugs and alcohol in one column and then listed
positive alternatives 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 saying no to drugs, say YES to positive
alternatives." We had a big fishbowl with positive alternatives and the
kids would pick one as they stopped by the 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
have made it in life. We also spent a lot of time looking at addiction
as a family 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
teenagers), 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 substance 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/pleasure.
We live in an age where adults self-medicate all the time and the use 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
they have over their feelings and their bodies using the asset model.
Perhaps linking this information to other techniques that help give
relief/pleasure such as yoga, meditation, exercise, support networks,
etc.
I think that children and youth witness our general ways of coping as
adults and think that drugs in any form are given an endorsement. We can
provide a better alternative.
Cathy Dandy
________________________________
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at 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--abook 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 prevent and intervene. I believe that addressing the problem
of substance abuse by using the asset model would be most effective way
to go. It would also help those community members who feel that the
asset model is just another one of those "Warm and Fuzzy" kinds of
things, to see the it as a credible solution to big problems in the
community such as substance abuse.
Donna Montelle
________________________________
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at 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
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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