Thursday, December 15, 2011
Staff report
WARREN
Adults in Trumbull County are concerned about teenage alcohol and tobacco use, according to a survey.
The Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board and the Minnesota Institute of Public Health sponsored the survey to learn about adult attitudes toward youth behavior.
“The good news is that the survey showed a low tolerance for teenage drinking,” said Lauren Thorp, program coordinator at the TCMHR.
Another concern among residents is prescription-drug abuse. “As part of our efforts to reduce the problem of prescription drugs getting into the wrong hands, we have held four prescription drug drop-off events,” Thorp said.
The respondents also saw a link between substance abuse and crime, including vandalism and automobile crashes.
“It is well known that drugs, even those prescribed by a physician, can impair perception, judgment, motor skills and memory,” said Lieutenant Jeff Orr of the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force (TAG). “Recent surveys have shown that on weekend nights, one in eight drivers in the United States is under the influence of some type of drug.”
The survey showed support for prevention efforts in Trumbull County. “More than 70 percent of respondents think prevention works and that our community is responsible for providing prevention services,” said Thorp.