Our Teens’ World in the Year 2011 Cristi Cousins, MADD o f Virginia Nancy Hans, Prevention Council of Roanoke County

ROANOKE COUNTY PREVENTION COUNCIL Fostering the healthy development of youth and over time the community. Empowering Families. Encouraging Youth.

Connecting to Promote Healthy Communities Partnering with the Medical Community Partnering with the Medical Community Four Strategic Teams: Underage Alcohol Use/Marijuana Use/Prescription Drug Use Four Strategic Teams: Underage Alcohol Use/Marijuana Use/Prescription Drug Use Spreading the Seeds of the DFC program to far southwest Virginia Spreading the Seeds of the DFC program to far southwest Virginia Regional Training, Evaluation and Networking Regional Training, Evaluation and Networking

We are part of 22 Drug Free Community Coalitions in the Commonwealth and over 750 in the nation.

Community Coalitions of Virginia The Community Coalitions of Virginia (CCOVA) works collaboratively to prevent and reduce substance abuse and related risk factors in Virginia communities in ways that are measurable and that improve quality of life.

What does your community look like? Do you know of a community coalition in your community? If so, are you active in it? Do you know of a community coalition in your community? If so, are you active in it? Name 3 issues surrounding policies and/or practices unique to your school or community Name 3 issues surrounding policies and/or practices unique to your school or community What are 3 protective factors that you see students have and 3 risk factors What are 3 protective factors that you see students have and 3 risk factors

Health Education Standards in Virginia Act with skill and reason to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and behaviors that reduce health risks and enhance the health of self and others. Act with skill and reason to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and behaviors that reduce health risks and enhance the health of self and others. Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, and use health information, products, and services that influence health and wellness in a positive manner. Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, and use health information, products, and services that influence health and wellness in a positive manner. Demonstrate the use of appropriate health practices and behaviors to promote a safe and healthy community when alone, with family, at school and in other group settings. Demonstrate the use of appropriate health practices and behaviors to promote a safe and healthy community when alone, with family, at school and in other group settings.

Standards of Learning for Health Education K – choices, effect of drugs, electronic media; seek guidance from trusted adults K – choices, effect of drugs, electronic media; seek guidance from trusted adults 1-5 – health promoting decisions, effects of drugs, media, healthy habits, consequences of substance use, healthy choices, seeking assistance from trusted adults, managing stress, addiction, academic performance, value of community healthy and wellness 1-5 – health promoting decisions, effects of drugs, media, healthy habits, consequences of substance use, healthy choices, seeking assistance from trusted adults, managing stress, addiction, academic performance, value of community healthy and wellness 6-10 – self-image, risk-taking behaviors, positive role model within family and community, implementing safe and healthy practices and behaviors, practices with healthy environments, personal standards of using substances, community health programs for all ages, consequences of drinking and driving, media 6-10 – self-image, risk-taking behaviors, positive role model within family and community, implementing safe and healthy practices and behaviors, practices with healthy environments, personal standards of using substances, community health programs for all ages, consequences of drinking and driving, media

WHOSE PROBLEM IS IT ANYWAY? A SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A “____ PROBLEM”. A SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A “____ PROBLEM”. A “_______PROBLEM” IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT IS MANIFESTED IN SCHOOL AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. A “_______PROBLEM” IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT IS MANIFESTED IN SCHOOL AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. THE RESPONSE MUST COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE RESPONSE MUST COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

Roanoke County Schools Local School-Based YRBS 6 th – 12th grade students (8000+) 6 th – 12th grade students (8000+) Anonymous, self-administered, computer-scan answer sheet Anonymous, self-administered, computer-scan answer sheet Trend data: Conducted biennially during the spring, since 2002 Trend data: Conducted biennially during the spring, since years of parent Online survey data 2 years of parent Online survey data Analysis by Roanoke County Prevention Council Data Committee, Virginia Tech, Radford researchers Analysis by Roanoke County Prevention Council Data Committee, Virginia Tech, Radford researchers

Brain Development Maturation Occurs from Back to Front of the Brain Images of Brain Development in Healthy Youth (Ages 5 – 25) Blue represents maturing of brain areas Source: Gogtay, Giedd, et al., 2004.

