Ulster Prevention Council - Recently Updated Pages

Ulster Prevention Council Home

deniseparent — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:36:50 CST

If you are concerned about substance abuse and prevention in Ulster County, NY, this site is for you. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a teen, or a coach, the Ulster Prevention Council wants to work with you to keep our youth safe and healthy.

Weekly Blog

Add your group's news by posting a note in the message box at the bottom of the page.

Resources for Professionals and Coalitions

Photo by Development Works

Resources for Parents

Resources for Teens

In Memory of Phil Terpening

When Phil Terpening, chairman of our board, died last October, Ulster County lost an outstanding citizen, legislator, and friend.

We have created the Innovations in Substance Abuse Prevention Awards in his honor.
Win an Innovations in Substance Abuse Award

Student Competition: The 2011 Award for Youth will go to a youth group, school health class, key club, SADD chapter, club or team for sharing the results of the 2010 Youth Development Survey with their entire student body.

Coalition Competition: The 2011 Community Award will go to the community group that implements the most effective strategy to educate parents about the results of the 2010 Youth Development Survey.

Award details here

Ulster Prevention Council provides the support that Ulster County grassroots community groups need to employ effective strategies to reduce substance abuse by youth and families.

What is UPC?

Ulster Prevention Council supports Ulster County grassroots community groups in using effective strategies to reduce substance abuse by youth and families.

UPC is funded by

NYS Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services

Ulster County, NY

Awards

deniseparent — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:14:34 CDT

Philip Terpening Memorial Award for Innovations in Substance Abuse Prevention
Philip Terpening, a County Legislator from Rosendale, was a founding member and Chair of the Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention Board until his untimely passing. As a tribute to Phil and his vision for Ulster, the Board has established an annual memorial dedicated to his commitment to reduce substance use and abuse among our youth in Ulster. This memorial will award $500 to the community group and $500 to the youth group that promotes substance abuse prevention in the most effective manner. Submissions may be made to the Ulster Prevention Council Board by November 30, 2011. The UPC Board will vote for a winner in the youth category and for the community group winner. Submissions in the community group category will describe their respective project in 500 words or less on a typewritten, double-spaced Word document. For the school category, the school staff member overseeing the project will also submit a tally of students who were successfully recruited. All entries must be emailed to the UPC Director, Cheryl DePaolo, at cdepaolo@familyservicesny.org. In 2011 the Terpening Awards will recognize:
The 2011 Community Award will go to the community group that implements the most effective strategy to educate parents about the results of the 2010 Youth Development Survey. This activity will provide social norming messages regarding youth substance abuse, perception of disapproval, with an emphasis on the importance of sending messages to their kids about the importance of abstinence from alcohol and drugs. The monetary award will have no restrictions regarding its use, which will be decided by the leadership structure of the group itself.	The 2011 Award for Youth will go to a youth group, school health class, key club, SADD chapter, club or team for sharing the results of the 2010 Youth Development Survey with their entire student body. This activity will serve to educate students regarding the survey, provide feedback to the student body, increase future valid responses to the survey, and provide social norming messages regarding youth substance abuse, perception of risk and perception of disapproval. The winning group will receive $500.

Submission Deadline: November 30, 2011	Submission Deadline: November 30, 2011
Award: $500	Award: $500


Why this focus? The 2010 student survey indicated that students perceive their parents have a permissive attitude toward drug and alcohol use -- a clear risk factor.	Why this focus? The 2010 student survey indicated that students perceive that their peers have positive attitudes toward drug and alcohol use and other risky behaviors -- a clear risk factor.
How to apply: submit a description of the respective project in a 500 words or less, double-spaced Word document. All entries must be emailed to the UPC Director, Cheryl DePaolo, at cdepaolo@familyservicesny.org.	How to apply: submit a description of the respective project in a 500 words or less, double-spaced Word document. All entries must be emailed to the UPC Director, Cheryl DePaolo, at cdepaolo@familyservicesny.org.
County Executive Michael Hein and the current Chair of the SAP Board will officially recognize winners at the County Building. Local press and Channel Six News will cover the event and the Daily Freeman will publish a photo of the winners' representatives.

Resources for Professionals & Coalitions

deniseparent — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:05:27 CDT

To learn more about Community Readiness, Evidence- Based Practices available, needs assessment, risk and protective factors, or other prevention concepts, please visit the following websites:	The Strategic Prevention Framework SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) CSAP's planning tools, guides, and handbooks to help develop your strategic plan OASAS Prevention Framework
Community Readiness and Building Coalitions CSAP's training and technical assistance for coalition capacity building Community Anti-Drug Coalition Handbook (CADCA) and other resources and research useful in building your coalition Connected Communities - CADCA's peer-to-peer network (social network) for community coalitions. You can join this NIing site to participate with people from other prevention coalitions in forums, discussions, photos, and videos The Community Readiness Model from the Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research at Colorado State University
Evidence-Based Practices The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)	Needs Assessments, Risk and Protective Factors CSAP's Assessment Resources OASAS Needs Assessment data and tools Ulster County Direct Connect
	Other prevention resources CSAP's On-Line Courses CSAP's Evaluation Resources CSAP's Prevention Education Tools Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) CASAT has been working on a new project to create home study courses specific to prevention. Courses are now available in a variety of media formats. Northeast CAPT Resources - The Northeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies
Each of these websites will lead to many more resources. Take time to explore. Call us for advice if you need help assessing what stage your community is in. It's important to choose the right tools and there are plenty available that have already proven their efficacy.

