Use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs poses many health risks for youth.Early use of some substances is associated with later drug use and the prevalence of high-risk behaviors.

While only a one-year snapshot, it is notable that Somerset County youth evidenced a higher percentage of substance use than students across Maryland in every reported category.Of particular concern is the use of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, Ecstacy, prescription medication, and the like.On the other hand, it is important to remember that the small sample size of Somerset County students can lead to high percentages with few students reporting use.That is not to diminish the importance of these numbers; rather the caution about sample size is offered to put the importance of this data but within a reasonable context.This Indicator clearly deserves further attention as more data are collected in future years given this first year’s report.

There was frequent mention of the health of Somerset’s children by key informants.Often raised was the ability (or inability) of youth to access a growing number of healthy, recreational activities; multiple interviewees were very complimentary of increased recreational opportunities in the county for youth.This was especially important, said one, in addressing childhood obesity.While some thought that having few population centers in the county made it easier to reach out to the community by locating programs close to these centers, others still saw transportation to recreational facilities and programs as a barrier.One informant suggested securing permission to use MA transportation to healthy activities as well as medical appointments.

Without exception, all key informants saw the illegal use of drugs and alcohol among youth as a major problem, certainly not unique to Somerset but a large and growing concern for many. Some were especially concerned about the county population’s reluctance to see drug and alcohol use among youth as the problem that it is.It was pointed out that all school nurses are trained in the use of NorCan in order to be able to handle on-school drug emergencies and that fact alone, said one, should raise concern among parents over the use of drugs. The use of heroin, and recent deaths due to overdose, was noted as especially tragic; it was the hope of one interviewee that the seriousness of heroin use, because it cannot be ignored, would “not allow residents to side step the problems of drug use.” Many again mentioned the underutilization of programs for drug and alcohol treatment available through the Health Department, especially programs for youth.

The focus group of representatives from community child and family agencies and organizations saw the growing use of drugs and alcohol among youth as one of their top concerns, as it was also among representatives of the law enforcement community.When asked what percentage of those incarcerated in the county came to the criminal justice system because of involvement with drugs, the response was “100%.”If not incarcerated for a drug offense, per se, their offenses were often other crimes used to get money to support use.

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol

Childrens Safe Initiative

The use of drugs and alcohol by county youth was the top concern.This concern is backed up by the snapshot data that comes from the 2013 Maryland Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS). While only a one-year snapshot, it is notable that Somerset County youth evidenced a higher percentage of substance use than students across Maryland in every reported category.Of particular concern is the use of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, Ecstacy, prescription medication, and the like. While the caution about small sample size is worth noting, it should not diminish the seriousness of the problem; a high importance has been placed on this Indicator by leaders in the community.

*Data not collected

Source: 2013 Maryland Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS)