Substance Abuse Prevention
And that’s if you didn’t buy any
We pay a high price for alcohol use and abuse - about $112 billion each year. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Alcohol use and abuse affects our community across life spans. The human and economic costs to the individual, family, and community are incalculable.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can adversely affect the development of the fetus, resulting in lifelong medical consequences. Experimenting with alcohol use is common during adolescence and can spawn serious problems that include adverse medical consequences, health risks associated with unsafe sexual behavior, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Young adults ranging in age from the mid-teens to the late twenties have a higher prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking than any other age group and experience more negative consequences, such as traffic crashes. For adults, alcohol abuse can interfere with parenting skills, marital relations, and economic stability.
Alcohol and drug abuse by employees’ causes many expensive problems for business and industry ranging from lost productivity to injuries, and an increase in health insurance claims. These costs are borne by the work-sites in the form of higher costs through a combination of decreased profits, increased product/service prices, or reduced overall compensation for the workers.
Between 2 and 4 percent of older adults in the general population either abuse or are dependent on alcohol. Alcohol use complicates the care of older people and can lead to excess disability, loss of independence, and increased costs of medical care.
The economic costs of alcohol abuse are imposed on society in a variety of ways. These include drug- and alcohol-related crimes and trauma; government services, such as criminal justice and highway safety and child welfare including the foster care system, and various social insurance mechanisms, such as private and public health insurance, life insurance, tax payments, pensions, and social welfare insurance.
Much of the economic burden of alcohol and drug problems falls on the population that does not abuse alcohol and drugs. Largely because of these effects on nonusers, society expends substantial resources attempting to control the consequences of alcohol abuse through the criminal justice system and public health efforts. The largest shares of the costs that are shifted are borne by governments (which ultimately means by taxpayers and those who would have received benefits of reduced taxes or additional government services).
In the Capital Area, for every person in treatment for substance abuse there are an estimated 30 people with drug or alcohol dependency who are not receiving treatment. Approximately 78,000 people are in need of treatment. (Office of Drug Control Policy, Michigan Department of Community Health).
Alcohol and children don’t mix
Thousands of children in our community are living with an alcoholic while growing up. These children are at greater risk for having emotional problems than children whose parents are not alcoholics. Alcoholism runs in families, and children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics. Most children of alcoholics have experienced some form of neglect or abuse. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2004). In one study, respondents reporting either physical abuse or neglect of children were 5 times more likely to report alcohol abuse or dependence. In 2005, parental substance abuse was identified in 34 percent of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases in Ingham County. Of children removed from the home, 42 percent were removed as a result of parental substance abuse.
Among older people, alcohol related hospitalizations rates are similar to those for heart attack
Surveys conducted in health care settings have found increased prevalence of alcoholism among the older population. In acute-care hospitals, rates of alcohol-related admissions for the elderly are similar to those for heart attacks. The prevalence of problem drinking in nursing homes is as high as 49 percent. Among the over 60-population, as many as 17% misuse alcohol or medications. Only 13% of the population, older people consume 25 - 30% of all prescription drugs. Older people consume at least 25% of all over-the-counter medications. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Alert No. 2: Alcohol and Aging).
People don’t drink to get angry. It just happens that way
In studies nationwide, alcohol, more than any other drug, has been closely associated with violence and aggression.
In 2004, 35 percent of domestic violence offenders in Ingham County were reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense. In the same year, 33 percent of domestic violence offenders in the capital area were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense. Statewide, 21 percent of domestic violence offenders were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense in 2004.
Alcohol and crime go together
The impact of the abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs on the criminal justice system is clear. In 2003, approximately 13 percent of inmates were in prison due to an alcohol or drug-related offense. More than 57 percent of current Michigan prisoners reported having a substance abuse problem upon intake into the corrections system. However, the Michigan Department of Corrections believes that this number underestimates the true extent of the problem among inmates.
From 2002 through 2004, 106 juveniles (under age 18) and 5,420 adults were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs in Ingham County.
In addition, 776 juveniles and 5,129 adults were arrested in Ingham County for other alcohol-related offenses. In Ingham County, the rate of juvenile arrests for alcohol-related offenses per 1,000 population in 2004 (2.94) is more than one and a half times higher than the state rate (1.74). The rate of adult arrests for alcohol-related offenses per 1,000 population in 2004 (7.01) is more than three times that of the state (2.19).
Alcohol can be deadly
Of all fatal motor vehicle crashes that occurred in Ingham County from 2002 through 2004, 21 percent were the result of crashes involving alcohol. Twenty-two percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes that occurred in the capital area during that same period involved alcohol.
Alcohol-induced mortality includes deaths due to alcohol psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcohol-induced chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and alcohol poisoning. The three-year (2002-2004) average rate of alcohol-induced deaths in Ingham County was 6.6 ±1.8 and the rate for Michigan was 6.4 ±0.3. The rates are per 100,000 population age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population.
