Pubdate: Fri, 04 Sep 2009
Source: Grand River Sachem (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.sachem.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4839
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

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."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom