Substance Abuse Coalition kickoff about creating a cultural change

Dubois County CARES — Coalition for Adolescent Resilience and Empowerment Strategies — is trying to change the local culture and attitude about alcohol and marijuana consumption.

To do so, the group is seeking to partner with more community members to begin to enact change across the county. During the kickoff held Tuesday, the current members asked those in attendance to become part of their mission to curb drug and alcohol use and abuse in teens.

“The biggest challenge CARES has faced is determining what can be done to combat the local culture that, we feel, supports alcohol use among teens,” said Paige Mundy, coalition chairwoman and social worker for the Northeast Dubois School Corporation. “We feel Dubois County has a long history of work hard, play hard and alcohol use is a major factor in that.”

The group was awarded the Drug-Free Communities grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last year. This five-year grant allocated $125,000 annually to support the local group’s efforts in their mission. CARES is responsible for matching that grant in donations or in-kind efforts.

The $250,000 will be dedicated to reducing teenage drug — specifically, marijuana — and alcohol use.

“They are giving us money and they need to see that the community is supporting this action,” founding member and finance committee member Jane Chappell told those in attendance. “If we don’t support the action, we won’t succeed in our process.”

Chappell said the county needed to tackle the drug and alcohol issue the same way it did with suicide in the 1990s. “We tackled a very serious problem, which is what this alcohol use is,” she said. “It is very ingrained.”

To continue receiving the funding, the group must show an impact on the community they are serving. This is shown through the Indiana Youth Survey, an annual survey given to students regarding their drug and alcohol use and perceptions regarding it.

According to the 2017 Indiana Youth Survey, 33 percent of Dubois County seniors and 27 percent of Dubois County juniors have reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days. Additionally, Dubois County teens reported higher than state averages in the use of smokeless tobacco, electronic vapor products, binge drinking and use of inhalants.

Eighth graders also reported higher rates of cocaine and heroin usage than the state average.

[quote]“We understand that we must say no, but it’s an entirely different situation when you’re in that situation. Help us say no.” Quote from a Dubois County teen.[/quote]

To assist parents and caregivers in talking about drugs and alcohol to their teens, the group is incorporating practices from “Talk. They Hear You.” Created by the same organization that awarded the grant to CARES, the tool includes resources for parents to get advice on how to talk to their kids about substance abuse. They have also created a smartphone application to roleplay with parents to help them through the process.

[quote]“What adults should understand about teen substance abuse is that teens do it for the same reasons adults do.” Quote from a Dubois County teen.[/quote]

The group is also working to increase the education regarding the long-range impact substance abuse has on brain development. Most brains aren’t fully developed until the early 20s and substance abuse has shown to impact an individual’s impulsivity and decision-making processes throughout their lives.

[quote]“Some parents are OK with their kids using certain substances, and I believe that’s the root of the problem.” Quotes from a Dubois County teen.[/quote]

Last summer, Jenna Bieker, an intern at the Purdue Extension, teamed up with a national group to create a website and marketing material to combat local parents’ and adults’ perceptions that it’s okay to host drinking at their homes. Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t Be a Party to Teenage Drinking combats these misconceptions and CARES has taken over the website and social media pages, Bieker created last year to assist in marketing that message.

According to CARES, more than 80 percent of Dubois County seniors believe that parents are okay with them partaking in alcohol use.

Dubois County – Parents Who Host, Lose the Most has a page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dcparentswhohost/ and a website here https://dcparentswhohost.wixsite.com/pwhltm.

Attendees were given applications to join the group in their efforts to accomplish a few goals in their 12-month action plan. Those goals are to change the culture, educate youth, parents and the public about usage and teen brain development, increase barriers to limit access to alcohol and drugs and to change the consequences regarding substance abuse to develop consistent rules and enforcement.

“We really want you to think about the things you heard to see if anything stuck out to you,” Mundy said in asking those in attendance to join Dubois County CARES.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or make donations can contact Ashtin Borden, CARES Coordinator, at 812-482-2233 Ext. 125 to do so.