Funding: Requests For Proposals (RFP)

deniseparent — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:37:30 CDT

Ulster Prevention Council Can Help with Costs

Ulster Prevention Council Can Help with Costs

Prevention efforts are best organized on the local level, where they can address the unique concerns of that community and involve stakeholders who have a vested interest in their municipality. UPC's mission is to support and strengthen those local efforts. Community Coalitions in Ulster County can apply to the Ulster Prevention Council for funds to implement an evidence-based practice in their community. You'll find more information on evidence-based practices here.
There is no submission deadline. Submit your proposal to UPC Director Cheryl DePaolo as a Word attachment at cdepaolo@familyservicesny.org. Cheryl will present it to the UPC Board at the next Board meeting.
Your proposal should address the following: Community Readiness: Where is your coalition on the Community Readiness Scale? Have you held regular meetings on a consistent basis? Describe. Do you possess a strategic plan, based on a needs assessment, that addresses substance abuse prevention, identifying both the risk and protective factors that stand out in the needs assessment? Describe. .
Do you have an organizational structure identifying coalition leadership and designated contact person, have a mission statement, and have record of the content of past meetings, such as agendas and/ or minutes. Describe. Does your membership represent a variety of community sectors? Which ones? Problem and Need Describe with sufficient information/ data concerning the problem to demonstrate accountability for choosing a particular prevention strategy (needs assessment).* Program Delivery: Describe the location for the program’s implementation, start and completion dates, frequency of sessions, total number of participants, maximum number of participants per session, number of cycles, staffing pattern, participant recruitment, transportation. Capacity of partners to deliver and evaluate the program including the coalition's management structure, reporting capabilities (see contractual obligations), and sustainability plan. Budget: (Separate page) Submit a detailed budget request UPC is prepared to pay for the purchase of the EBP as well as for the training of direct- care staff that has been designated to facilitate the program. Supplies such as participant workbooks and materials for program activities may also be included. In some cases, and as funding allows, we may fund salaries for direct-care staff that are implementing the program. UPC may approve a proposal on the condition that the submitting entity revises the budget to exclude certain expenditures
Need Help? Please feel free to contact Cheryl DePaolo directly at 458-7406 or e-mail her for information, answers to your questions, or to request technical support in developing your proposal. Contractual Obligations- Once the proposal has been approved a contract will be developed so that both entities have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and expectations. UPC will require aggregate data to determine the efficacy of the program. Pre- and post- test surveys, comparisons of various factors before and after implementation and other measures may be required and will be based on the particular EBP chosen (many EBPs have the evaluation component built into their program). These considerations will be included in the contract. Rejection: If the Board denies the proposal, we will tell you why and what you can do to strengthen your request. In additiion, the coalition may request an audience with the Board to present any grievance. To print a PDF of the application guidelines, click here.

Resources for Teens

deniseparent — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:14:52 CDT

Recommended by Teens for Teens

The Mid-Hudson Library System hosts a collection of videos, books, and websites reviewed and recommended by teens for teens. No need for us to replicate it. It has all you need, whether you're looking for personal information, class research, or a prevention project.

Here's the link: http://hip.midhudson.org/

Compete with other schools for the
Terpening Substance Abuse Prevention Award

The 2011 Award for Youth
will go to a youth group, school health class, key club, SADD chapter, club or team for sharing the results of the 2010 Youth Development Survey with their entire student body.

This activity will serve to educate students regarding the survey, provide feedback to the student body, increase future valid responses to the survey, and provide social norming messages regarding youth substance abuse, perception of risk and perception of disapproval. The winning group will receive $500.

Check it out here.

Ulster County 2010 Report

deniseparent — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:58:22 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Youth Survey Results

deniseparent — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:56:51 CDT

These pages provide the findings from the Ulster County youth who participated in the New York State Youth Development Survey conducted in the Fall of 2008 and in the Fall of 2010. The survey instrument was designed to assess risk and protective factors that predict substance use and other problem behaviors such as delinquency. The survey also measures substance use, youth gambling and other problem behaviors. In addition, grade groups and gender comparisons often are provided as well. For reporting purposes, the results of the County-wide youth surveys conducted in 2008 and in 2010 have been divided into four zones. You may review the actual survey form used by clicking here.
	2008 and 2010 Zone Reports Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Ulster County 2010 Report
To see the individual zone survey results click on the corresponding link.

2008 Annual Report

deniseparent — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:53:09 CDT

2008 Annual Report

UPC Annual Report for 2008 Abstract The Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention Board (UC SAP) and its operational arm, the Ulster Prevention Council (UPC), was formed as a result of a clear need to make our county more responsive to the needs of its communities in reference to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by its most at-risk population: our youth. The urgency of this cause was made apparent by the PRISMS Report of 2005, an index featuring key measures chosen to illustrate the seriousness the drug and alcohol problems were in New York State. The report was compiled by the NYS Office on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), and was formatted by using similar socio-economic, geographic, and population factors to group counties together for comparison. Ulster scored poorly in several dimensions, especially so in: “Drug Arrests for Youth” and “DWI Arrests for Youth”. Another catalyst that contributed to the formation of the Prevention Board was an obvious lack of coordination between service providers in Ulster. Schools and youth services were either attempting to address the substance abuse problem in isolation or not viewing it as a priority. The situation appeared hopeless to those caught in the eye of the storm, but actually could be significantly improved with sufficient resources and a comprehensive strategic planning process. It was this foresight and optimism that was instrumental in creating the means to proactively promote substance abuse prevention in our county via the SAP Board. The PRISMS data wasn’t as catastrophic as it appeared when examined in the proper light. Many of the arrests for drugs and DWI occurred in the corridors leading into New Paltz from the East (Poughkeepsie) and South (Newburgh). Youth are attracted to this location due to its reputation as a “party” town. This was an important consideration in developing the model to address this concern in that region, which will be discussed in detail in this report. A foundation was laid in our first year by establishing our work plan and gaining the confidence of grass roots groups whose mission was to prevent substance abuse in their communities. In 2008 we were able to make considerable progress as a result of the traction afforded by these initial local investments.	Read the full report here. 2008 Outcomes A methodical yet ambitious approach has yielded the following outcomes in 2008: The merging of the Ulster Prevention Council (UPC) with Prevention Connections (PC) under the umbrella of the Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention Board to expand its scope, dove-tail our visions, and coordinate our efforts. Administering the PRIDE Survey for substance abuse to all nine school districts in Ulster, getting the building-specific results for all but one district, providing us with greater insight (and accountability for proposed solutions) to pinpoint specific areas of concern on several levels. Procured funding for a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to change the culture in New Paltz by partnering with schools, law enforcement, service providers, and the grass roots initiative. Increase the capacity of all to provide science-based prevention programs to youth by offering formal training and materials for “Family Matters” and “Teen Intervene” to school personnel, service agencies, and youth workers at no cost. Offering Ulster magistrates an alternative for those arrested for the Social Host Law . Funding two science-based prevention programs, “Project Alert” and “Olweus”.

