Substance Abuse

The Challenge
According to the Maine CDC's Cumberland District Health Profile:

 • In general, 1/3 to 1/2 of high school aged youth in Cumberland County use alcohol with some regularity.
 • Cumberland County high school kids use alcohol more regularly than do their peers in other parts of the state
   (2-3% higher rates of participation)
 • Cumberland County 11th and 12th Graders binge drink at higher rates than the rest of Maine (26.1% vs. 25.2% for 11th graders;
   31.9% vs. 29.4% for 12th graders).
 • Cumberland County 8th graders abuse prescription drugs slightly more often than their peers elsewhere in Maine.
 • Marijuana use is above state averages in two of the ten Healthy Casco Bay communities.

What Healthy Casco Bay is Doing
 • Working with 21 Reasons to educate parents and kids on the risks of underage drinking.
 • Developing a set of parenting presentations for local school systems to help provide guidance to parents on substance abuse issues.
 • Promoting the Time to Talk initiative to help parents engage their children in conversation about substance abuse and
   other wellness issues.

Substance Abuse & Prevention Resources 
 • http://www.day-one.org/, a substance abuse counseling and training service.
 • http://www.21reasons.org/, an underage drinking prevention organization focusing on environmental change and parental mobilization.
 • Parents, The Anti-Drug , information for parents about addressing youth substance use and abuse
 • Maine Office of Substance Abuse , produces the Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey
 • Maine Office of Substance Abuse parent resources , information for parents
 • The Face Project , provides resources, training and action on alcohol issues
 • Freevibe , youth site from the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
 • The Marin Institute , alcohol industry watchdog group
 • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , research organization with the National Institutes of Health
 • National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens , information about the science behind drug abuse
 • Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator , from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S.
   Department of Health and Human Services
 • Teachers Guide , advertising website for teachers