HEALTH UNIT'S YOUTH-FRIENDLY WEBSITE WILL TARGET ALCOHOL AND DRUG
MISUSE BY TEENS

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is developing a youth-friendly
website aimed at alcohol and drug misuse among youths aged 13 to 18.

The website will be developed in partnership with young people and
will use interactive approaches to raise awareness, increase access
to addictions experts, build resiliency and offer alternatives to
substance use, said health promoter Lina Hassen of the Substance
Misuse Prevention Program.

"We chose a website over other means of communications due to the
large geographical area and limited transportation within Haldimand
and Norfolk Counties," Hassen said. "Youth will be able to access the
website from school, home or county libraries."

The project is being financed by a grant from the Health Canada Drug
Strategy Community Initiatives Fund.

According to the 2007 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey, Grade 9 to 12
students in central south Ontario, which includes Haldimand and
Norfolk, "continue to experiment with substances at concerning
rates," Hassen said. "The survey indicates 75% of students had used
alcohol within the past year, with 35% of students admitting to binge
drinking. In addition, 14% of youth had experimented with illicit
substances excluding cannabis. The rate of cannabis use was 31%.

A student health survey of Grade 9 and 11 Haldimand and Norfolk
students done by the local Health Unit in 2003 also showed high rates
of alcohol and drug misuse.

In the survey, 41% of students in Grades 9 and 11 reported drinking
alcohol in the past four weeks and 40% of Grade 11 students reported
binge drinking at least once in the past four weeks. The number of
students using cannabis doubled between Grade 9 (26%) and Grade 11
(52%). In addition, 13% of Grade 9 and 11 students had used other
drugs such as cocaine, hallucinogens or a designer drug in their lifetime.

"The study and survey results strongly support the need to focus on
prevention efforts," Hassen noted.

Substance misuse also leads to other high-risk behaviours, Hassen
pointed out. "Our youth admit to being passengers in vehicles where
the operator is under the influence of substances at rates higher
than that of the rest of the province. Furthermore, the use of opioid
pain relievers such as Oxy Contin has been more prevalent in recent
years, with 21% of central south region students reporting use in the
past year."

The website will be developed in three phases, with a launch
scheduled for September 2010.

In phase one, youths will participate in focus groups to determine
youth attitudes and behaviour regarding alcohol and other drugs,
community support services available, and website likes and dislikes.

In phase two, the website will be developed based on the
recommendations of local youth.

In phase three, the website will be evaluated and promoted within
Haldimand and Norfolk Counties.

"Although the website will be designed by youth for youth, it will
also be helpful to teachers, parents and other caregivers." Hassen
said. "It will provide alcohol and drug information, resiliency
building tips and community support contacts, including a direct
email link to local addictions counsellors."