2010 Annual Report

deniseparent — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:52:38 CDT

UPC Annual Report for 2010 Abstract The Ulster Prevention Council was formed four years ago as the Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention Board based on a proposal by Marshall Beckman (then the Director of Ulster County’s Mental Health Department) and supported by the U.C. Legislature, who petitioned the New York State Office on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for their support and ongoing funding of this initiative. The goals of this proposal were clear and based on statistics as well as the observations of many close enough to the problem of substance use and abuse by Ulster’s youth to evaluate our seeming inability to effect change, as: Inefficiencies due to duplication of services and lack of cooperation between youth-serving organizations left a void in the planning and implementation of substance abuse prevention programming within the County. Despite the progress of prevention science in recent years, evidence-based prevention strategies and programs were not integrated into the County’s overall framework to address this problem, which was amongst the worst in the State (based on statistics from the NYS OASAS’s County Risk Profiles [PRISMS] Report, 2003). The Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention (SAP) Board provided leadership and guidance for the Ulster Prevention Project (UPP) to correct these inefficiencies. In 2010, the Board became the Ulster Prevention Council. The Board applied to the NYS Council Association (CANYS) for Associate member status and was accepted as members. As members, the UPC has access to best practice models. In addition, the UPP had no similarly structured initiative in the State, and has evolved into a more viable and permanent organization. Through thoughtful planning, the formation of a particularly accomplished Board representing key community sectors, and continued success in meeting well-defined performance measures, UPC has systematically built a prevention infrastructure across the County. Armed with this increased capacity, a hierarchal plan with more strenuous ambitions is being realized, as the outcomes clearly demonstrate. In 2010, UPC saw expansion of EBPs (Evidence-Based Practices) in several school districts and grassroots groups. Eleven EBPs are now in place. UPC met the goal of 100% participation from school districts county-wide in the 2010 PRIDE survey, and continued to disseminate 2008 YDS data whenever possible. Workgroups were formed for each of the “Zones”. Strategic plans were developed to address identified risk and protective factors. Communities are in various stages of readiness to organize grassroots efforts and implement their plans. Intensive mapping of prevention programming and community initiatives was accomplished, and model programs and community initiatives were highlighted. In December, the UPC Director resigned, and a search team was formed to begin recruitment for a new director. We are looking for continued improvements to follow in 2011; the nature of which include reductions in substance use, expansion of community groups in terms of number, capacity, participation and impact, and greater urgency to promote active involvement in community prevention efforts.

UPC Annual Report for 2010

Abstract

The Ulster Prevention Council was formed four years ago as the Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention Board based on a proposal by Marshall Beckman (then the Director of Ulster County’s Mental Health Department) and supported by the U.C. Legislature, who petitioned the New York State Office on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for their support and ongoing funding of this initiative. The goals of this proposal were clear and based on statistics as well as the observations of many close enough to the problem of substance use and abuse by Ulster’s youth to evaluate our seeming inability to effect change, as:

Inefficiencies due to duplication of services and lack of cooperation between youth-serving organizations left a void in the planning and implementation of substance abuse prevention programming within the County.
Despite the progress of prevention science in recent years, evidence-based prevention strategies and programs were not integrated into the County’s overall framework to address this problem, which was amongst the worst in the State (based on statistics from the NYS OASAS’s County Risk Profiles [PRISMS] Report, 2003).

The Ulster County Substance Abuse Prevention (SAP) Board provided leadership and guidance for the Ulster Prevention Project (UPP) to correct these inefficiencies. In 2010, the Board became the Ulster Prevention Council. The Board applied to the NYS Council Association (CANYS) for Associate member status and was accepted as members. As members, the UPC has access to best practice models. In addition, the UPP had no similarly structured initiative in the State, and has evolved into a more viable and permanent organization. Through thoughtful planning, the formation of a particularly accomplished Board representing key community sectors, and continued success in meeting well-defined performance measures, UPC has systematically built a prevention infrastructure across the County. Armed with this increased capacity, a hierarchal plan with more strenuous ambitions is being realized, as the outcomes clearly demonstrate.

In 2010, UPC saw expansion of EBPs (Evidence-Based Practices) in several school districts and grassroots groups. Eleven EBPs are now in place.

UPC met the goal of 100% participation from school districts county-wide in the 2010 PRIDE survey, and continued to disseminate 2008 YDS data whenever possible.

Workgroups were formed for each of the “Zones”. Strategic plans were developed to address identified risk and protective factors. Communities are in various stages of readiness to organize grassroots efforts and implement their plans.

Intensive mapping of prevention programming and community initiatives was accomplished, and model programs and community initiatives were highlighted.

In December, the UPC Director resigned, and a search team was formed to begin recruitment for a new director.

We are looking for continued improvements to follow in 2011; the nature of which include reductions in substance use, expansion of community groups in terms of number, capacity, participation and impact, and greater urgency to promote active involvement in community prevention efforts.

UPC Annual Reports

deniseparent — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:33:39 CDT

To read Annual Reports for 2008 and 2010, please click on the appropriate link.

2008 Annual Report

2010 Annual Report

Survey Results - Zone 4

deniseparent — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:27:08 CDT

Survey Results - Zone 3

deniseparent — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:26:40 CDT

Survey Results - Zone 2

deniseparent — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:25:59 CDT

Survey Results - Zone 1

deniseparent — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:25:13 CDT

UPC Board Members

deniseparent — Mon, 09 May 2011 08:55:36 CDT

Uls ter County Substance Abuse Prevention Board Members

The Ulster County Legislature appoints the UPC Board members with an eye toward ensuring that key decision makers are kept abreast of the real world substance abuse problems Ulster County families, communities, and schools face.
We want to hear from you. You may contact any of us directly, use the discussion forum at the bottom of every page, or call the UPC office at 845-458-7406.

Uls ter County Substance Abuse Prevention
Board Members

The Ulster County Legislature appoints the UPC Board members with an eye toward ensuring that key decision makers are kept abreast of the real world substance abuse problems Ulster County families, communities, and schools face.

We want to hear from you. You may contact any of us directly, use the discussion forum at the bottom of every page, or call the UPC office at 845-458-7406.

