By Madeline Weiss
According to a fact sheet from the 2014 Prevention Needs Assessment, sophomores in Carbon County are exceeding state averages in substance abuse.
Talking early and talking often is of the utmost importance in preventing drug, alcohol and tobacco use in teens, according to Sally Patton, Community Prevention Professional with Prevention Management Organization.
Carol Mead, wife of Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, has made the "Talk Early and Often" campaign part of her first ladyship. Patton will presented this project to the school board Monday in order to incorporate education into Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD#2).
At the Platte Valley Prevention Coalition meeting on Sept. 16, Patton showed statistics about drug, alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents in Carbon County, noting that each school presents drug use at similar levels. According to Patton, the percentages of 10th graders who had used alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes in the past 30 days are significantly greater than the rest of the state for 2014-10th graders always show the highest rate of substance use. These Prevention Needs Assessment numbers are self-reported as opposed to drug testing. Self-reporting may lead to under-reporting.
With regards to school initiatives, these statistics are vital because they show what problems need to be addressed. Patton noted that having conversations about such topics are easy to facilitate. The "Talk Early and Often" project provides information about ways to approach your child at different ages with regards to behavior. A booklet from the program presents example conversations.
CCSD#2 Superintendent Jim Copeland said the data seemed similar to other numbers that he had seen for the school district. Based on the statistics he has seen, Copeland said he has been speaking with principals in efforts to administer drug tests to students that join sports or extracurricular activities.
Though Patton and the administrators at CCSD#2 are looking to intervene among drug and alcohol use with teens, Patton believes that students could be encouraged to help with a public service project-providing tobacco free parks in Saratoga.
According to Copeland, CCSD#2 meets with the child protection team once a month in order to examine specific cases in a confidential setting, alongside a licensed clinical social worker. With this effort, students that might be struggling are addressed individually by administrators in order to provide them the help that they need.
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