The Digital Divide: Internet Safety and Bullying 89.4% web presence for high school – an increase of 9% since % web presence for high school – an increase of 9% since % for middle school – an increase of 21% since % for middle school – an increase of 21% since % of high schoolers and 23.7% of middle schoolers report they have received threatening or intimidating messages online or through cell phones. 32.3% of high schoolers and 23.7% of middle schoolers report they have received threatening or intimidating messages online or through cell phones. 24.1% of high schoolers and 16.5% of middle schoolers report they have sent threatening or intimidating messages. 24.1% of high schoolers and 16.5% of middle schoolers report they have sent threatening or intimidating messages. 35.5% of high schoolers and 15.4% of middle schoolers report sexually inappropriate pictures or messages using a cell phone or computer. 35.5% of high schoolers and 15.4% of middle schoolers report sexually inappropriate pictures or messages using a cell phone or computer. 33.4% of high schoolers report they have texted while driving in the past 30 days. 33.4% of high schoolers report they have texted while driving in the past 30 days.

Roanoke County Middle/High School Youth report: Roanoke County Middle/High School Youth report:  17.0%/39.1% have tried cigarettes  9.7%/35.8% have tried marijuana  23.7%/62.0% have tried alcohol  20.8%/20.3% had their first drink before age 13  46.0%/77.0% say alcohol is very easy or fairly easy to get  23.1% of high schoolers report having 5 or more drinks in a row in the past 30 days (binge drinking)

Brain Activity Image from Susan Tapert, PhD, University of California, San Diego

SAMANTHA SPADY Sam’s number was.436 Sam’s number was.436

Other Risky Behaviors  12.5% of middle schoolers and 16.1% of high schoolers have used inhalants to get high (93% of those that continue beyond initial experimentation go on to use illicit drugs)  3.6% of middle schoolers and 16.1% of high schoolers have taken over the counter to get high  3.1% of middle schoolers and 18.9% of high schoolers have taken prescription drugs to get high  For high schoolers OTC and prescription drugs are the new high increasing over 3% in just 2 years.

Adolescent Substance Abuse: America’s #1 Public Health Problem 9 in 10 People Who Are Addicted* Begin to Smoke, Drink and/or Use Other Drugs Before Age % of those addicted to nicotine 91.6% of those addicted to alcohol 96.1% of those addicted to illicit or controlled prescription drugs *Have a substance use disorder, defined as meeting clinical criteria for nicotine dependence or alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence

Academic: lower grades & academic attainment, higher unemployment Health: traffic accidents, risky sex, chronic health problems, brain damage, addiction, fatal health conditions, unintentional injuries, homicides, suicides Crime: juvenile & adult property, violent & substance-related offenses

Costs of Teen Use: $68 billion/year for underage drinking ($2,280/year for every adolescent in the U.S.) $14.4 billion/year for juvenile justice Teen Use Drives Lifetime Costs: $467.7 billion/year in government spending on substance use/addiction ($1,500/year for every person in the U.S.) 96 cents of every $1 goes to cope with the consequences; only 2 cents for prevention & treatment Teen Substance Use Results in Staggering Costs to Society

Families Present Mixed Messages to Teens About Risks of Substance Use Schools Miss the Mark Advertising & Media Messages Glamorize Substance Use

GASOLINA IN A POUCH * * Brightly colored, 200-ml aluminum pouches complete with little straws inside to suck up the vodka, tequila, and rum, plus some fruit juice. These pouches look remarkably similar to Capri Sun. Yes, the same packaging you see at youth soccer games across the country has now been repurposed for easy-access, take-anywhere alcohol. We can’t help but wonder how the manufacturer, Pan American Properties, can say their product is not intended for consumption by minors without bursting into fits of laughter. Who else drinks sweet, brightly colored liquid from small aluminum pouches? Maybe the giggle fits continue when imagining parents grabbing the wrong pouch from the fridge when packing their kids' lunches. Not so funny when the kids actually drink the whole pouch of up to 11% alcohol by volume. Gasolina is also directly targeting the urban Latino demographic with product names such as “Tu Madras” and “Mojito" along with its own brand name. The marketing on its Facebook and Twitter accounts is in both English and Spanish. And young people are already paying attention – the Gasolina Facebook page has 77,888 "likes" and features beach parties, bikini-clad young girls, and “belly button of the week” contests, along with events like last week's "all-you-can-drink Gasolina pouches" event called "Frequency Thursdays" at Zen Exotic Lounge in Orlando, advertised on Gasolina's Open Bar page on Facebook.Gasolina Facebook pageGasolina's Open Bar page on Facebook

