Drug and Alcohol Abuse Within The Community

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Within The Community Luis Alberto (L. A.) Medina Ismael Medina Huezo Leonardo Nahum Rivera Vanessa Mendoza Uriel Haro Efren Zamora December 17 th 2008 Steve Hammond

The Contents of Presentation Our Mission Statement The Research Questions Facts about Drugs and Alcohol Our Findings via Our Surveys The Flaws of the Survey Facts about Drugs and Alcohol Determined Needs Determined Solutions Recommendations Criteria Table The Resources The Goals The Objectives The Outcomes Consequences of meeting those in need of help: Consequences of not meeting those in need of help: Our Summary The Conclusion

Our Mission Statement We will research the impact and effects of drugs and alcohol use within youth. We will also provide a focus on the community as a whole.

What Defines A Need? A social problem that affects people with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, their future, and the well being of the people around them.

The Research Questions What drugs and/or alcohol are most commonly used within the youth? What are the influences of drugs and/or alcohol on the community? What are the concerns of drugs and/or alcohol on education? How do drugs and/or alcohol affect the user and the family as a whole?

General information about Drugs and Alcohol 1: The drug of choice among High School Seniors is Alcohol. While it s competitor marijuana is number two. 2: Drugs and alcohol within teens who start losing interest in academics or extra curricular activities. 3: Middle school and High Schools might be drug infested. 4: Teens who are depressed have a higher chance of consuming drugs or alcohol in order to relive the symptoms of depression. Even though this seems relevant it will cause more problems in the long run. 5: 80 90 % of the youth know adults who can buy them alcohol in Watsonville. 6: Marijuana smoke is three to five times more deadlier than cigarette smoke when it is inhaled. 7: Cocaine is addicting and can cause heart problems if used in the long run. 8: Meth is more addicting than cocaine and easy to make or get a hold of.

Link Sources 1 - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/du.htm 2 - http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/rpo884/ 3 - http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/1536/0 4 - http://www.about-teen-depression.com/drugs-alcohol.html 5 http://www.appliedsurveysearch.org/www/products/project_curb_executive_s ummary_2007.pdf 6 - http://www.freevibe.com/drug_facts/marijuana.asp 7 - http://www.freevibe.com/drug_facts/crack.asp 8 - http://www.freevibe.com/drug_facts/meth.asp 9 - http://media.www.unogateway.com/media/storage/paper968/news/2005/02/18/ne ws/meth-still.a.homemade.heartland.problem-2548863.shtml

Where We Surveyed Watsonville Campus Aptos Campus Downtown Santa Cruz Watsonville Plaza

Our Findings Via Our Surveys Total Surveys: 147 Total English: 103 Total Spanish: 44 Age Group English Spanish Below 15 1 3 15-20 41 17 21-25 37 11 26-30 8 4 31 or older 15 9

Our Findings Via Our Surveys Nationality: English Survey Spanish Survey Hispanic 61 40 White 28 2 Asian 1 0 African-American 3 0 Other 11 2

Our Findings Via Our Surveys Citizens of the United States English Surveys Spanish Surveys Yes 98 34 No 5 10 How many actually voted in the last election? English Surveys Spanish Surveys Yes 36 11 No 67 33

Who Is In Need? Teens Between the ages of 15-25. Hispanic/Latinos and Caucasians who are using drugs in the community. People who have a drug and/or alcohol addiction. People who have issues with family and self-esteem. People who have tried to quit the their use with drugs and/or alcohol.

The Flaws in the Survey Questions in Spanish survey compare to the English survey: Question 5: Spanish survey only has 3 choices while the English has 6 choices 5. What educational level have you reached? Primary School Middle School Some High School High School Diploma Some College College Diploma 5. Cual es su nivel de educación? Primaria Secundaria Preparatoria Question 7: Spanish survey asks if you are a stay home mother not like the English one that ask if you are or did you ever have one. 7. Do you or did you at one point have a stay at home mother? Yes 7. Usted ama de casa? Si No No

The Flaws in the Survey Question 9: Spanish survey asks if you are married only, the English one asks if you are married or living with your partner. 9. Are you married or do you live with a partner? Yes No 9. Esta usted casado/a? Si No Question 11: Spanish survey doesn t include Bilingual as a language and the English does. 11. What is your primary language that you speak? English Spanish Bilingual Other 11. Cual es su primer idioma que usted habla? Ingles Español Otro

The Flaws in the Survey Question 41: The English surveys don t ask yes or no for the first person to take you on a boonie. 41. Who was the first person to take you to the boonies? Family member Friend Other Yourself 41. Quién fue la persona que primero te paseo? Si No Familia Amigo Usted mismo Otra persona Furthermore, questions 27 though 29 and 38 though 41 needed to be sub categorized. This is the same in the Spanish surveys.

