INVOLVED YOUTH LESS LIKELY TO ABUSE ALCOHOL, DRUGS

As a part of her Partnership and Community Nursing class, Nancy
Nordick gave a presentation to the Wilkin County Alcohol Tobacco and
Other Drugs Coalition Monday morning. Nordick talked adolescent drug
and alcohol use and how coalitions can prevent or skew it. She is a
student of the University of Phoenix.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has." This is
a quote from Margaret Mead that Nordick used to illustrate the
importance of the ATOD and other coalitions working to better
communities. She said if everyone joins in and works together, things
can change.

Adolescents are vulnerable to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs not
only because they are young and impressionable, but because they want
to experiment, they're under high pressures or they have behavioral
problems. These are just a few reasons and Nordick spoke of how drug
and alcohol abuse can physically effect youth. Learning and memory
are found in the hippocampus part of the brain. Since the brain does
not fully develop until the age of 25, adolescents are highly
susceptible to losing memory and learning functions. Long term
effects include dependence and blackouts. Nordick suggested
implementing mentors into the community to help adolescents solve
problems in more productive ways. These can be volunteers from within
or without the coalition. Not only can mentors be there to help
youth, but they can work together with other mentors to provide
alternative entertainment. Nordick pointed out there is a center in
Breckenridge for youth to gather and have fun in a safer environment.
Unfortunately, there are many Web sites youth can access to find
games involving alcohol. Plus they are bombarded with alcohol
advertising on TV, billboards and storefronts.

Primary prevention strategies Nordick talked about include helping
youth spend time contributing to their community. This would include
volunteering, working at a community or teen center, helping out at
church or doing meals on wheels. Mentoring younger children could
also be a positive way to take a leadership role. In Breckenridge,
the ATOD coalition has a teen coalition. By polling teens, Nordick
said the coalition could find alternative activities for students who
are less involved in extracurricular activities. By promoting high
self-esteem, healthy lifestyles and availability of other activities,
the coalition and other entities can help prevent alcohol and drug
use among youth.

Not only does working together and involving youth in the coalition
make a difference, so does diversity. Nordick stressed diversity is
not just race it can include cultural factors like age, religion,
language, gender and background. She said, in talking with ATOD
members and sitting in on Monday's meeting, that the Wilkin County
ATOD has a diverse group.

Working with a diverse group to tap into what youth want and need in
a community is essential to help prevent drug and alcohol use among youth.