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From the Desk of Joe Boggio
Prescription Drug Update
Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) reveals that prescription drug abuse is on the rise among school age children. Contributing factors to the issue are the lax attitudes of parents and caregivers. One third of parents surveyed believed stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall can improve a teen’s academic performance even if the teen does not have ADHD.
Unfortunately, the report claims that misuse and abuse of prescription drugs has become a normalized behavior for teens. Almost one in four teens say their parents don’t care as much if they are caught with using prescription drugs compared to getting caught with illegal drugs. Some teens, one in five, have misused Rx meds by the time they are 14. Along with that fact, teens also believe that using Rx medications is safer than using illegal drugs when it clearly is not. Commenting on the report, Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, says:
“These data make it very clear: the problem is real, the threat immediate and the situation is not poised to get better.” Parents fear drugs like cocaine or heroin and want to protect their kids. But the truth is that when misused and abused, medicines – especially stimulants and opioids – can be every bit as dangerous and harmful as those illicit street drugs. Medicine abuse is one of the most significant and preventable adolescent health problems facing our families today. What’s worse is that kids who begin using at an early age are more likely to struggle with substance use disorders when compared to those who might start using after the teenage years. As parents and caring adults, we need to take definitive action to address the risks that intentional medicine abuse poses to the lives and the long-term health of our teens.”
As parents we need to begin to address the problem right here in our own backyard. The coalition has partnered with the police department to provide a dropbox for medicines that are no longer needed. It is open to the public during the normal hours of the police department and located in the outer lobby. Also, on a quarterly basis the coalition and police department participate in take back programs sponsored nationally by the Drug Enforcement Agency. The most recent one taking place at the coalition Health Fair on April 27. Although we often joke that our kids don’t listen, in fact they really are and want to know there are limits. It shows that we care. According to Dennis White, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation,
“Parents need to be very clear in the messages they send their kids about the misuse and abuse of prescription medications. It is important for parents and caregivers to set a good example in their own families. This includes using their own medicines properly, safeguarding medications in their own homes and properly disposing of unused medicines so teens won’t have easy access to them.”
Parent permissiveness and lax attitudes toward abuse and misuse of Rx medicines, coupled with teens’ ease of access to prescription medicines in the home, are key factors linked to teen medicine misuse and abuse. The availability of prescription drugs (in the family medicine cabinet, in the homes of friends and family) makes them that much easier to abuse. The new survey findings stress that teens are more likely to abuse Rx medicines if they think their parents “don’t care as much if they get caught using prescription drugs, without a doctor’s prescription, than they do if they get caught using illegal drugs.”
The data from the survey supports this, consider:
Almost one-third of parents (29 percent) say they believe ADHD medication can improve a child’s academic or testing performance, even if the teen does not have ADHD.
One in six parents (16 percent) believes that using prescription drugs to get high is safer than using street drugs.
Teens reported that during the last conversation they had with their parents regarding substance abuse, only 16 percent said they discussed the misuse or abuse of prescription pain relievers with their parents, and just 14 percent indicate the same for discussions about any type of prescription drug. In comparison, a majority of teens (81 percent) say they have discussed the risks of marijuana use with their parents, 80 percent have discussed alcohol and nearly one-third of teens (30 percent) have discussed crack/cocaine.
More than half of teens (56 percent) indicate that it’s easy to get prescription drugs from their parent’s medicine cabinet. In fact, about half of parents (49 percent) say anyone can access their medicine cabinet.
More than four in 10 teens (42 percent) who have misused or abused a prescription drug obtained it from their parent’s medicine cabinet. Almost half (49 percent) of teens who misuse or abuse Rx medicines obtained them from a friend.
This is not about blaming parents but it is a call to action to help curb this dangerous behavior. We need to have direct conversations with our kids about the health risks associated with misuse and abuse of Rx meds and safeguarding medicine in their own homes.
“Parental apathy on this issue is contributing to the problem. Yet the same data show year in and year out that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drug use at home are up to half as likely to use as kids who don’t get that life-changing gift from their parents.”, said Pasierb.
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Members of
the Hinsdale Community Coalition
Joe Boggio, Vice Principal, HCC Project Director
Ann Diorio, HCC Board Chairperson, SAU
Administrative Asst.
