SUSSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF COMMUNITY AND YOUTH SERVICES Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse 2013 NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY • Needs Assessments are done every 3-5 years • Each Alliance is required to participate • Part of this year’s Assessment included a survey of Sussex County residents o Online o Individualized for each Alliance o Each Alliance actively promoted and participated in the survey Respondents ranged in age from 13 to over 55. The largest group of respondents was in the 26-55 age group. Most of the respondents (74.9%) were parents. Youth under 18 Parent Business Media School Youth Serving Organization Law Enforcement Religious/Fraternal Organization Civic/Volunteer Group Health Care Field State/Local/Tribal Government... Other Organization Involved i... 0 20 40 60 80 100 82.0% of the respondents believe there is a substance abuse problem in their towns In your opinion, is there a substance abuse problem in your town? Yes 82.0% No 18.0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 94.2% believe there is a substance abuse problem in the county In your opinion, is there a substance abuse problem in your county? Yes 94.2% No 5.8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Those who believe it is a problem identified 16-18 year olds, 19-20 year olds, and 21-25 year olds as the three age groups having the most significant abuse problems <13 3.9% 13-15 29.5% 16-18 80.5% Age Group 19-20 75.9% 21-25 54.9% 26-55 19.9% >55 2.9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% * Percentages are based on total number of respondents to survey (923), not the number of respondents to this particular question because we do not have that information. Alcohol Cocaine Heroin K-2 Marijuana Prescription Drug Misuse Inhalants Methamphetamine Alcohol (71.9%) and Marijuana (70.9%) were Opana identified as significant problems for 16 to 18 Bath Salts year olds Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Alcohol Cocaine Heroin K-2 Marijuana Prescription Drug Misuse Inhalants Methamphetamine Respondents identified Heroin (69%) , Alcohol (61.2%) and Marijuana (60.3%) as Opana significant problems for 19 to 20 year olds Bath Salts Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% In your opinion, which of the drugs below are problems in your county?21 Show-25 us by checking those that are a problem and indicating among what age group. Alcohol Cocaine Heroin Heroin (58.1%) was identified as the most K-2 significant abuse issue for 21 to 25 year olds Marijuana Prescription Drug Misuse Inhalants Methamphetamine Opana Bath Salts Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 21-25 The overall substance of abuse, according to the responses given, for all age groups was alcohol at 92.5% and heroin was identified by 85.5% of the respondents as the second most prolific abuse problem. Underage drinking has been identified as a significant problem in Sussex County. Adults that encourage underage drinking as 39.7% a "rite of passage" Adults that host underage drinking parties 52.8% Parents that have a problem with alcohol 54.9% abuse and/or alcoholism Lack of parental influence in mid-teens to 77.6% Lack of parental influence was late teens identified as the leading Lack of enforcement of underage drinking 22.5% contributing factor in underage laws drinking. Lack of enforcement of underage alcohol 12.8% purchasing laws Law enforcement that "looks the other way 10.9% because it's just alcohol" Other contributing factors that were identified Lack of knowledge by adults of legal 34.6% included parents that have a problem with consequences of underage drinking alcohol abuse or alcoholism, adults that host Lack of knowledge by youth of legal underage drinking parties, adults that 42.0% consequences of underage drinking encourage underage drinking as a “rite of passage”, easy accessibility to alcohol, and Alcohol is easily accessible to youth 60.3% the belief that it is not harmful by young people Youth believe alcohol is not harmful 65.5% Youth believe underage drinking is viewed 55.0% as OK by parents and is socially acceptable 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Marijuana use by youth and young adults is contributed to the perception that it is “natural” and not harmful and the belief by adults that marijuana is not harmful. Despite evidence that suggests that marijuana use in adolescence affects brain development. (*National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dec. 2012) Adults that promote recreational use of 39.7% marijuana Adults that believe marijuana is not harmful 56.2% Youth perception of marijuana as 'natural' and 78.9% not harmful Passage of medical marijuana legislation 35.9% leading people to believe it is a safe drug 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% *http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana Respondents identified Peer Pressure as the main contributing factor for why young people use drugs and abuse legal substances. The second most identified contributing factor is lack of parental awareness of the drugs that their kids are using. People also believe that drugs are used to make a person feel good or get away from their problems. The ease in which drugs can be obtained and boredom were the 4th and 5th most chosen contributing factors. Drugs are easy to get 61.5% People use drugs because they don't think they 37.7% are harmful Parents aren't aware of the drugs their kids and 70.3% their friends may be using Parents don't give a clear "no use" message 45.3% regarding alcohol and other drug use Drugs make a person feel good and help them 63.2% to get away from their problems Drugs help people to feel less stressed and 57.4% more comfortable in stressful situations Boredom 60.3% Pressure from peer group 78.5% Everyone is doing it 38.7% Drug use by youth is normal teen risk-taking 16.9% behavior 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% What Now? • Each Alliance will review the results of their own surveys • Develop new programs based on results • Improve existing programs • Additional Information for their Needs Assessments will come from; DMHAS Chart Book Key Informant Interviews Focus Groups Municipal Alliance Committees by the Numbers 11 (Committees) 21 of 24 (Municipalities represented) 122 (Active/Volunteer members) Countless (facilitators &participants) 85 Current programs being conducted 1 (GOAL) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Stephen Gruchacz, Administrator – Department of Human Services Melissa Latronica, Director – Division of Community and Youth Services Ayla Satter, Survey Facilitator – Center for Prevention and Counseling - Created the Charts used in this presentation Municipal Alliance Committee Chairpersons, Coordinators, Members Almost 1,000 respondents who took the time to answer our questions Presented by: Nicholas Loizzi, Municipal Alliance Coordinator .