Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jan 2014
Source: Sentinel-Standard (Ionia, MI)
Copyright: 2014 Liberty Group Michigan Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sentinel-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4730
Author: Mattie Cook

GROUP DEVELOPING MATERIALS FROM DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT

The Ionia County Substance Abuse Initiative members continue to work
toward a drug-free community grant.

ICSAI chair Tex Bryant, Prevention Coordinator Courtney Miller and Deb
Thalison are working toward the development of information on Ionia
County drug and alcohol use amongst students in seventh, ninth and
eleventh grades.

Data from the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) report from
2011-2012 is being used to show figures for Ionia County.

"The state runs this test, and students take it once every two years,"
Bryant said.

Students were asked about their use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana,
painkillers and Ritalin and Adderall in the past 30 days.

The report shows students' self-reported, approximate usage as
follows: Tobacco, 9 percent; alcohol, 18 percent; marijuana, 11
percent; Ritalin and Adderall, 7 percent; and painkillers at 8 percent.

In addition, information regarding the perception of parental
disapproval was provided by students in the survey.

Students perceived that their parents disapproved of tobacco at a rate
of approximately 95 percent, alcohol at 88 percent and marijuana at 93
percent.

"What we find, and research shows this to be the case, is that if kids
feel a higher rate of disapproval from their parents, they are less
likely to use the substance," said Bryant.

The perception of harm for tobacco was approximately 87 percent,
alcohol was 71 percent and marijuana was 72 percent.

The perception of peer disapproval ranked at approximately 80 percent
for tobacco, 72 percent for alcohol and 78 percent for marijuana.

Based on the information collected through MiPHY in 2011-2012, the
ICSAI has decided to center their focus upon prevention activities
related to marijuana and alcohol misuse. This focus will remain
throughout the first year of the Drug-Free Communities grant funding.

One of the ways this will be accomplished is through work to change
community norms, for instance, the demonstration of disapproval of the
use of alcohol and drugs by youth in Ionia County.

If the Ionia County Health Department receives the grant, they will be
eligible to receive $125,000 per year for up to five years to be
directed toward prevention activities throughout the county.

"What we've found is that seventh graders don't use much, but by the
time they get to high school, things start going up. The time to catch
them is like seventh, eighth grade," said Bryant.

In addition to grant dates, upcoming events for parents and community
members were discussed. Among them were the next meeting for the Great
Start Parent Coalition, which will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the
Ionia County Intermediate School District. Also, a three-hour training
on the stages of play will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 8 at
the Ionia County Intermediate School District. This training is
designed to discuss the importance and development of play, as well as
how to incorporate age-appropriate play into childcare settings. There
will also be a CPR and First Aid training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 8
at the Ionia County Intermediate School District. This training costs
$30, and to reserve a spot, contact The Ionia County Intermediate School District is located at 2191
Harwood Road in Ionia.

For more information on the ICSAI, visit 
www.ioniacounty.org/health-department/substance-abuse-home/.

The next ICSAI workgroup meeting will be at 12 p.m. March 20.
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MAP posted-by: Matt