Local group works to prevent substance abuse in youth

WARWICK —It’s a worrisome statistic.

According to a 2011 survey, 42 percent of Warwick Valley High School seniors reported binge drinking – that is, averaging 10 drinks in less than two hours.

The national average for the same age group is 44 percent.

Like many communities in the region and nationally, Warwick’s youth are facing the challenge of substance abuse, largely – though not exclusively – in the form of alcohol and marijuana.

“Alcohol is very big," said Pat Quinn of the Warwick Valley Coalition. 'It’s one of the major substances (along with marijuana) being used in the 10th and 11th grades.The older the students get, the more access they have.”

Recent studies suggest that regular use of alcohol before age 26 alters one’s brain.

A ‘significant problem’
Quinn said that the problem is “not worse than in Newburgh or Middletown, but Warwick has a significant problem that’s been known about for some time.”

She noted that “traditionally affluent and rural communities like Warwick” have a high risk for substance abuse, adding that just over the border in Vernon, NJ, that community is struggling with heroin and other opiates.

Quinn said that families of kids who are abusing alcohol or other drugs may not be intervening enough, or might not be sure how to deal with the problem.

She added that changes in the broader culture regarding the use of marijuana, as well as conflicting federal, state and local laws, all have impacts on youth when they are presented with an opportunity to use drugs.

“The schools can only do so much,” Quinn said, as they are responsible for self-esteem and anti-bullying programs, in addition to their traditional mandate of education, so it’s up to the broader community to address this issue.

Prevention is key
Quinn’s background is in art therapy. As someone who has worked in psychiatric facilities, and has worked with elderly and youth, she decided that she “wanted to (continue) work(ing) with youth.”

She used to work for Catholic Charities, the former Pius XII, with kids of substance abusers; she became so interested in the field that she became certified 23 years ago.

Quinn wanted to get involved in substance abuse prevention, because “Once you have an addiction, it’s hard to solve …the problem becomes intractable.”

Meeting with the community
The coalition hosts an informational meeting open to the community on Jan. 30 at the Warwick Reformed Church, as it seeks to help parents, merchants, educators, law enforcement, clergy and other concerned citizens prevent substance abuse by youth.

Peer pressure and parents
Working with the police department and emergency services professionals, the coalition has made presentations at the high school on ways for young people to not be influenced by peer pressure.

“Even if (parents) have a good kid, an honor student … kids (sometimes) fool around, their friends come over.”

The PSA currently running on TV showing a mother taking pills from the medicine cabinet, being used by her teenager (shown as the reflection in the mirror) is on the Coalition’s Facebook page.

“You don’t want to leave stuff lying around, but you want to keep an open relationship” with your teen.

Quinn said the coalition also encourages parents how to recognize signs of drug use – such as dropping grades and sudden behavioral changes – as well as paraphernalia.

Programs offered
The Ccoalition runs free programs at the school, offers girls’ groups and boys’ groups, works to strengthen families, and offers open meetings for adolescents to share with their peers what they know.

The group has also done two pill drops coordinated with the police department, and plans to do others.

The organization will be implementing Teen Intervene: An initiative where the schools, town court and village court will be able to make referrals, enabling parents who may have concerns that their children are abusing drugs or alcohol, to determine if that boy or girl needs a care referral.

The group has an active Facebook page, where parents can learn about the issue of substance abuse and prevention; the organization also attends Expo, where they survey parents on their opinions of Parents Who Host (i.e., who serve alcohol to minors).

Working with other communities
The coalition is linking up with like-minded groups in Greenwood Lake and Florida, so that kids can’t go “where they think no one would know or care” if they drank or did drugs.

Quality of life impacts
Substance abuse affects more than the user and his or her family: “You have more vandalism… more car accidents …that affects everybody,” Quinn said, and therefore urges the broader community get involved.

Next
Feb. 25, 9 a.m. to noon – The Warwick Valley Community Center will offer a program provided by ADAC of Goshen that will train restaurant servers and liquor store employees how to check IDs before serving or selling alcohol; how and when to intervene (i.e., cutting someone off); being made aware of their legal liabilities if they serve underage. Businesses that have alcohol insurance may qualify for reduced rates.

For more information or to receive email updates, call 845-986-6422.

By Abby Wolf