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Local News

Substance Abuse Task Force update given

The stated mission of the Barry County Substance Abuse Council is to prevent, reduce, and address the consequence of existing and emerging substance abuse issues through collaborative efforts for youths and adults in the community.

 

To do that, the organization uses several strategies that impacts several areas; the community, media, youth, outreach and collaboration, said Liz Lenz, coordinator of the Substance Abuse Task Force, (ASTF).

 

Lenz gave a presentation to the Barry County Board of Commissioners Tuesday highlighting its priority areas of underage drinking prevention and risky adult drinking, marijuana and emerging drug trends, tobacco and prescription medicine abuse/opioids and heroin.  They are making a difference, shown by decreasing use of tobacco by youth, stable youth use of alcohol and marijuana, maintained low rate of youth use of prescription medications without prescriptions, and an overall increased awareness or presence, she said.//

 

Lenz listed several of the task force’s efforts and gave some emerging drug trends, or “things on our radar,”  as changing attitudes and norms relative to marijuana, marijuana  infused products, medical marijuana facilities licensing act of 2016 which will bring many changes, opioid/heroin epidemic, drug overdoses, and cigarettes and vaping.

 

Every law enforcement department in Barry County carries Naloxone kits to counteract opioid overdoses, Hastings Deputy Chief Dale Boulter said, as he explained how the kits are used to give overdose victims “a second chance at life.”//

 

Lenz listed five things to consider:

* 74 percent of Barry County 11th graders have not consumed alcohol recently. Most kids don’t drink.

* A 40 percent decrease in youth’s exposure to second hand smoke since 2012. More adults are not smoking around children.

* in today’s world, information is constant 24/7-and not always accurate. Positive adult influence is a major protective factor

* 6+4: as misuse of prescription drugs increases, safer disposal is important. There are six pharmacy and four law enforcement collection sites-resulting in 4,960 pounds collected since January 2011.

* with just 46 percent of youth viewing using marijuana as having moderate or great risk, “we need to be very concerned about the changing perceptions of the harmfulness of marijuana,” she said.

 

n 2011 it was 68 percent. She said they did not see a significant increase in the use of marijuana, but the perception is changing. In contrast, the perception of (potential harm in) tobacco is 90 percent.

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