SNEAKY KIND OF HEALTH ISSUES Ratings Creep – PG13 is the new R – know your children Ratings Creep – PG13 is the new R – know your children Energy Drinks – fastest growing US beverage market 2011 sales to top $9 billion Energy Drinks – fastest growing US beverage market 2011 sales to top $9 billion YouTube vides on cutting are widely viewed YouTube vides on cutting are widely viewed THE SOLUTIONS: THE SOLUTIONS: Rule: 5 or more servings of fruits/veggies/day; 2 hours or less of screen time; 1 hour of physical activity – OUTSIDE preferably without electronic devices; zero sugar-sweetened drinks Rule: 5 or more servings of fruits/veggies/day; 2 hours or less of screen time; 1 hour of physical activity – OUTSIDE preferably without electronic devices; zero sugar-sweetened drinks Adults – LEAD BY EXAMPLE Adults – LEAD BY EXAMPLE

So what can we do to protect our youth? So what can we do to protect our youth? SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN…. SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN…. IT’S PERMISSION: Talk, Talk, Talk IT’S PERMISSION: Talk, Talk, Talk Know their friends and their friends’ parents Know their friends and their friends’ parents Network with other parents Network with other parents Stay involved with their school all the way through high school and beyond! Stay involved with their school all the way through high school and beyond! Know the resources in the community – Guiding Good Choices parent program Know the resources in the community – Guiding Good Choices parent program

SLIENCE ISN’T GOLDEN!!!!! SLIENCE ISN’T GOLDEN!!!!! PARENTS: YOU MATTER!!! PARENTS: YOU MATTER!!! It’s not going to be a one-time conversation - The key is to keep talking. Keep asking It’s not going to be a one-time conversation - The key is to keep talking. Keep asking questions and keep monitoring your child as they grow up and they encounter different situations. questions and keep monitoring your child as they grow up and they encounter different situations. Stay positive and focus on the facts, not judgments. Stay positive and focus on the facts, not judgments. Parents are the most powerful influence on teens when it comes to drug use - Parents are the most powerful influence on teens when it comes to drug use - It’s up to you to use that influence early and often. It’s a conversation that needs to happen so that your tween knows where you stand. It’s up to you to use that influence early and often. It’s a conversation that needs to happen so that your tween knows where you stand. LISTEN. TALK. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LISTEN. TALK. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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Youth leadership at the State and National Level

Protective Factors Healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior should be: Clearly communicated Consistent with family values. Strengthen bonds with: Opportunities to contribute Skills to be successful Recognition for contributions. Acknowledge individual characteristics. 84.9%/85.7% William Byrd middle and high schoolers report having one or more adults (not parents) in their lives who encourage them and listen to them.

All ideas are considered. The decision is clear. Everyone is committed to it. Teens are involved. Family bonds are strengthened. The decision reflects family beliefs and standards. Characteristics of a Good Family Decision

Driving the Outcomes through Prevention: What Works – Education, Collaboration, Opportunities Action on Underage Drinking – collaboration with pediatricians Action on Underage Drinking – collaboration with pediatricians SAP in all middle and high schools SAP in all middle and high schools Digital Divide – Raise awareness of use of technology and youth risk behavior Digital Divide – Raise awareness of use of technology and youth risk behavior Parent Education - Roanoke County support of Guiding Good Choices, Staying Connected with Your Teen and Internet Safety Seminars Parent Education - Roanoke County support of Guiding Good Choices, Staying Connected with Your Teen and Internet Safety Seminars Promote Youth Raise Awareness of Health Risk - Surgeon General’s Call to Leadership – YADAPP, school prevention clubs, community support Promote Youth Raise Awareness of Health Risk - Surgeon General’s Call to Leadership – YADAPP, school prevention clubs, community support Unique partnerships to implement environmental strategies: Health Officials, ABC, StopIn Stores, WDBJ7, Hispanic community Unique partnerships to implement environmental strategies: Health Officials, ABC, StopIn Stores, WDBJ7, Hispanic community

Bringing the community together so all can be part of the solution.