Substance Abuse Proves Costly For WV Schools

Substance abuse treatment is a great help to many, but it is currently putting WV schools in debt. Substance abuse costs WV schools $13 million, and that number is expected to rise if something is not done to tackle the problem. The figure includes money spent on prevention, treatment, and school-based mental health programs in elementary and secondary schools, along with colleges and universities, according to the report by the West Virginia Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being and the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center; however, this estimate does not take into account costs such as additional school staffing, special education programs, drug- and alcohol-related truancy, property damage, and legal costs linked to substance abuse. The report states that children ages 12 to 17 make up a main portion of those being treated in WV for drug and alcohol abuse. Data has shown that the percentage of that age group being treated for substance abuse rose from 5 to 8 percent between 1992 and 2006, while the percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds did not change. Late last year, Governor Joe Manchin appointed a state policy and planning board titled "The Partnership" to fight substance abuse. The plan the partnership came up with would cost $23.5 million a year for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services. Manchin wished to make the plan a priority last November, but his administration said that funding at the time was impossible. While the state does allocate money to the Department of Health and Human Resources for services related to substance abuse, it has proved to be not enough. Lawmakers are still working hard to find another way to fund these programs.

Community Development Expert To Visit Marshall County

Local community members have an unique opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s leaders in community mobilization and development. Peter Hille, Director of the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College in Kentucky will visit Marshall County on May 20 for a workshop about moving people to action, recruiting volunteers, and maintaining project focus. Hille will also talk about sustainability and strategic planning. The workshop is a great opportunity for people to become more involved in their community. The workshop will be held at Grand Vue Park’s banquet hall from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Space is limited, so please register early by calling Latrisha Whitelatch at (304) 845-3300. The deadline for registration is May 17. The workshop is sponsored by the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition.

Prism Awards Held Last Week

Jeff Bridges can now add another award next to his recently acquired Oscar trophy. He, along with "Crazy Heart" co-star Maggie Gyllenhal received Prism Awards last Thursday night for their roles in the film about an alcoholic singer. The Prism Awards were established in 1997 and honor actors, movies, and TV shows that "accurately depict and bring attention to substance abuse and mental health issues." Other winners included Hector Elizondo and Tony Shalhoub for the TV show "Monk," the film "The Soloist," and television shows "How I Met Your Mother," "Law and Order," "Breaking Bad" and "The Celebrity Apprentice." The awards are produced by the Entertainment Industries Council Inc. in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the FX Network. The award ceremony took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Study Shows That More Teens Are Likely To Drink On Prom Night

With the end of the school year winding down prom and graduation season are currently in full swing. New research from Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) reveals that "90 percent of teens believe their counterparts are more likely to drink and drive on prom night and 79 percent believe the same is true for graduation night." This is according to a national survey of more than 2,500 eleventh and twelfth graders. CADCA's (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) website states that "there were 380 teen alcohol-related traffic deaths during prom and graduation season (April, May and June) in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports 1,009 total teen fatalities (alcohol and non-alcohol-related) in motor vehicle crashes during those same months in 2008." Parents may be enabling their children to drink and drive during these special occasions. More than one in three teenagers say that their parents have allowed them to attend parties where alcohol is known to make an appearance. During this special time in your child's life, make sure you talk with them about the dangers of drinking and driving and drug and alcohol abuse. Visit the Marshall County Family Resource Network online to download a safe party toolkit, or to get more information on how to discuss this topic with your children.

Preteen Marijuana Use Could Lead to Psychological Disorders

One of the latest studies lead by researcher Youssef Mahfoud, MD, from the Department of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio reveals that children who start smoking marijuana before the age of 13 have a greater risk for comorbid substance abuse and psychosocial and legal problems. Medscape.com writes, "In the study of 136 substance-dependent girls and boys, those who started using marijuana as a preteen were more likely to have a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide attempts, and traffic violations and to be dependent on other drugs." Ethnicity, race, parental education, parental substance abuse history, and characteristics of preteen marijuana users on admission to substance abuse programs were also taken into consideration as factors that may predict teen marijuana use. It was discovered that preteen marijuana abusers were more likely to be Hispanic. They also tended to have parents with less education. Sixty percent of these instances had parents with only a junior high education. According to Medscape.com, "The researchers plan to follow the sample in the study to see whether they find an improvement in outcomes for preteen marijuana users after substance abuse treatment and to gauge whether preteen marijuana use is associated with less successful response to substance abuse treatment therapies." If you would like more information on how you can talk to your children about drugs, check out the Marshall County Family Resource Network's Parent Toolkit.

New Tobacco Products Could Be Mistaken For Candy

It may look like candy, but purchase with caution - tobacco companies are just becoming more creative in their approach to marketing smokeless tobacco. Products that are packaged like candy are not only appealing to adults, but to children as well; and while the nicotine is pleasing to some, children are becoming poisoned by it. A research team recently discovered that nicotine poisonings caused by smokeless tobacco products are the second highest amongst children. This study can be found in the journal Pediatrics. The new products, which are currently being test-marketed in three cities, include Camel Orbs, which resemble breath mints; Camel Sticks, which are about the size of a toothpick and dissolve in the mouth; and Camel Strips, which are similar to breath-freshening strips. While the packaging is 100% child-resistant in accordance with Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, and states to "keep out of the reach of children" parents should still be sure to keep these new products out of sight. According to Greg N. Connolly, DMD, the director of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston and reprinted on Health.com, "just under 0.5 milligrams of nicotine per pound of body weight is the minimum lethal dose for children." These accidental poisonings are definitely a concern, but so is the increase in people who are using these products. The use of smokeless tobacco products among adolescents increased 6% per year from 2002 to 2006.

