This is the average age of first alcohol use in the Valley.

A community report provided by The Valley Substance Abuse Action Council (VSAAC)
A program of Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc.

Prevent ion Saves Lives!

Underage Drinking: A Community Crisis

By: Pamela Mautte
Director, Valley Substance Abuse Action Council (VSAAC) In the Valley, the average age of first use of alcohol is just 12 years old. A startling statistic, but only one of many that help fully illustrate the depth of the problem in our community. According to recent national and community surveys, youth in the VSAAC subregion are using alcohol at more than twice the rate of youth around the country and 59% more than their peers in New England. A community workgroup consisting of a cross section of Valley parents, business owners, educators, students, and health professionals identified alcohol use as the number one issue facing residents across the lifespan in the Valley. This same group, however, ranked this problem as somewhat difficult to change or impact. The reasons for this are varied, but the most common are that adults are often unaware of the risk factors involved in underage drinking and that alcohol use among youth is accepted as a harmless and normative behavior. Over the past year, VSAAC has been working diligently to change the perceptions of, and attitudes toward, alcohol use in our community through a variety of proven evidence based strategies, including conducting parent and student workshops, community based alcohol screenings, and trainings for alcohol merchants; and assisting in policy development. Weve also launched a comprehensive media campaign utilizing social media, billboards, cinema ads and newspaper advertising to help raise awareness and educate the community about the seriousness of the problem. These same types of evidence based strategies have proven to be extremely effective in our community in the past, producing dramatic reductions in tobacco usage, prescription pill abuse and heroin use once identified as major problems facing Valley youth. But these measure alone are not enough to eradicate underage alcohol use in our region. For us to enact true change, we need adults in our community - parents, teachers, business owners, community leaders and other stakeholders - to join us in our efforts by modeling healthy behaviors, demonstrating zero tolerance for underage drinking, and becoming actively involved in prevention initiatives. We need to be clear that it is not okay for youth to drink alcohol, and that when we drink as adults, we should do so only in moderation. By working together to address the problem, we can overcome this community crisis and effect true and positive change in all of our childrens lives!

The Problem...
Alcohol is the number one problem facing our teens today. Comparing current alcohol use of youth in the Lower Naugatuck Valley towns with youth nationally and regionally demonstrates the high rates of alcohol use in our community...

Nationally: 14.6 % of youth used alcohol in the last 30 days.* Regionally: 18% of youth used alcohol in the past 30 days.*
*2008 NSDUH survey of youth age 12 - 17 yrs.

Locally: 29.9 % of youth used alcohol in the last 30 days.*

*2009 VSAAC survey of youth grades 7-12 (similar age group as national survey).

I dont use drugs. I only use alcohol.

-Kids Everywhere

community attitudes
In a recent Community Readiness Assessment for Substance Abuse Prevention, respondents (representing a cross section of some 200 community members) reported some concerning attitudes that speak to readiness to address alcohol related problems in the Valley. The majority of respondents disagreed with the following statements: Most community residents are concerned with preventing alcohol abuse. Most community residents believe that youth in all socioeconomic groups are at risk. A little over half of the respondents agreed with the statement: Most community residents feel that it is okay for youth to drink occasionally.

If You Plan to Host an Underage Drinking Party... Consider Us Invited!

www.vsaac.org

Respondents also felt that there would be little support for town ordinances to discourage underage drinking and that enforcement of liquor laws should not be a priority.
Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council
A program of BGHS, Inc.

Finally, most respondents agreed with the notion that youth can drink with adult supervision, that youth can drink if not driving, and that occasional use of marijuana is not harmful. The responses demonstrate a low level of readiness to address alcohol use and abuse issues, or a low opinion of the communitys readiness.

Whats the Harm?

Alcohol is a toxic, potentially addictive drug that causes more damage to the individual and society than all illegal drugs combined in fact, alcohol kills nearly seven times more young Americans than all illegal drugs combined. (Teens Under the Influence, Ketcham and Pace)

Fact: Adolescents drink less frequently than adults, but when they do drink, they drink more heavily than adults. When youth between the ages of twelve and twenty consume alcohol, they drink an average of five drinks per occasion about six times a month.
(The Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, 2007)

impair their memory, attention span and spatial skills. Teens who are heavy frequent drinkers experience more emotional, social and behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression, anti-social behavior and conduct disorders.

Why This Matters: Teens who drink heavily

Alcohol is the #1 health risk facing our students today.

Did you know that teen drinkers are less sensitive to the sedative effects of alcohol than adults are? Therefore, teens can drink more, and longer, than adults which often leads to dangerous binge* drinking behavior. In addition, teens that begin drinking before the age of 15 are much more likely to become alcoholics than those who dont drink before they turn 21. In the Fall of 2009, over 3,000 Valley 7th, 9th and 11th grade students participated in VSAACs biannual Survey of Students Needs** which provides the only Valley specific data about alcohol and substance abuse usage and attitudes among youth. The survey revealed some disturbing facts. While alcohol usage has actually decreased among 11th graders over the past decade, usage among 7th and 9th graders is again on the rise. Binge drinking among 7th and 9th graders is also a concern with both age groups reporting increases of this exceptionally risky behavior.

SOME GOOD NEWS...

Alcohol Use Past 12 Months

**VSAAC will release the full results of the 2009 Survey of Student Needs later this fall. Contact VSAAC at (203) 736-8566 for further information, or visit www.vsaac.org.

VSAACs survey did offer some positive findings.... 84.8% of 7th graders have not used alcohol in the past year 57.3% of 9th graders have not used alcohol in the past year 38.6% of 11th graders have not used alcohol in the past year

Why Kids Drink...