John Miller jmll@co.ulster.ny.us 340-3448	Patrick McDonough info@townofrosendale.com 658-3159
Barbara Sorkin bsor@co.ulster.ny.us 334-5221
Joseph Sinagra jasinagra@ulsterpolice.com 382-1111	Stacey Rein reins@hvc.rr.com 331-4199
	Bob Cohen rcohen@hvc.rr.com 331-4199
David Rooney rooneyd@newpaltz.edu 257-3260	Juliette Graham-Hayes hayesgra@aol.com 626-7611
Nancy Schaef nancy.schaef@co.ulster.ny.us 340-3168
Ellen Reinhard ereinhard@kingstonhospital.org 943-6070

UPC Site Index

deniseparent — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:14:48 CST

A
About the Ulster Prevention Council
Annual Report 2008
Applying for funding
Applying for awards
Articles

A Conversation with Jose Sanchez

Awards

B
Blog, UPC
Board Members

C
Calendar
Coalition Resources
Coalitions, Ulster County

D
Drinkers Check-Up

E
Evidence Based Practices

F
Funding
Family Matters

N
News from other coalitions

O
Olweus Bullying Prevention Project

P
Parent Resources
Prevention Theory
Professional Resources
Project Alert
Project Northland
Project Toward No Drug Abuse

R
Resources for Coalitions
Resources for Parents
Resources for Professionals
Resources for Teens
Resources, Web-based