Children in our community start to use alcohol regularly before they are 15 years old
More young people die from underage alcohol use than from all illegal drugs combined. And, youth who begin using alcohol at an early age are more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol at a later age. Youth who use alcohol before age 15 are four times as likely to meet criteria for past year alcohol abuse or dependence than those who start using alcohol at or after age 18 and five times more likely than those who begin using at or after age 21.
The average age at which students in Ingham County and the capital area start to regularly use alcohol is just under age 15, as reported by students who took the 2004 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) Survey. However, these students are beginning to experiment with alcohol at an even younger age. On the average, students who were surveyed through the PNA Survey in Ingham County and the capital area report having their first drink of alcohol (more than a sip or two) just under age 13. In fact, 22 percent of tenth grade students taking the PNA survey in Ingham County and 26 percent of tenth grade students surveyed in the capital area report having their first drink of alcohol before age 13.
Percentage of Students Who Had Their First Drink of Alcohol before Age 13
| Ingham County | Capital Area | |
| 10th Grade | 22.3 | 26.3 |
| 12th Grade | 14.3 | 17.2 |
Source: Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission 2004 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, prepared for the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission by Bach Harrison, L.L.C., June 2005.
Note: Older students may not remember how young they were when they began drinking as clearly as younger students might, and therefore may report beginning to drink at an older age.
Percentage of Students Who Have Had At Least One Drink of Alcohol in Their Lifetime
| Ingham County | Capital Area | |
| 6th Grade | 15.4 | |
| 8th Grade | 39.3 | |
| 10th Grade | 65.2 | 64.6 |
| 12th Grade | 79.3 | 75.3 |
Source: Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission 2004 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, prepared for the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission by Bach Harrison, L.L.C., June 2005.
Percentage of Students Who Have Had At Least One Drink of Alcohol in the Past 30 Days
| Ingham County | Capital Area | |
| 6th Grade | 3.9 | |
| 8th Grade | 13.3 | |
| 10th Grade | 37.7 | 35.3 |
| 12th Grade | 49.0 | 45.1 |
"Source: Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission 2004 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, prepared for the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission by Bach Harrison, L.L.C., June 2005.
Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council
To address substance abuse prevention issues in Ingham County, Cristo Rey has been active in the development of the Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, (ISAPCC). The council is composed of multi-sectored participants with diverse interest including representatives from public health, private health care, mental health, Department of Human Services, colleges and universities, criminal justice, youth groups, substance abuse treatment providers, senior citizens groups, and the faith based community, Cristo Rey is an active member and has helped develop a three year strategic plan.
Work together to make changes
We must all join forces and take a comprehensive approach to fighting drugs. No one school curriculum, or law enforcement policy, or alternative activity, or family intervention will prevent the devastating problems of substance abuse. Prevention means safer and healthier neighborhoods and communities in Ingham County. By mobilizing our community to work for a change, we have the opportunity not only to reduce substance abuse but to reduce the crime, injuries, disease and disability associated with that abuse.
To eradicate substance abuse, we must prevent it before it starts, helping young people to get a stronghold on life so they don't need to look for reasons to use drugs and to prevent misuse in adults from becoming abuse.
Prevention can work if we work hard for prevention. Join the Coordinating Council to prevent alcohol and drug abuse problems in our community. Call Karen at 517-372-4700 extension 139.
The Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinating Counsel (ISAPCC)
The Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council goals are to bring effective prevention services to our community through comprehensive collaboration.
Each year, the Coalition develops an implementation plan. As a voting member of the Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, Cristo Rey accepts and commits to this implementation plan and budget.
The strategies that we are currently working on include Information Dissemination, Community Mobilization and Environmental. Our goals and outcomes include:
Goal 1: Coalition Development
Outcome 1: By 2006 Ingham County will have an independent, multi-sector countywide coalition that coordinates plans and evaluates substance abuse prevention in Ingham County.
Goal 2: Data Driven Decision Making
Outcome 1: By 2006 Ingham County will have collected and be utilizing local youth survey and archival data to assess substance abuse prevention needs, identify gaps in prevention services, focus the county’s efforts on prioritized needs, mobilize resources across the county and evaluate changes in targeted risk and protective factors and substance-using behaviors.
Goal 3: Alcohol
Outcome 1: By 2009, there will be a reduction in lifetime and past month alcohol use as measured by student responses to lifetime and past month usage questions on a valid, reliable school-based youth survey in Ingham County.
Outcome 2: By 2007, sales of alcohol products to minors will be reduced as measured by compliance check data.
Outcome 3: By 2006, the coalition will work to develop formal and informal linkages between providers, colleges and agencies in the county to reduce sales of alcohol to under-aged youth and college students.
Goal 4: Tobacco
Outcome 1: By 2009, there will be a reduction of cigarette smoking and chewing tobacco use rates and an increase in age of initiation of smoking and chewing tobacco among youth (10-17) in Ingham County.
Goal 5: Methamphetamine
Outcome 1: By 2006 there will be a focused effort across Ingham County for more comprehensive data collection including arrest rates, use rates and the number of methamphetamine labs.
Outcome 2: By 2006 there will be increased community awareness of the growing issue of methamphetamine and planned responses among health and human service agencies, treatment and first responders.