Students generally overestimate the proportion of their peers actively involved in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD). Hence, it is easier to be pressured by the myth that everybody is doing it. Normative education, which includes tools such as student surveys and opinion polls, helps students realize that use of ATOD is not the norm for teenagers. VSAAC has been actively addressing this issue through our federal STOP ACT grant dollars with the goal to change normative behavior. Other reasons that teens drink alcohol include exposure to extensive promotion of alcohol products in media which increases the desire to use the product; American acceptance and perception of underage drinking as a rite of passage to adulthood; availability/accessibility of alcohol in most homes, and the fact that alcohol is inexpensive. Many kids use drugs (and alcohol) for the same general reasons adults use drugs to get high, to feel happy, stimulated, relaxed, or intoxicated; to ease stress, frustration, tension, disappointment, fear, or anger; to take their minds off their pain or troubles.
(Teens Under the Influence, Ketcham and Pace)

Binge Risk Drinking (2 Weeks Prior to Survey)

*Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks in 2 hours for an adult

Parental Impact
Parents are the most influential people in their childrens lives. In fact, the reason most children decide not to drink is because their PARENTS TALKED TO THEM about it (Source: Substance Abuses and Mental Health Services Administration). Teens who believe that their parents will not care if they are drinking are more likely to drink, binge drink and use other drugs. Unfortunately, there is evidence of both a real and perceived low parental disapproval rate of underage alcohol use in the Valley community as demonstrated by responses to related questions from the Community Readiness Assessment and the Survey of Student Needs. The graph below illustrates Valley 11th graders responses to - How upset do you think your parents would get if they parents found out that you had been using: TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, OTHER ILLEGAL DRUGS?

The Nine Facets of Parental Engagement

1. Be there: Get involved in your childrens lives and activities. 2. Open the lines of communication and keep them wide open. 3. Set a good example: Actions are more persuasive than words. 4. Set the rules and expect your children to follow them. 5. Monitor your childrens whereabouts. 6. Maintain family rituals such as eating dinner together. 7. Incorporate religious and spiritual practices into family life. 8. Get Dad engaged and keep him engaged. 9. Engage the larger family of your childrens friends, teachers, classmates, neighbors, and community.
(Source: How to Raise A Drug Free Kid, Califano,2009)

91.90%

59.40%

Alcohol Tobacco Marijuana Other Illegal Drugs

79.90% Where do kids drink?

60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% At party 1-2 people Alone
29.30% 30.70% 26% 15.50% 50.70% 49.80%

Parents who are overly permissive or who support teen drinking put their children at risk. In addition, there is no evidence showing that if you let FACT... kids drink at home they will be discouraged from drinking elsewhere. Realistically, you may not be able to stop your teen from experimenting 70.40% with alcohol before high school graduation, but you can make it not easy for them to try/experiment through clear rules and consistent consequences. Kids who feel their parents will According to results of the 2009 VSAAC punish them if caught are less Survey of Student Needs, 30% of 11th graders have used alcohol/drugs at their likely to drink. favorite hangout. PARENTS DO yOU kNOW WHERE yOUR kIDS FAVORITE HANGOUT IS?
grade 9 grade 11

High School & Risky Behaviors

Did you know that when students enter high school their risk of substance abuse triples? The transition to high school presents a major change in your childs environment. New influences and friends, increase in availability of alcohol/drugs, pressure to fit in with new social groups, and a shift in focus from parents to peers are all contributing factors. In addition, high schoolers often have fewer rules, less supervision and fewer restrictions at home, making it easier for students to engage in risky behaviors.

30% 18.50%

33.40% 26% 22.50% 13.60% 19.40%

11.10%

Favorite hangout

In a car

Adults at home

No Adults at home

It is critical that during the summer and in the early months of high school, that parents develop and maintain open communication with their teens, and reiterate their values and expectations. Create and enforce clear and concise rules. Make time to get to know your childs new friends (and their parents) and routinely ask your child questions about substance abuse.

- Parent Tips

In its ongoing efforts to educate parents about the risk factors of underage drinking, VSAAC continues to launch aggressive media campaigns featuring hard-hitting messages like the one in the billboard ad above.

Alcohol screenings
VSAAC has trained the Valley Parish Nurses to implement Community Based Brief Alcohol Screenings. Brief screenings can be a useful and non-threatening way to reach youth (and adults) who may not realize they are engaging in risky or potentially problem drinking. During a screening, participants are asked a few simple questions about their alcohol use. Results are issued immediately giving participants the opportunity to reflect on their levels of use as well as access information, referral and intervention services as needed. The early detection of problem behavior means that intervention can occur sooner, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. Get involved in the fight against underage drinking in the Valley! Contact VSAAC at (203) 736-8566, or visit www.vsaac.org.

RED WATCH TRAINING

This summer, VSAAC (in collaboration with Echo Hose Ambulance Company) implemented a Red Watch Campaign program in the Valley. The mission of the Red Watch Campaign is to provide students of the college community with the knowledge, awareness, and skills to prevent toxic drinking deaths; and to promote a student culture of kindness, responsibility, compassion, and respect. The Red Watch program utilizes a peer-topeer model consisting of four hours of training for student participants in Alcohol Education, CPR Certification, and Automatic External Defibrillator Training. Participants in the Red Watch training are awarded the red watch which serves as a symbol of the band of students who watch out for each other among their peer groups.
*The Red Watch Campaign initiative was funded by a Valley United Way Special Needs Grant.

435 East Main Street Ansonia, CT 06418 203-736-8566 www.vsaac.org