- Historical origin of related issues: Symbiotic relationship between substance use and human rights. Because we lack access to resources (and have a lack of particular resources) we find people tend to use substances to manage emotions and stress (mental health) at a higher rate than the national average.
- We also have a history of poverty. People use and engage with this economic model of pain, use and addiction to meet basic needs and sadly to profit from those in need.
There is an historical precedent of parents who want to have their children home and who provide alcohol. A common statement during Key Informant Interviews was, “We know they are safe. Instead of driving or at someone else’s house.” That is why we have the social host law of 2012, known as “Jared’s Law”, in our county.
According to interviews of health professionals and key members of our population we have “multigenerational learned helplessness”, basically, regarding poverty, we see a great deal of illicit substance use and mental health issues. Families as a whole get stuck here – repeating patterns of ancestors – very cyclical.
We are focusing on alcohol and marijuana due to the research we have conducted and data we have collected in regards to our area of focus: under 18 years of age, leaning toward the younger children. We are also gleaning from data that inhalants may need to be addressed as well, particularly with 12-18 year olds. We have been offered data from OD Mapping software and an Rx software, having some of that data would be helpful. We also have some of that data through public health and the Office of Emergency Management.
Marijuana, the perception is that it’s no big deal….”inconsequential”. But the truth, when one chooses to look at the issue less from a personal level and more from a public health perspective aimed at addressing the whole population, is – it can be laced, manufactured in places where fentanyl is created. Even parents think, it’s just pot, it’s no big deal…but they don’t realize the progression….laced or otherwise it can lead to other things.
This county hosted Woodstock, the summer of 1969…”sex, drugs and rock and roll”. But the aftermath of addiction and illness that also accompanied the attendees is not as publicized. The event has mainly been glorified as a time of peace and coexistence and it was that as well. The point may be to look at the whole story, support all aspects and persons and maybe, especially those people that get stigmatized and marginalized in their pain.
We are seeing a shift in stages of development for youth. The shift from seeking acceptance from our parents as primary to seeking acceptance from social influences being primary is happening at a much younger level. The need to “fit in, be accepted” is starting at a younger age. If you don’t have individuality or self confidence of a certain level you are swayed to fit in and try things, things you may not really want to try.
Some of our community’s adults wonder, “What is the rate of addiction overall? Is it that big of a deal?” It depends on many factors, but if addiction is in a family history, it will continue at a much higher rate than the general population if members of that family continue to use it. There is chemistry in our brain that causes addiction, if you have that chemistry, you have a higher likelihood of being addicted. Frequently people will speak of drugs having little effect on them, they don’t feel addiction is such an issue….. But it’s different how chemicals work for each person – individually – so when we seek policies and changes we seek them for our whole community, every neighbor, not just particular people with the right chemistry, the right family history, the best possibility of socio-economic return, we seek safety and opportunities for all of our neighbors.
Most community members we interviewed mentioned that alcohol used to be more of a private endeavor. The “men” would go off at the picnic or party and have a drink. Now the coolers are at the table, wine is in the fridge. It’s a right of passage on a farm to go have a beer after a long day’s work. That slowly changed for some as farms disappeared and how folks survived shifted from one family earners to double earners and single parent households. Many elderly folks began to take care of kids and they were on more medications – exposure to substances definitely changed for youth – especially with prescription drugs. Even children who tried to do the right thing for their health, athletes for example, were prescribed pain medications that have led to problems with substance use – it was nothing for a doctor to prescribe pain medication. That is changing with awareness.
Students we interviewed have mentioned the relative difference between drinking and smoking marijuana. Getting drunk in public is frowned upon, but vaping THC in public is not really a problem at all. Youth realize it’s socially frowned upon so they tend to avoid doing it, but that which is acceptable, or has negligible impact is easier to partake in…even when they know inwardly that it’s not optimal. They mentioned that, “…..the feeling of ‘getting away’ with it is somewhat of a lure to do it…” With marijuana or THC Vaping, there has been a change. It used to be that you knew you would get in trouble if you had “drugs” at school, but with the legalization of medical marijuana we have strongly reduced the barriers to use. There is clearly truth to the benefits and need for medical marijuana, but it’s been exploited by those that solely wish to profit and have little to no concern for our youth’s well being and long term future health.
Another point we circle about in prevention is the false perception around parents stating, “I’d rather have my kid use marijuana than heroin,” as if that was the only choice they could foresee for healthy choices and behavioral management – heroin or marijuana. What they are actually doing is simply green lighting substance use as a coping skill.
Marijuana vaping is getting much more flavorful, acceptable and accessible. Awareness needs to be raised around the whole picture and needs to include that vaping and marijuana carry their own risks. Consider that 7 out of 9 CBD vapes had additional ingredients in them other than CBD. If I was a consumer, I’d at least like to know what’s in the product I purchase. If someone is not saying what’s in it, I have to wonder why.
Lastly, a much broader subject, but wildly relevant to our current times is the difference between lies and the whole truth. Things are not as vetted, news articles used to require three sources to be printed. Now an article or idea can be printed without any verification whatsoever. Who can you trust? And how do you determine that?