ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF KEY PROFESSIONALS, EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

ON THE ISLAND

INTERVIEW AND DATA COLLECTION PRESENTED BY:

EMILY DAVIESARAH DOHERTY, RN

ZHENI GJOKACHRISTINA ILIADES, RNGENEVIEVE VERRASTRO

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL

Teen Substance Use on Martha’s Vineyard

Purpose

The Dukes County Health Council formed the Youth Task Force (YTF) in 2004 to address the unmet health needs of youth and families on the Island.

The YTF conducted a Youth Risk Behavior Survey of middle and high school students in 2007.

Substance abuse was identified as a problem, creating the need for further investigation of parental and community perceptions of teen substance use.

The Interview

Over the past two weeks, students from UMass Medical School have conducted 27 open-ended interviews of key community leaders and professionals involved with youth.

The interview consisted of 19 questions pertaining to existing norms, parental attitudes and behaviors.

Findings from these interviews are explored throughout this presentation. All interviewees’ names are kept confidential.

Data will be used by the YTF to aid in the future development of a parental survey.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

From Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Community Comments

“Most teenagers are at risk, and there is probably a higher level of use here than in other places that I’ve lived.”

“Not all, and not even most kids are drinking and using drugs. They need to know this.”

“On the island there is abstinence and heavy drinking but nothing in between.”

“We hear a lot about the problem and we don’t hear enough about kids who don’t use.”

Question 5

“Parents believe that there is alcohol and drug use, just not that their kid is involved.”

Question 6

Community Comments

“This is a culture of permissiveness and isolation.”

“School has become the center for ethical conduct of the teens and the community.”

“There are a lot of hard working parents, a lot of empty homes.”

Question 7

Community Comments

“We have a strong community of adults who do care and are really trying to pull together and find solutions.”

“My son got stopped a few weeks ago, and at least seven people told me about it.”

“There are a number of agencies doing good things [to prevent youth substance abuse] but they aren’t working together enough.”

“If there’s a problem with a kid, there’s always a family to go to [for help].”

Question 8

Community Comments

“Partying and drinking and going out to bars is the norm on the island.”

“I get a sense that [parents think] drinking is ok as long as there’s no driving.”

“I’m a firm believer that we as adults must lead by example.”

Question 9

“First and foremost the most important thing is to have good communication, and that needs to start from a very early age”

Question 10

The two most common consequences mentioned were taking away privileges and grounding.

“Until parental attitudes change, the number of kids that use is not going to change.”

“There are certain parents that provide the message: just don’t get caught… do it in the household so I can keep an eye on you.”

“Hopefully if we help them grow up right, they’ll make the right choices.”

Question 11

Places mentioned where youth get alcohol and drugs: High School Lagoon Pond

Road/Beach Road VineyardHaven

Circuit Ave.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results

Question 12

Question 13

“Teens need to know where the line is, and that it is the same line for everyone”

“We have a total good old boys system that is alive and well on the island.”

"[in] several towns… police have started to crack down on home parties over past few years."

Question 14

“Some parents are happy (if their kids get caught by law enforcement) because it takes the consequences off of them.”

“Parents want to be friends with their kids rather than parents, especially with their teenage children.”

“Many parents are concerned, and are doing the best they can."

Question 15

Question 16:

What community resources exist to support youth and families?

1.Island Community Counseling and Martha’s Vineyard Community Resources

2.School: Activities and Guidance Councilors3.The YMCA

Question 17

What additional supports for family and youth are needed?

1.Rehabilitative and detox services for teens on the island

2.Substance abuse specialists, especially for adolescents

3.Education and Community involvement SADD MADD DARE for High School students

Community Comments

“The High School does a wonderful job of putting this info out. The schools in general do a wonderful job making help available for parents for training and teaching. I think we have a great DARE program.”

“We try to intervene right at the beginning. I think community service is huge on the island. There are a lot of therapists on the island. I think the island has a lot to offer once you’ve identified a problem. I think the hospital does an excellent job and I think that the schools are trying.”

Question 18

What is the first step you think should be taken to address these problems?

1.Education for parents, teens, and teachers2.Increased services for adolescents and

parents3.Role modeling of appropriate behaviors

Question 19

What questions do you think should be asked on a parent survey when it is created?

Categories: Statistics Specific to Martha’s Vineyard Support Knowledge Personal/Family History Communication Legal Issues Consequences

Conclusions

1. Interviewees indicated that parents, and the community as a whole, believe that youth substance abuse is a problem on the Island.

2. Those surveyed overwhelmingly believe that messages about substances, positive and negative, come primarily from parents.

a) Parents need more education about the nature of addiction and how to address it with their kids

b) Parents need more support in their own struggles with substances

3. There is a lack of knowledge/communication about the support, education, and treatment programs/services available on the island.

Conclusions continued

4. Much of the substance access comes from the phenomenon of high school age kids mixing at jobs or socially with adults in their early 20s.

5. Many of those surveyed believe that the programs provided by the YMCA will be very helpful for the community.

6. Consensus that there is a lack of programming and support on-island for youth drug users or those in recovery (Ala-Teen, detox, etc.)

Final Thought

“I think the island community is very protective. We come together when somebody’s ill or somebody dies or somebody needs help. This is a wonderful thing and the fact that the task force is trying to address this issue in a regional way… it’s much more impressive then if you were outside of Boston. When we do come together, that’s very important and very special.”

We would like to thank:

Interviewees for their honesty and timeYouth Task Force and Island Health Council:

Tom BennettCindy MitchellPatsy McCornakCindy DoyleOlga Church

Island Counseling Center and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

DaybreakIsland Health ClinicHealth Care Access Program and Sarah KuhRon RappaportMartha’s Vineyard Hospital, especially for housing:

Tim WalshDede Weiler

Suzanne Cashman