Patrice Strifert, HCC Project Coordinator
Anne Fecto, PTSA President
Sean Leary, Media and Website Coordinator
Marilyn Strom, Health Science Teacher
Maryanne O’Malley, After School Program
Coordinator
Bill Butynski, NH State Representative
Craig Finnell, Businessman and Hinsdale Parent
Jeana Major, Hinsdale School Board
Jay Ebinghausen, Board of Selectmen
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PTA Annual Variety Show Uncovers Amazing Talents
The Hinsdale Community Coalition is a group of adults and youth working together to create and maintain a healthy community for all.
19 Main Street at the Millstream Community Center
603-336-6135 e-mail hcccoordinator@gmail.com
On April 6th the Annual PTA Variety Show was held at the Town Hall. This years show had lots of talent from singing and dancing to baton twirling. There were a total of 19 acts.
Each year students from grades K-5th gather to show their amazing talents on the stage at the Hinsdale Town Hall. This year was no different. They put on a terrific show. Our grand finale was performed by all our talented students to the Cha Cha Slide. Fun was had by all.
We also had baked goods for sale that benefitted the HASP group that is in this year’s Relay for Life. The Girl Scouts where there selling cookies too. Thanks to all who purchased baked goods and cookies!
Our emcees for the night were Gabriella Huling and Steven Bruns. Special thanks goes out to our stage hands, Danny Roberts, William Bruns and Jordan Simeon.
Thanks to Heather Huling for making and printing the programs, April Anderson from the PTA for organizing the show and Kim Simeon and Mark Simeon for organizing all the music and sound for the show. We could not have done it without you.
I can't wait to see what they come up with for next year.
April Anderson
PTA Variety Show Chairperson
and PTA president
Hinsdale Summer Camp Registration Begins
Summer’s just around the corner and it’s time to think about Camp. Hinsdale’s Summer Camp Program will run July 1st- August 9th.
There will be a Summer Camp orientation for parents and counselors on June 22 at the High School gym. Camp will be for children going into 1st grade through children going into 8th grade.
To sign up: Registration dates are on the following Fridays at the Gray Building next to the HES Playground from 5-7 pm.
May 24th · May 31st · June 7th · June 14th
National Prevention Week, May 12-18, 2013
The week is dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues. This observance is an opportunity to join with other individuals, organizations, and coalitions in your community to promote prevention efforts, educate others about behavioral health issues, and create and strengthen community partnerships.
This year's theme, "Your voice. Your choice. Make a difference.," emphasizes that the prevention of substance abuse and promotion of mental health starts with the choices each of us makes in our own life. Through our choices, we can set an example of health and well-being for others. With our voices—whether spoken or written—we can raise awareness of behavioral health issues and help create healthier and safer communities.
So help HCC celebrate Prevention week and:
Raise awareness about substance abuse and mental health issues
Build support for wellness and prevention practices
Promote mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being
Highlight the power of prevention.
Participate in the "I Choose" Project
New for National Prevention Week 2013, the "I Choose" Project invites you to take a photograph of yourself or your friends holding a sign with a written statement about why you or they choose prevention. Photos will be uploaded to the "I Choose" photo gallery for others to see.
Safe & Drug-Free Schools Panel Discussion
On May 16th people from area coalitions and schools are invited to attend a Safe & Drug-free schools meeting. There will be a panel discussion of the regional perspective of drugs and alcohol issues in Keene and the surrounding schools. The meeting will take place from
4-5:30 pm held at HCS in Keene.
HCC Welcomes
Ray Williams,
Hinsdale VetCorps Prevention Coordinator
Ray Williams began his work as the new VetCorps Prevention Coordinator with HCC at the Health Fair on April 27th. The VetCorps Project is sponsored by the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) in partnership with the National Guard Bureau’s Prevention, Treatment and Outreach Program. The HCC was granted funding through the NH Charitable Foundation.
The VetCorps Prevention Coordinator will provide prevention, treatment and outreach referral services to military service members and their family members and work to build the capacity of the community to support these members.
We are very excited to have Ray on board!
OOCH Performed at
HES & HMS on
April 4th & 5th
Students enjoyed the lively performance and workshops by OOCH last month which focused on tips and tricks relating to such issues as popularity, making and keeping friends, earning respect of teachers and peers, becoming comfortable in your own skin, bullying and dealing with failure.
His program motivated the audience to focus on making sound decisions regarding peer pressure, drugs and alcohol and working through the " tough" times of growing up and bring positive towards the future.