S
Staying Connected to Your Teen

T
Teen Intervene
Teen Resources
Theory, Prevention

Y
Youth Survey - Blank for Reference
Youth Survey Results - Intro page

Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4

Calendar

deniseparent — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:13:56 CST

A Conversation with Jose Sanchez

deniseparent — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:12:33 CST

An Interview with Wallkill Central School District Assistant Superintendent of Education Jose Sanchez
Jack Bennett, the Director of the Ulster Prevention Project, interviewed Wallkill School District Assistant Superintendent Jose Sanchez to gain insight on the issue of substance abuse prevention from an educator’s point of view. Wallkill is a rural area snuggled between Newburgh, NY (a hard-scrabble urban enclave) and New Paltz, (a liberal college town infused with Woodstock’s “hippie” influence). Like other rural areas across the country, it is fast catching up to the perspectives found in more urbanized locales due to several factors, not the least of which is connectivity with the internet. This “maturation” has also brought higher drug use patterns among youth that were previously only found in cities and suburbs (Aue, P., 2006). This is further compounded by a more “relaxed” attitude from adults concerning drug use (especially alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) and anti-social behaviors in general (New York State Youth Development Survey, 2009). Mr. Sanchez, who has a broad array of professional degrees and worked in a variety of settings (including drug treatment), draws upon this knowledge base to articulate his strategic plan for prevention in an educational setting. Make no mistake about it, however- Mr. Sanchez is clearly speaking as an educator, first and foremost. The following account provides insight into a system (school superintendents) that must make difficult decisions regarding policies that have serious implications for not only their district, but the entire County. How this system views substance use and abuse (and the schools’ role regarding it) obviously affects these decisions. Mr. Sanchez has unique insight into the inner-workings of this process and provides a glimpse of their perspective (through his eyes and is not necessarily the perspective of the Wallkill Central School District or its Board of Education). This insight can bring greater appreciation of their concerns, capacities, and goals, making for a better partnership between school administrators and prevention professionals. This is an important consideration in the effort to prevent drug abuse by youth simply because the majority of their waking hours are spent in the school environment. While in school they are a captive audience that has been traditionally difficult to engage via other venues. Although it fortunately hasn’t been my experience, it is generally believed by parents (and other professionals, for that matter) that schools have a tendency to be secretive, manifested by the defensive stance many take when dealing with the public. Administrators appear suspicious of letting outsiders in on any in-house information that may put the school in a bad light. A good example of this is how schools viewed the Communities That Care youth surveys, a regular occurrence every even year for the past decade. Participation was often refused by districts because of the backlash of public opinion that ensued when results showed substantial drug use. Even if schools agreed to participate, results were not made public and kept practically under lock-and-key due to the fear of being blamed or possible recrimination from concerned parents. Considering this history, it is no wonder that several of my board members were shocked that all nine districts in our County agreed to participate in 2008 and further that they were willing to share local results with stakeholders who were frozen out in the past. With this somewhat spotted history of support, I thought gaining insight into this struggle (which impacts the sharing of information) would help in understanding what this suspiciousness was truly about, as well as how serious schools were about addressing the problem of substance abuse.
1. How has public opinion or the threat of backlash impacted decisions about substance abuse prevention policy by school administrations, including the implementation of the Youth Development Survey and the subsequent dissemination of its results to parents, students, and the press? Mr. Sanchez acknowledged the attitude of secretiveness that has prevailed when it comes to fully committing to reducing substance use and abuse by youth. The real enemy, according to him, is for schools to allow the public to misinterpret what the survey is intended to do. By educating the public, the true purpose of the survey will overshadow and even cancel out any trivial attempts to sensationalize or otherwise twist the results. “People need to understand that the information is not just to satisfy curiosity seekers or even for purely scientific purposes, but to drive change. It is imperative that those involved: parents, teachers, community groups, professionals- everybody that cares, think the issue through by examining all aspects of it. That’s the only way we can change things”. He went on to say “Sure, it’s political. The superintendents have to think that way- it’s a part of their job’. The zone process (a method to separate survey results by breaking up the County into four distinct quadrants) avoids problems that occur when localities compete with each other for the lowest drug use patterns. “What it comes down to as educators is staying focused on our role, especially when working with other agencies. That we’re “not” the police, not the department of social services…each must stay within their area of expertise. When each entity knows their role they can pitch in to help based on that.” He went on to further define the school’s role: “Children need to develop a sense of responsibility toward their community. Our job as educators is to address this from a developmental perspective”. Mr. Sanchez gave examples of student involvement in the educational process, that involvement on this level acts as a precursor to further participation in adulthood as citizens. Grooming youth by encouraging them, listening to their input, and valuing their decision-making capacity has been central to Mr. Sanchez’s approach and fast becoming a priority for other school administrators. Mr. Sanchez returned to the importance of role, tying it to the notion of accountability to the State and Federal government. Academics are the responsibility of schools and are therefore an over-riding concern. This is easily discerned by the strict guidelines that have been set by regulatory agencies that largely determine funding and stability for the school districts under their scrutiny. Everything else is considered with that in mind. The rub that can’t be denied is that many related factors act as distractions to this focus, each worthy of attention because of their potential to disrupt the educational process. Because of this, drug prevention is a necessity and cannot be ignored. 2. I know you are familiar with prevention science, including the risk and protective factors related to drug use among youth. Which of these factors do you consider to be the best predictors of use? Which of these do you believe the school has the most influence over? Without delay Sanchez identified “relationships with adults” as the core determinant for future stability. Being attached to a person, a club, the school or community is crucial for youth. The presence of a healthy relationship will trump an assortment of risk factors, according to Sanchez. This has also been substantiated by prevention researchers, who echo his sentiment that claims certain protective factors counteract other ills like poverty and neighborhood disorganization, also identified as risk factors. (Hawkins, D., Catalano, R., and Miller, J., 1992). Sanchez further explained his answer by connecting self worth to healthy relationships with adults, who send positive messages to youth affirming their character and potential. To make his point, he referred to memories from early in his career as a counselor/teacher for BOCES (a State-sponsored alternative educational institution) in the early 1970’s. Many of the young people he had contact with that were using drugs were from affluent families. Wealth won out over family time in many of these households, resulting in absent parents and empty homes. Left without adult influence or supervision, these youth were more susceptible to drug use. He witnessed many of them gravitating to the drug culture because it was so easily accessible, especially when their families were not. 3. Besides academics, what other developmental areas do you think are the school’s responsibility to provide direction and guidance for youth? Mr. Sanchez cited several areas of concentration, including: physical education, socialization, decision-making skills, and establishing a work ethic, including the introduction of vocational alternatives as well as preparation for furthering their educational goals. He emphasized that even these were not done in a vacuum- other sectors of the community contribute to this developmental process, including the faith-based community, families, peers, and of course the media influence. Being cognizant and responsive to youths’ changing developmental needs is critical for educators. Sanchez discusses the importance of developmental learning approaches throughout the interview. 4. Another trend that has impacted on youth is the reduced participation of parents in school-based collaborations such as the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), evidenced by poor attendance at meetings. What do you attribute this to, and how can it be improved? While working as an educator in the Syracuse area in the 90’s, Mr. Sanchez was part of a white-paper panel on this very subject (the Compact for Learning). This has been identified as a problem at least since then. He cited a primary reason for this trend was that educators provided no clear vision for parents in respect to what we wanted of them. Lacking direction, parents floundered and eventually lost interest. The panel underlined the necessity of communicating expectations to parents about what their role was in relation to improving the educational process. In this vein, he believes parents’ role is to act as mentors to students, offering their experience, knowledge, insight, and support. Another role for parents are as committee members that help define and shape education policy and curricula. He also acknowledged the fact that parents are much busier today than in the past. Parents are working, there are more single-parent households, and parenting is a full-time job in itself. Mr. Sanchez suggested an alternative to achieve parent participation through the use of social networking, which would allow parents to be engaged without leaving their homes. This particular avenue has limitless potential. Another limiting factor is a resistance on the part of educators to listen to the criticisms of parents. It is difficult to listen when teachers and administrators are working hard to improve the system, only to be continually told that “it is not good enough”. “Patience is required when working with administrators and teachers that can get frustrated by this kind of feedback. Staff must accept that they have no control over parents, and further that their opinions may help us improve the system. He reminds teachers and administrators that the criticism is happening regardless of whether they hear it or not- wouldn’t they rather know what is being said so they can address it? Another reason for the disconnect is that administrators tend to be focused on their specific responsibilities in terms of requirements and standards and parents concerns aren’t necessarily congruent with these measures of performance. It takes time for staff to mature in their roles as professionals, which will increase resiliency and help them not to personalize feedback they receive. This in turn will help to “open up” the system to make it more transparent. 5. What, if anything, has changed regarding substance use and abuse among youth in the last twenty years? Mr. Sanchez responded that, in his opinion, the drug scene has changed considerably- that “the lid has blown off substance use and abuse in the last ten years”. His memory of drug use in the past is that it was “more innocent” than it is now- it has become a “dirty business, all about money at any cost”. While in the 70’s it involved a lot of marijuana use, with a small subgroup of poly substance users and a smattering of heroin use, now there is a whole assortment of drugs that youth use along with marijuana, which is still a favorite. He is concerned about the frequency of use of over-the-counter drugs, hallucinogens like ecstasy, and painkillers, which are now prevalent. “It seems that use was more about having fun in the 60’s and 70’s, but not anymore- it’s more hardcore and built into the underground economy”. Mr. Sanchez noted alcohol’s dominant role in our culture and its influence on our youth as well. Our society has become more prone to using substances to alleviate all discomforts, as demonstrated by all the commercials advertising drugs these days. This trickles down to youth, who are very vulnerable and looking for answers. 6. What do you consider the school’s role to be in regards to substance abuse prevention? Is your view shared with your contemporaries? First, Mr. Sanchez cited educating youth about drugs as a priority, that young people must be equipped with the necessary information to make informed decisions. He was clear in his belief that as educators, they must support, rather than punish or jail youth. “We must look at how we provide skills to youth regarding making decisions about partaking in drug use”. Mr. Sanchez returned to his theme of being part of a larger system, networking with other community agencies and organizations to improve this plight. “As educators we have a specific focus, police have their role, and each component has their own area of influence. Collaboration is essential if we are to make a difference”. He also reiterated his belief about the importance of adult relationships in kids’ lives, but that “in this age of litigation, it is not so easy to do”. Mr. Sanchez was referring to the concern many have that their relationship with a youth will be misunderstood, labeled incorrectly, or otherwise seen as inappropriate. “In the 60’s, it was easier to form relationships with youth as an adult, where now people tend to be fearful that it will be misconstrued. While Mr. Sanchez is realistic about the concerns his fellow superintendents have about the potential political fallout that comes from blaming schools for students’ drug use, he contends that this is not the issue. “Community members must be geared to focus on the fact that children are suffering and take serious our responsibility to these kids”. For those who would rather view it as somebody else’s problem, he asks who of them is willing to sacrifice their own child to indifference. Mr. Sanchez ended our interview by touching on his roots as a humanist and constructionist. This background makes him think in terms of building platforms for learning: that as students, teachers, as parents, all must build their own platform to be prepared to integrate new knowledge into their world. Mutual respect and shared responsibilities are themes regarding his view of how to best address the problem of substance use and abuse by students, which he sees as a solid foundation to plan and implement strategies for change. I believe Mr. Sanchez represents a new way of viewing how schools will address substance abuse, with renewed focus on partnerships with other community sectors and greater emphasis on relationships to provide a climate of support and easier access to adult role models for high risk youth. Notes Aue, P., Teen Drug Abuse, Detroit: Thomas/Gale, 2006. New York State Youth Development Survey 2008, Ulster County Results, April, 2009. Hawkins, J., Catalano, R., and Miller, J., Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems in Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Implications for Substance Abuse Prevention, Psychological Bulletin, 1992, Vol. 112, No. 1, 64-105.

