http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090513/NEWS/905130351&cid=sitesearch
This article tells about a forum that was conducted to aim to help Ulster kids through increased utilization of substance abuse programs and increased awareness of the problem of increasing usage of drugs by adolescents. Preliminary results of studies performed at local schools show that 20% of sixth through twelfth graders had used a drug in the last 30 days. In response to these startling rates of abuse and lack of utilization of substance abuse prevention programs, the forum that was put together at SUNY Ulster had 150 parents, school and community leaders, and social workers come together to try and figure out how to get help for teens with substance abuse problems. One of the biggest shortfalls, according to Cheryl Qamar of Ulster County Mental Health is that referral to programs are dropping as are availability of prevention programs in local schools. The forum aimed to create collaboration among providers of substance abuse help and members of the community to help increase availability of substance abuse programs to those who need it.
I believe that the efforts being made by community leaders to confront the shortfalls in the county's substance abuse programs will help to greatly reduce substance abuse amongst teens. As future medical providers, I believe it is our duty to help to identify and treat the substance abuse amongst our community and to take an active role in forums such as this one to help curtail substance abuse through identification and prevention. By helping to stop substance abuse amongst adolescents, we are helping to ensure the future success of the youth of our area.
