Prevention is the best medicine

Here's a startling fact: Statistics show that alcohol use among students in Middlesex County is slightly higher than Connecticut levels, and Connecticut is slightly higher than the entire country. The same is true for marijuana. And while tobacco use is slightly lower in Connecticut than the rest of the country, the rate in Middlesex County is higher than the state average.

The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC) held a Local Prevention Council (LPC) forum on Nov. 6 to present these facts and discuss substance abuse among youth.

"These statistics certainly apply in Durham and Middlefield, and it is a really important concern," said District 13 Superintendent Susan Viccaro, contacted after the meeting. "We have seen an increase in drug and alcohol use."

The keynote speaker at the forum, Dr. J. Carl Jarda, a psychiatrist serving Middlesex County, outlined the stages of drug abuse and prevention strategies to give this community an idea of how to turn these statistics around.

According to Dr. Jarda, there are three stages of addiction. The first stage is drug use, which is best explained as doing drugs here and there. The second stage is drug abuse, which is when the person is using it regularly. The third stage is drug dependence, which is defined as when the user physically needs the drug.

"Everybody in this room is dependent on air, food and water, or else we die," said Dr. Jarda. "Similarly, at the dependency stage of using drugs, the user does it because they have to, not because they want to."

Finally, he said, just one step beyond dependency is addiction, and addiction is a disease of the brain. This is pretty scary information to digest, but Dr. Jarda said there is good news.

"Knowledge of the severity of drug addiction is catching on, and like other diseases, it can be controlled if the person is willing to clean up," he said. "It takes lifestyle changes."

Viccaro agreed. "The issue is much broader than just drugs and alcohol," she said. "It's about lifestyle, which is partly why the Durham-Middlefield Local Prevention Council switched to become the Local Wellness Council."

First and foremost, however, Dr. Jarda said the best way to avoid addiction is through primary prevention. In other words, don't take that first step, or drag. He assures that the best primary prevention is simply to engage your kids with the family, at school, in church and the community.

"Our young people should feel that they are valued and have a place in the community," said Viccaro. "We have significant numbers of students who do a variety of things in and for the community."

Andre Hauser, vice principal of Coginchaug High School, added that the more positive things that are offered, the less likely students will get involved in negative things. "For a small school, we have a lot to offer in terms of extracurricular activities such as music, sports and clubs, and huge numbers of students are involved," he said.

Hauser sites Coginchaug's student-run group EDGE (Excellent Decisions Guiding Every Day) as a prime example. EDGE is a group of students who decided to not get involved in drug and alcohol use, and they are very public about their decisions. The group puts on programs, goes to elementary level classes and gives presentations on the affects of drugs and alcohol use. The program was so popular that a middle school EDGE was started.

Another example of kids choosing healthy options is the Community Round-Up, which will be held for the third time on Dec. 6.

"I get goose bumps during the Community Round-Up to see third grade through adults promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting each other," said Viccaro.

Secondary prevention, according to Dr. Jarda, includes treatment and counseling. "Unfortunately, parents don't usually know what to look for," he said. He encourages parents to stay tuned to their children and look for changes in behavior or activity. If you even think you're child is smoking cigarettes, step in.

While the truth can be painful, Hauser is pleased with his student's efforts.

"Fortunately, we don't see drugs and alcohol being used in school or on school property, at least it's very rare," said Hauser. "That says a lot about the kids in these towns. They're good kids."