Recommended Organizations Teen Challenge Si Se Puede Narcotics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous Janus of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Alcohol and Drug Services Pajaro Valley Prevention Center

Three recommended solutions: Programs taught by people who have dealt with drugs and alcohol in the past. Involve students in educational programs on drug/alcohol use before attending middle school Add an amendment to the state constitution that would legislate a certain percentage of money to after school programs and other extra curricular activities.

Solution 1: Programs taught by people who have dealt with drugs and alcohol in the past. Design a program that will provide life stories from people who have dealt with drugs and/or alcohol. Provide counseling and support groups for users and non-users. Bring those learning about drugs/alcohol to the places where people are recovering and attending support groups themselves.

Solution 2: Involve students in educational programs on drug/alcohol use before attending middle school Have other educational programs other than D.A.R.E, to provide a real spectrum of what drugs and alcohol could do to your body and your life. Involve parents/guardians in the learning process with the students. Make them aware of situations where they might encounter peer-pressure and help them avoid the situation.

Solution 3: Add an amendment to the state constitution that would legislate a certain percentage of money to after school programs and other extra curricular activities. Create a lobby to support and bring forth the realization of the amendment of the state constitution. Create of coalition of legislators, organizations and citizens to support the amendment and bring it to action.

Criteria for Table 1. Track list of successful people 2. Easy to create 3. Meets the needs of those effected 4. Cost effective 5. Less time consuming

Criteria Table Solution #1 Programs taught by people who have dealt with drugs and alcohol in the past. Solution #2 Educational programs on drug/alcohol use before attending middle school. Solution #3 Add an amendment to the state constitution that would legislate a certain percentage of money to after school programs and other extra curricular activities. Total: 11 14 14 1.Tracking listing of successful people XX XX XXX 2. Easy to create XXX XXX XXX 3. Meets the needs of those effected XX XXX XXX 4. Cost effective XX XXX XX 5. Less time consuming XX XXX XXX

Expected Outcomes 1. To learn from people who have been down the path of drugs and alcohol and not repeat their mistakes. 2. The rate of teens doing drugs and alcohol may decrease. Increasing funds will bring affective people to educate the youth. 3. Participating in extracurricular activities can help a young mind develop a better grasp to bring a positive effect in life. It can help young people stay off the streets and decrease the use of drugs and alcohol. By keeping a set of secure funding, the programs will be sustained, and the continued success will decrease the drug/alcohol use among youth.

Consequences of meeting those that need help: Help the user by becoming financially stabled. Provide more opportunities in life. Such as jobs, spending time with one s family and friends. Users can become more healthier. Users are given a real spectrum of life of their long term effect if drug use continues. They receive support and encouragement by participating in a support group system. Users will feel loved and cared for.

Consequences of not meeting those in need of help: Users may endure financial problems. Might perform illegal activities in order to support the substance. Activities like steal or sell drugs. Users may become more immune to either the drug or alcohol which may result in withdrawals or relapses. May harm their body and brain to the extent to where it can result to permanent damage. May cause death.

How do we know it s a need? Survey Question: What is your drug of choice? Alcohol users: 77 Marijuana users: 43 This question was taken as multiple-choice question.

How Do We Know It s A Need? Survey Question: Do you know where to get counseling or any good assistance for your addiction? 69% = 101 out of 147 know where to get help. Survey Question: Have you gotten help from school or family members to be at school? 44% = 45 out of 103 Survey Question: A recibido ayuda para su vicio? 39% = 17 out of 44

Why People Use Drugs and Alcohol? Family Problems 22 People Friends at a party 60 People Depression 23 People Other 42 People No Answer 14 People

Why are these needs evident? Our survey indicates that 77% of teens between the ages of 15-25 use drugs and/or alcohol. Our survey shows that 69% are Hispanic/Latinos while 20% are Caucasians are using drugs with in the community. The survey also shows that 39% have a drug addiction. 31% have a low self-esteem or family problems. Finally our surveys show that 54% people have tried to quit the use of drugs.

Goals for Solution Decrease the drugs and/or alcohol use among youth. Ensure that those who been in drugs and/or alcohol teach others not to do drugs and/or alcohol. Distract youth with positive activities; which can help develop character instead of addicting.

Summary We have seen how drugs and alcohol are impacting our community, however we see that there is still hope to change all that for a better path. It will just take effort to persuade the government to completely acknowledge that this still a huge issue and it will not end unless they step forward. Not only the government has to but the community itself.

Conclusion The Digital Bridge Academy Program The Instructors: Stephen Hammond Gerri Dayharsh Gerlinde Brady Shawn Ogimachi Sharon Took-Zozaya The DBA Staff: Andres Medina Antonio Alarcòn Diana Cabanban Maura Carrasco And all the rest of the staff Our classmates Specifically: Providence Alaniz and Josh Riparetti Our Family and Friends The community as a whole