Local News

Substance Abuse Lower Among Teens in Omak Schools


Jun 26, 2015

Due to multiple campaigns and strategies, Omak youth are reporting lower rates of substance abuse in the high school and middle school than in past years.

The Healthy Youth Survey, conducted every two years, asks students county-wide about their alcohol and drug consumptions and their perspectives about it. The high numbers of usage and general attitude that kids wouldn’t be caught led to the Okanogan County Community Coalition stepping in to change the social norms.

Through a 5- to 10-year federal Drug Free Communities grant and funding from Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, the Coalition was able to attack youth substance abuse, targeting Omak.

The Coalition was given five county schools to choose from, which were all within a margin of error for which one was “the worst.” The Coalition chose Omak because it had the greater capacity and there were already many Omak community members on board. Now we are seeing results.

For example, in 2008, nine out of ten Omak students thought they wouldn’t get caught by police and charged with an MIP. In 2014, that number has dropped to six out of ten.

Coalition executive director Andi Ervin said that is in large part to the partnership with Omak Police, who have ramped up their enforcement with some of those grant funds going toward emphasis patrols. They also have started some new strategies, just showing up in places like proms and sporting events, where students are often known to illegally consume.

Recently, the Coalition received another grant to partner with Fish and Wildlife Police and other agencies for extra patrols of campgrounds as well.

Usage has consistently dropped across the board. Monthly informal surveys at the High School have shown that from 2012 to 2014, past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use dropped from around a 20 percent average through the year to about a 10 percent average, nearly cutting the numbers in half. Where the Coalition has seen spikes in usage, they hit hard with media and advertisement and emphasis patrols and nearly eliminated the spikes.

Partly, that has been attributed to posters, billboards, media announcements and an advertisement in the movie theaters. Ervin said there has been a huge media push, especially during seasons of known high usage.

That has also been due to the efforts of students themselves, organizing and hosting events, getting out T-shirts, stickers and more and being a part of the change.

It started in the Middle School with the Omak Street Team, a group of students and advisors who strategized how to get the word out about substance abuse and its harm on kids. That team transitioned to The Game Changers, and now is nestled under the Kiwanis Club and known as the Builders Club.

At the High School, the Key Club and Link Crew have been tasked with helping spread the word and organize events and campaigns geared at reaching their peers.

Other results show that using prescription painkillers to get high also dropped dramatically. In 2010, tenth graders reported that 20 percent of them had used painkillers to get high in the last 30 days. In 2014, only 1.2 percent said they had.

That’s both because of the campaigns by the students and Coalition, as well as some Continuing Medical Education for local healthcare professionals. The Coalition hosted trainings to educate about addiction and how to keep from enabling an addict. In addition a permanent take back site was installed at Omak Police Department as well as several hundred home medicine lockboxes.

A big focus lately has been marijuana. There is still a perception by many students and adults that marijuana isn’t that harmful. Some numbers are looking good for Omak, while others are concerning.

In 2010, Omak tenth graders reported that 35.5 percent of them had used marijuana in the past 30 days, but in 2014, only 17.9 percent had. In fact, while numbers dropped in Omak, where the campaign is focused, the rest of the county stayed at about 24 percent.

Although numbers are dropping, marijuana is the area of greatest concern, especially post-legalization. In some cases, marijuana is now used more than alcohol.

Ervin said there are many studies on how marijuana affects the teenage brain, and the harm is greater than in adults by far.

In fact, neurologist Frances Jensen reveals in her book, “The Teenage Brain” that studies show the brain does not fully stop developing until ages 21-30, and that when teens use cannabis, they cannot create any significant memories for 5-7 days after usage.

So for kids who get high over the weekend and then go to school for the week, the cannabis might still be affecting their ability to learn through that Friday.

“It’s a self-induced learning disability,” Ervin said.

In those monthly high school surveys, there are still many who are reporting using marijuana six or more times a month, some even daily. The Healthy Youth Survey shows that in 2012 and 2014, the same group of students who are still reporting higher levels of marijuana use are also reporting high levels of getting mostly c’s, d’s and f’s on grade reports.

Combating substance abuse for youth will take many forms, but mostly Ervin and her team want the public to know that there is much they can do.

Lock up prescription drugs, or dispose of them at drop-off sites.

Lock up alcohol and don’t provide any to minors.

If as an adult you choose to use marijuana, lock it up. Kids and teens should never have access to marijuana.

Research what substances do to teen brains – their bodies don’t handle substances the same way as adults.

Tell kids you are not OK with them using alcohol or drugs.

Report to police if you know or suspect illegal usage of alcohol or other drugs is occurring.

Overall, the numbers are showing that the community norms are changing, too. Although the Coalition’s emphasis is on the middle and high schools, even sixth graders are reporting lower usage rates. In 2010, 9.2 percent of them said they had used marijuana and 35.9 percent said they had had a drink or two of alcohol at some point. But in 2014, only 3.6 percent had used marijuana and 12.5 percent had used alcohol.

Although that could be partly due to billboards, media and more, Ervin said that’s really a sign that the community perspective is changing. Maybe older siblings at the middle and high schools are educating their siblings. Maybe parents are talking to their kids more about not drinking or using drugs.

Although the exact causes can’t be measured, the results are looking good. And the Coalition, the Omak School District, local law enforcement and more will continue to partner together to make things even better.

In other areas of the county, schools and communities are recognizing the need and forming their own ways to help. For instance, Oroville community and school members are putting together a group to apply for their own Drug Free Communities grant, under the mentorship of the Coalition. Brewster police have partnered with the Coalition on drug take-backs and compliance checks.

For more information, visit www.okcommunity.org.

                


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