An Interview with Wallkill Central School District
Assistant Superintendent of Education Jose Sanchez

Jack Bennett, the Director of the Ulster Prevention Project, interviewed Wallkill School District Assistant Superintendent Jose Sanchez to gain insight on the issue of substance abuse prevention from an educator’s point of view. Wallkill is a rural area snuggled between Newburgh, NY (a hard-scrabble urban enclave) and New Paltz, (a liberal college town infused with Woodstock’s “hippie” influence). Like other rural areas across the country, it is fast catching up to the perspectives found in more urbanized locales due to several factors, not the least of which is connectivity with the internet. This “maturation” has also brought higher drug use patterns among youth that were previously only found in cities and suburbs (Aue, P., 2006). This is further compounded by a more “relaxed” attitude from adults concerning drug use (especially alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) and anti-social behaviors in general (New York State Youth Development Survey, 2009).

Mr. Sanchez, who has a broad array of professional degrees and worked in a variety of settings (including drug treatment), draws upon this knowledge base to articulate his strategic plan for prevention in an educational setting. Make no mistake about it, however- Mr. Sanchez is clearly speaking as an educator, first and foremost. The following account provides insight into a system (school superintendents) that must make difficult decisions regarding policies that have serious implications for not only their district, but the entire County. How this system views substance use and abuse (and the schools’ role regarding it) obviously affects these decisions. Mr. Sanchez has unique insight into the inner-workings of this process and provides a glimpse of their perspective (through his eyes and is not necessarily the perspective of the Wallkill Central School District or its Board of Education). This insight can bring greater appreciation of their concerns, capacities, and goals, making for a better partnership between school administrators and prevention professionals. This is an important consideration in the effort to prevent drug abuse by youth simply because the majority of their waking hours are spent in the school environment. While in school they are a captive audience that has been traditionally difficult to engage via other venues.

Although it fortunately hasn’t been my experience, it is generally believed by parents (and other professionals, for that matter) that schools have a tendency to be secretive, manifested by the defensive stance many take when dealing with the public. Administrators appear suspicious of letting outsiders in on any in-house information that may put the school in a bad light. A good example of this is how schools viewed the Communities That Care youth surveys, a regular occurrence every even year for the past decade. Participation was often refused by districts because of the backlash of public opinion that ensued when results showed substantial drug use. Even if schools agreed to participate, results were not made public and kept practically under lock-and-key due to the fear of being blamed or possible recrimination from concerned parents. Considering this history, it is no wonder that several of my board members were shocked that all nine districts in our County agreed to participate in 2008 and further that they were willing to share local results with stakeholders who were frozen out in the past.

With this somewhat spotted history of support, I thought gaining insight into this struggle (which impacts the sharing of information) would help in understanding what this suspiciousness was truly about, as well as how serious schools were about addressing the problem of substance abuse.

1. How has public opinion or the threat of backlash impacted decisions about substance abuse prevention policy by school administrations, including the implementation of the Youth Development Survey and the subsequent dissemination of its results to parents, students, and the press?

Mr. Sanchez acknowledged the attitude of secretiveness that has prevailed when it comes to fully committing to reducing substance use and abuse by youth. The real enemy, according to him, is for schools to allow the public to misinterpret what the survey is intended to do. By educating the public, the true purpose of the survey will overshadow and even cancel out any trivial attempts to sensationalize or otherwise twist the results. “People need to understand that the information is not just to satisfy curiosity seekers or even for purely scientific purposes, but to drive change. It is imperative that those involved: parents, teachers, community groups, professionals- everybody that cares, think the issue through by examining all aspects of it. That’s the only way we can change things”. He went on to say “Sure, it’s political. The superintendents have to think that way- it’s a part of their job’. The zone process (a method to separate survey results by breaking up the County into four distinct quadrants) avoids problems that occur when localities compete with each other for the lowest drug use patterns. “What it comes down to as educators is staying focused on our role, especially when working with other agencies. That we’re “not” the police, not the department of social services…each must stay within their area of expertise. When each entity knows their role they can pitch in to help based on that.”

He went on to further define the school’s role: “Children need to develop a sense of responsibility toward their community. Our job as educators is to address this from a developmental perspective”. Mr. Sanchez gave examples of student involvement in the educational process, that involvement on this level acts as a precursor to further participation in adulthood as citizens. Grooming youth by encouraging them, listening to their input, and valuing their decision-making capacity has been central to Mr. Sanchez’s approach and fast becoming a priority for other school administrators.

Mr. Sanchez returned to the importance of role, tying it to the notion of accountability to the State and Federal government. Academics are the responsibility of schools and are therefore an over-riding concern. This is easily discerned by the strict guidelines that have been set by regulatory agencies that largely determine funding and stability for the school districts under their scrutiny. Everything else is considered with that in mind. The rub that can’t be denied is that many related factors act as distractions to this focus, each worthy of attention because of their potential to disrupt the educational process. Because of this, drug prevention is a necessity and cannot be ignored.

2. I know you are familiar with prevention science, including the risk and protective factors related to drug use among youth. Which of these factors do you consider to be the best predictors of use? Which of these do you believe the school has the most influence over?

Without delay Sanchez identified “relationships with adults” as the core determinant for future stability. Being attached to a person, a club, the school or community is crucial for youth. The presence of a healthy relationship will trump an assortment of risk factors, according to Sanchez. This has also been substantiated by prevention researchers, who echo his sentiment that claims certain protective factors counteract other ills like poverty and neighborhood disorganization, also identified as risk factors. (Hawkins, D., Catalano, R., and Miller, J., 1992).