Health Pavilion to Benefit WV and VA Residents

An open house was available to the public yesterday for a new behavioral health facility that will will provide programming and services for the treatment of behavioral health, psychiatric, emotional, and substance abuse illnesses to people in both Virginia and West Virginia. The Behavioral Health Pavilion of the Virginias will be located in the former St. Luke's Hospital in Bluefield, WV. Its facilities include 64 inpatient beds which include 30 beds for geriatric patients, 24 beds for adults, a 10-bed psychiatric intensive care unit and space for outpatient therapy and counseling. The health pavilion will not only offer an outlet for behavioral health care services, but it will also create new jobs within southern WV.

Share Your Concerns With the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition

The Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition is currently conducting one-on-one interviews to determine which projects members of the community are most interested in. The amount of support has been tremendous and we thank everyone who has participated; however, we still need help. In order to continue to move forward we would like to hear what you think about the topic of substance abuse in Marshall County. It has been brought to our attention that many people's concerns lay within the realms of more education, stricter penalties, and increased law enforcement. What are your concerns? Share them with us below in our comments section or call (304) 845-3300. You can even email us at marshallcountyspfsig@comcast.net. We will also be on hand to answer your questions at the Marshall County Home and Business Expo this Friday and Saturday at the Mollohan Building in the former West Virginia State Penitentiary. Remember, being a part of the Anti-Drug Coalition doesn't mean that you have to attend our monthly meetings. By solely supporting our mission and vision you are already involved in the effort to fight substance abuse in Marshall County.

New Report Showcases Alcohol Abstainers and Quitters

A new federal report has shed some light onto how many people have abstained from alcohol or have quit altogether. According to CADCA.com "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics estimated in its Health Behaviors of Adults: United States, 2005-2007 report that 61.2 percent of American adults currently drink alcohol, but that 24.6 percent are lifetime abstainers and 14.3 percent of Americans call themselves former drinkers. Of the latter, 8.1 percent said they are former infrequent drinkers, while 6.2 percent classified themselves as former regular drinkers." The study also concluded that men were more likely to drink than women and more white adults were current drinkers than any other ethnic group. There was a correlation between income and education and alcohol use. People who obtained a masters, doctorate, or medical degree were more likely to drink as well as richer Americans. On the reverse side, high-school drop-outs and poor Americans were more likely to stop drinking opposed to those with higher education and wealth.

Drug/Alcohol Abuse Linked With Childhood Sleeping Problems

A recent study has discovered that children who suffer from sleeping disorders now, may be at a higher risk for drug and alcohol problems as they become young adults. According to Maria M. Wong, associate professor in the department of psychology at, Idaho State University, and printed by MedicalNewsToday.com, "The prevalence of problem sleepiness among adolescents and young adults, ages 12 to 25 years, is not only high but also increasing. Some serious consequences include increased risk of unintentional injuries or death, such as car accidents, low academic performance, negative moods, and increased use of alcohol and drugs." Researchers found that children ages three to five who had trouble sleeping were more likely to continue experiencing this problem during adolescence between the ages of 11 and 17, which resulted in the presence of drug-related problems in young adulthood between the ages of 18 and 21. Wong's study does not directly explain why this association exists; however, it only suggests a marker of drug and alcohol problems that may be noticed very early in a child's life. MedicalNewsToday.com listed Wong's steps in targeting this problem, "First, it is important to increase public awareness of the significance of sleep problems in children, and their potential effect on self-control and later substance use and abuse. Second, substance abuse prevention and intervention programs need to consider the relationships among sleep problems, self-control, and the increased risk for substance abuse. Third, health care providers may need to become more aware of the potential serious consequences of childhood sleep problems, and provide treatment when sleep disturbances are clinically indicated." The results from this study will be published in the June 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. It is currently available for early viewing.

Prescription Drug Poisionings on the Rise

A recent study conducted by Jeffrey H. Coben, M.D. of the West Virginia University School of Medicine says that between the years of 1999 and 2006, there was a 65% increase of poisionings from prescription tranquilizers, sedatives, and opioids. According to WebMD, "Opioids can produce a feeling of euphoria, leading to their recreational use. Tranquilizers and sedatives reduce tension and anxiety and can induce sleep." Some commonly abused prescription drugs include valium, xanax, ambien, and lunesta. The study found that unintentional poisoning is now the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. It also discovered that intentional poisonings from prescription opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers rose 130% during the seven-year period, compared to 53% in intentional poisonings from other substances. These statistics were studied by researchers who used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, which contains records for eight million hospitalizations each year; however, even though the progress made has been helpful, there is still much research to be done in order to fight this growing epidemic. This study can be found in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

April Marks Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. In an effort to fight underage drinking, SAMHSA and the Ad Council have launched a campaign which encourages parents to talk to their children about drinking alcohol at an early age. These public service announcements have been released to media outlets across the country and can be viewed online. Click here to see these PSAs and to get more information on how to launch underage drinking campaigns in your community.