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

Wed Aug 12 14:01:14 CDT 2009

The broader issue of substance use and addictions though vary in intensity =
with which substance, the focus I feel of a book dealing with youth and sub=
stance abuse is on the family system effects and how children of substance =
using families respond to the world which is different than children who do=
 not have this experience. It does make them more vulnerable to substance u=
se/abuse themselves as well other un-healthy responses to forming healthy r=
elationships. Using the asset lens as what supports do these youth need is =
a more 'unique' message than which substance. As those will change but the =
effects are the common elements that persist in our communities. As this is=
 a generational family and community issue, that is approach I would sugges=
t.
 =

Linda Hardman
Executive Director
Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children
The Local Management Board
921 Mt. Hermon Road (new office location)
P.O.Box 870 =

Salisbury MD 21801
410-546-5400 ext. 25 FAX: 410-546-3100
 =

Our Mission: To promote a safe, healthy, and stable environment for all Wic=
omico County children and families. =

 =

Making Wicomico County the Best Place to be Young in Maryland! =

National recognition as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People 20=
05, 2007 and 2008!
for innovative solutions to community challenges by America's Promise/Allia=
nce for Youth.

________________________________

From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org on behalf of Mel Tremper
Sent: Tue 8/11/2009 5:32 PM
To: Linda Hardman
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 th=
e 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 fata=
lities, violence, overdoses) that other substances may cause, ultimately to=
bacco 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 a=
buse 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 pr=
otective factors seem to be associated with all drug use among youth.  (tob=
acco is a little different, in that I have not seen much research on the as=
sociation between tobacco use and family or neighborhood disruption, or sch=
ool failure.  But it may be there.)

I've always felt that the best substance abuse prevention may well be effor=
ts that do not even mention drugs.  Creating healthy classroom climates, po=
sitive social attachments, etc lead to many healthy outcomes, including red=
uced 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 othe=
r 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 deci=
sion makers and informed members of the community who might be concerned ab=
out 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 develo=
pment 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 "ni=
ce to have" but something which can help communities solve some very real p=
roblems they 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

_______________________________________________

HCHYlist mailing list
To unsubscribe, view list archives, or change options, go to: http://lists.=
search-institute.org/mailman/options/hchylist/meg.crady at gmail.com

 =

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.search-institute.org/pipermail/hchylist/attachments/20090=
812/bd69818b/attachment.htm