Sanchez further explained his answer by connecting self worth to healthy relationships with adults, who send positive messages to youth affirming their character and potential. To make his point, he referred to memories from early in his career as a counselor/teacher for BOCES (a State-sponsored alternative educational institution) in the early 1970’s. Many of the young people he had contact with that were using drugs were from affluent families. Wealth won out over family time in many of these households, resulting in absent parents and empty homes. Left without adult influence or supervision, these youth were more susceptible to drug use. He witnessed many of them gravitating to the drug culture because it was so easily accessible, especially when their families were not.

3. Besides academics, what other developmental areas do you think are the school’s responsibility to provide direction and guidance for youth?

Mr. Sanchez cited several areas of concentration, including: physical education, socialization, decision-making skills, and establishing a work ethic, including the introduction of vocational alternatives as well as preparation for furthering their educational goals. He emphasized that even these were not done in a vacuum- other sectors of the community contribute to this developmental process, including the faith-based community, families, peers, and of course the media influence. Being cognizant and responsive to youths’ changing developmental needs is critical for educators. Sanchez discusses the importance of developmental learning approaches throughout the interview.

4. Another trend that has impacted on youth is the reduced participation of parents in school-based collaborations such as the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), evidenced by poor attendance at meetings. What do you attribute this to, and how can it be improved?

While working as an educator in the Syracuse area in the 90’s, Mr. Sanchez was part of a white-paper panel on this very subject (the Compact for Learning). This has been identified as a problem at least since then. He cited a primary reason for this trend was that educators provided no clear vision for parents in respect to what we wanted of them. Lacking direction, parents floundered and eventually lost interest. The panel underlined the necessity of communicating expectations to parents about what their role was in relation to improving the educational process. In this vein, he believes parents’ role is to act as mentors to students, offering their experience, knowledge, insight, and support. Another role for parents are as committee members that help define and shape education policy and curricula. He also acknowledged the fact that parents are much busier today than in the past. Parents are working, there are more single-parent households, and parenting is a full-time job in itself. Mr. Sanchez suggested an alternative to achieve parent participation through the use of social networking, which would allow parents to be engaged without leaving their homes. This particular avenue has limitless potential.

Another limiting factor is a resistance on the part of educators to listen to the criticisms of parents. It is difficult to listen when teachers and administrators are working hard to improve the system, only to be continually told that “it is not good enough”. “Patience is required when working with administrators and teachers that can get frustrated by this kind of feedback. Staff must accept that they have no control over parents, and further that their opinions may help us improve the system. He reminds teachers and administrators that the criticism is happening regardless of whether they hear it or not- wouldn’t they rather know what is being said so they can address it? Another reason for the disconnect is that administrators tend to be focused on their specific responsibilities in terms of requirements and standards and parents concerns aren’t necessarily congruent with these measures of performance. It takes time for staff to mature in their roles as professionals, which will increase resiliency and help them not to personalize feedback they receive. This in turn will help to “open up” the system to make it more transparent.

5. What, if anything, has changed regarding substance use and abuse among youth in the last twenty years?

Mr. Sanchez responded that, in his opinion, the drug scene has changed considerably- that “the lid has blown off substance use and abuse in the last ten years”. His memory of drug use in the past is that it was “more innocent” than it is now- it has become a “dirty business, all about money at any cost”. While in the 70’s it involved a lot of marijuana use, with a small subgroup of poly substance users and a smattering of heroin use, now there is a whole assortment of drugs that youth use along with marijuana, which is still a favorite. He is concerned about the frequency of use of over-the-counter drugs, hallucinogens like ecstasy, and painkillers, which are now prevalent. “It seems that use was more about having fun in the 60’s and 70’s, but not anymore- it’s more hardcore and built into the underground economy”. Mr. Sanchez noted alcohol’s dominant role in our culture and its influence on our youth as well. Our society has become more prone to using substances to alleviate all discomforts, as demonstrated by all the commercials advertising drugs these days. This trickles down to youth, who are very vulnerable and looking for answers.

6. What do you consider the school’s role to be in regards to substance abuse prevention? Is your view shared with your contemporaries?

First, Mr. Sanchez cited educating youth about drugs as a priority, that young people must be equipped with the necessary information to make informed decisions. He was clear in his belief that as educators, they must support, rather than punish or jail youth. “We must look at how we provide skills to youth regarding making decisions about partaking in drug use”.

Mr. Sanchez returned to his theme of being part of a larger system, networking with other community agencies and organizations to improve this plight. “As educators we have a specific focus, police have their role, and each component has their own area of influence. Collaboration is essential if we are to make a difference”. He also reiterated his belief about the importance of adult relationships in kids’ lives, but that “in this age of litigation, it is not so easy to do”. Mr. Sanchez was referring to the concern many have that their relationship with a youth will be misunderstood, labeled incorrectly, or otherwise seen as inappropriate. “In the 60’s, it was easier to form relationships with youth as an adult, where now people tend to be fearful that it will be misconstrued.

While Mr. Sanchez is realistic about the concerns his fellow superintendents have about the potential political fallout that comes from blaming schools for students’ drug use, he contends that this is not the issue. “Community members must be geared to focus on the fact that children are suffering and take serious our responsibility to these kids”. For those who would rather view it as somebody else’s problem, he asks who of them is willing to sacrifice their own child to indifference. Mr. Sanchez ended our interview by touching on his roots as a humanist and constructionist. This background makes him think in terms of building platforms for learning: that as students, teachers, as parents, all must build their own platform to be prepared to integrate new knowledge into their world. Mutual respect and shared responsibilities are themes regarding his view of how to best address the problem of substance use and abuse by students, which he sees as a solid foundation to plan and implement strategies for change. I believe Mr. Sanchez represents a new way of viewing how schools will address substance abuse, with renewed focus on partnerships with other community sectors and greater emphasis on relationships to provide a climate of support and easier access to adult role models for high risk youth.

Notes

Aue, P., Teen Drug Abuse, Detroit: Thomas/Gale, 2006.
New York State Youth Development Survey 2008, Ulster County Results, April, 2009.
Hawkins, J., Catalano, R., and Miller, J., Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems in Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Implications for Substance Abuse Prevention, Psychological Bulletin, 1992, Vol. 112, No. 1, 64-105.

Evidence-Based Practices

deniseparent — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:02:37 CST

Use What Works

Ulster Prevention Council wants to increase the effectiveness of prevention programs throughout Ulster County by procuring Evidence- Based Practices (EBPs) for community coalitions.

