CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Eecting Change in Hubbard County Youth alcohol abuse rates in Hubbard County are on the decline, thanks in part to the HIP Coalition. In 2012, 60 percent of 7th and 8th grade students at Park Rapids reported they never drink alcohol. In 2016, 76 percent reported they never drink. In 2016, 6 percent of 11th graders in Hubbard County reported prescription drug misuse in the last 30 days. Less than 20 percent reported marijuana use in the last 30 days, and 35 percent reported alcohol use in the last 30 days. HIP hopes to help lower these rates in the future. Why Prevention Matters Drug and alcohol abuse is risky behavior at any age. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that using drugs during adolescence can increase the chance of addiction. Those who drink alcohol at age 14 or younger are seven times more likely to have alcohol dependence later in life. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug experimentation. Anyone going through a transitional period is at risk for drug abuse, and the preteen and teenage years are times of transitions. Between the change from elementary to middle school— and middle to high school—and the physical and emotional changes of puberty, preteens and teens are regularly exposed to new social and academic situations. Middle-school or high-school years may also be the first time preteens and teenagers have access to drugs or alcohol. Combined with normal teenage urges to take risks and try new things, the adolescent years can be a prime breeding ground for trying drugs. A new grant is funding the ongoing work of the Hubbard in Prevention (HIP) Coalition. I n September 2016, CHI St. Joseph's Health was one of nearly 700 recipients of a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Grant. This DFC Grant will provide $625,000 over the next five years to the HIP Coalition and expand the scope of the program from solely alcohol prevention to include marijuana and prescription drug use prevention. "The coalition's goal is to make Hubbard County a safe and drug-free community for our youth and families," says Angela Graham, Grant Coordinator with CHI St. Joseph's Health. "Prevention is a powerful tool to counteract prescription drug misuse and other youth substance abuse in our community. The HIP Coalition continues to change the culture in Hubbard County and help youth make healthy choices." The Hubbard in Prevention (HIP) Coalition is comprised of 24 members from Hubbard County area communities who share a common goal: to make Hubbard County a safe and drug-free place for our youth. CHI St. Joseph's Health | www.CHISJH.org 4

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