These practices have been recognized and approved by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as having a positive impact on reducing substance abuse and related factors associated with substance abuse, such as poor academic achievement, bullying, and poor relationships/connections with their families, peers, schools and/ or the community at large.

Links will take you to an overview of the program, a link to a website, and contact information.

See how to apply to UPC for funding to support any of these evidence-based practices here .

*********************

	Family Matters Family Matters is a family directed program to prevent adolescents from using alcohol and tobacco.
	Staying Connected with your Teen This is a series of video and workshop-based modules, which brings parents and teens together to improve communication, and to help in family management in conflict resolution to decrease conflicts.
	Project Northland Project Northland was designed by prevention researchers to delay the age when youth begin drinking, to reduce use among young people who have tried alcohol, to limit the use of other drugs, and to reduce alcohol-related problems.
	Drinker's Check-Up A computer-based, brief intervention designed to help problem drinkers.
	Project Towards No Drug Abuse This project is an effective drug abuse prevention program which targets senior high school youth.
	Project ALERT Based on the social influence model of prevention, the program is designed to help motivate young people to avoid using drugs and to teach them the skills they need to understand and resist pro-drug social influences.
	Teen Intervene This is an early intervention program for 12-19 year olds, who display the early stages of alcohol or drug use problems.
	Olweus Bullying Prevention Program A multilevel, multi-component, school-based program designed to prevent or reduce bullying

Prevention Theory

deniseparent — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:58:41 CST

Substance Abuse Prevention 101 Not all youthful drug or alcohol use leads to addiction, but no one knows how long it takes to develop an abuse problem or even who will develop a problem. What is known is that addiction begins with use and continues with abuse before becoming full-blown addiction. Drug and alcohol use can lead to many negative consequences, including bad grades, broken friendships, family problems, physical violence and troubles with the law. Because of new scientific research, we know that addiction is not a matter of will; it is a disease of the brain. While there is no cure, there is prevention. The sooner you take action to stop occasional use, the higher your chances of stopping the progression to abuse and addiction. Research shows that kids start using drugs and alcohol because they feel the need to take risks or believe it will help them fit in or feel better. Sometimes they use drugs because they seek relief from stress or feelings of depression. It’s important to remember that there is, sometimes, a genetic risk for addiction-- just like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
Signs & Symptoms Many parents find it difficult to spot signs of drug use, especially since many of the signs and symptoms listed below are common in perfectly normal adolescents. While there is no single warning sign for drug and alcohol use, some indicators of a potential problem include: Drop in school attendance or academic performance Lack of interest in personal appearance Physical changes (e.g., persistent runny nose, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, bruises, needle marks, rashes around the mouth) Uncharacteristic withdrawal from family, friends, or interests Isolation, depression, fatigue Hostility and lack of cooperativeness Increase in borrowing money Unaccounted for cash, especially in small denominations Change in friends Loss of interest in hobbies or sports that used to be important Change in eating/ sleep habits Use of incense or room deodorant Sudden use of strong perfume or visine-type products	Risk and Protective Factors Studies over the past two decades have tried to determine the origins and pathways of drug abuse and addiction (including tobacco and alcohol) - how the problem starts and how it progresses. Many factors have been identified that help differentiate those more likely to abuse drugs from those less vulnerable to drug abuse. Factors associated with greater potential for drug abuse are called “risk factors”, while those associated with reduced potential for abuse are called “protective factors”. The table below provides a framework for characterizing risk and protective factors in five domains, or settings. These domains can then serve as a focus for prevention. An important goal of prevention is to change the balance between risk and protective factors so that the protective factors outweigh risk factors.

Substance Abuse Prevention 101

Not all youthful drug or alcohol use leads to addiction, but no one knows how long it takes to develop an abuse problem or even who will develop a problem. What is known is that addiction begins with use and continues with abuse before becoming full-blown addiction. Drug and alcohol use can lead to many negative consequences, including bad grades, broken friendships, family problems, physical violence and troubles with the law. Because of new scientific research, we know that addiction is not a matter of will; it is a disease of the brain. While there is no cure, there is prevention. The sooner you take action to stop occasional use, the higher your chances of stopping the progression to abuse and addiction.

Research shows that kids start using drugs and alcohol because they feel the need to take risks or believe it will help them fit in or feel better. Sometimes they use drugs because they seek relief from stress or feelings of depression. It’s important to remember that there is, sometimes, a genetic risk for addiction-- just like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.

Signs & Symptoms

Many parents find it difficult to spot signs of drug use, especially since many of the signs and symptoms listed below are common in perfectly normal adolescents. While there is no single warning sign for drug and alcohol use, some indicators of a potential problem include:

Drop in school attendance or academic performance

Lack of interest in personal appearance

Physical changes (e.g., persistent runny nose, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, bruises, needle marks, rashes around the mouth)

Uncharacteristic withdrawal from family, friends, or interests

Isolation, depression, fatigue

Hostility and lack of cooperativeness

Increase in borrowing money

Unaccounted for cash, especially in small denominations

Change in friends

Loss of interest in hobbies or sports that used to be important

Change in eating/ sleep habits

Use of incense or room deodorant

Sudden use of strong perfume or visine-type products

Risk and Protective Factors

Studies over the past two decades have tried to determine the origins and pathways of drug abuse and addiction (including tobacco and alcohol) - how the problem starts and how it progresses. Many factors have been identified that help differentiate those more likely to abuse drugs from those less vulnerable to drug abuse.

Factors associated with greater potential for drug abuse are called “risk factors”, while those associated with reduced potential for abuse are called “protective factors”.

The table below provides a framework for characterizing risk and protective factors in five domains, or settings. These domains can then serve as a focus for prevention.

An important goal of prevention is to change the balance between risk and protective factors so that the protective factors outweigh risk factors.

RISK FACTORS	DOMAIN	PROTECTIVE FACTORS
Early aggressive behavior	Individual	Impulse control
Poor social coping skills	Individual	Strong bonds with prosocial Institutions
Lack of parental supervision	Family	Parental monitoring
Drug availability	School	Anti-drug use policies
Poverty	Community	Strong neighborhood attachment
For more information on prevention theory and related topics, please refer to the state and federal websites listed in www.ulsterpreventionproject.org/stateandfederallinks or go to www.samhsa.gov for a comprehensive overview on substance abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues.