CPY Newsletter                                                February 2016  
NEW DATA REVEALS ENCOURAGING TRENDS
 
Beginning in 1975, researchers from the University of Michigan have been tracking substance use trends among the nation's middle and high school youth through an annual survey.  This year's 2015 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey reveals some positive and encouraging trends.  Findings from Placer county students reflect these same trends.
 
According to 2015 Monitoring the Future:
Use of most substances among 12 to 17 year olds continued their flat or downward trends seen in recent years-many dropping to the lowest levels in the history of the survey .
  • Fewer 12th graders than ever reported binge drinking or being drunk in the past year.
  • 5.5% of 12th graders reported daily cigarette smoking (down from 6.7% a year ago).
  • Use of inhalants was at its lowest levels ever.
  • Non-medical use of prescription pain relievers was down significantly from five years ago.
This is all great news for parents and community prevention efforts.  However, there remain some important areas of significant concern.
  • Non-medical use of the prescription stimulant Adderall remains high (7.5% of 12th graders and 5.2% of 10th graders reported using Adderall).  
  • Marijuana use remains high surpassing tobacco use.
  • The use of e-cigarettes and vape pens is on the rise surpassing regular cigarettes..
According to the researchers, while the data is encouraging, it's important not to become complacent.  The problems and consequences of substance use in America's youth have not gone away. Far too many 8th, 10th, and 12th graders continue to use drugs regularly or try them, possibly paving the way for substance use disorders, as adolescence is the period of greatest vulnerability for the brain changes underlying addiction. We need to continue to support broad implementation of evidence-based prevention programs, train healthcare providers to identify and treat youth with substance use disorders, and empower young people with the knowledge and resources to live healthy, productive lives.
 
NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow discusses 2015 MTF survey results:
 
Dr. Lloyd Johnston and Dr. Richard Miech at the University of Michigan are principal investigators for MTF Survey. 

MARIJUANA SURPASSES  TOBACCO USE AMONG TEENS
According to the 2015 Monitoring the Future annual survey, high school students in the U.S. are more likely to smoke marijuana daily than they are to smoke cigarettes.   It is the first time since the survey was first conducted in 1975 that daily marijuana use has eclipsed smoking.
 
The report found that teen smoking of cigarettes or cigars dropped from 20.5% to a little over 7%, but pot use rose from 4% to 10%. Among those teens that smoked cigarettes or cigars, use of marijuana climbed from 51% to 62%.

In a local survey of Placer County youth, four times as many 11th graders had smoked pot (12%) in the last 30 days, compared with cigarettes (3%).
 
Dr. Tim McAfee, director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, suggests that the increase use among teens is driven by a greater acceptance of marijuana as a harmless drug.
 
Unlike tobacco, no media campaigns are telling kids not to smoke pot.  The perception of marijuana as risky has declined steadily, with 32% of seniors saying that regular marijuana use may be harmful, down from 36% in 2014.  According to local data, b oth teens and adults view marijuana use as less harmful than alcohol or tobacco use. 
 
The lessons from the tobacco free campaign reminds us what is needed to reverse these trends are targeted prevention programs and policies that involve parents, schools, communities, and hard hitting media campaigns.
 
Parents are an important part of the equation guiding their teens/children toward healthy decisions with accurate information and support. 
 
Researchers know more today about the negative impact of marijuana on the developing adolescent brain and the long-term physical, emotional and social effects. 
 
Parents - learn the facts.  See flier below and sign up for CPY's upcoming forum to learn more about marijuana and its addictive effects. 
IMPORTANT MARIJUANA FORUM SIGN UP TODAY!

Dabbing - A Dangerous Trend
A potentially hazardous form of marijuana use called " dabbing" is growing in popularity across the United States especially among teens.
 
"Dabs" (also known as hash oil, honey oil, earwax, BHO, or budder) are created by stuffing marijuana trimmings into a glass, metal or plastic pipe.  Butane is then forced into the pipe, and the flammable liquid extracts THC from the plant material in a highly concentrated form.  The butane is extremely flammable.  Even the smallest spark can cause an explosion.
 
In dabbing, users inhale through a water pipe the vapor from "dabs" of waxy or solid marijuana concentrate. A piece of superheated metal or glass instantly vaporizes the dab, creating an intense high from a single inhalation.

Experts are concerned about the high potency of the dabs which can contain a THC level as high as 80%  (THC is the chemical compound in marijuana that causes the "high").  Smoking a nail-head-sized drop is equivalent to three joints hitting the system all at once. The effects are immediate and so intense that one hit is powerful enough to make users pass out and sending victims to the emergency room.  
 
Adolescents, looking for new ways to try marijuana, are easy prey to these trends and are often unaware of how dangerous dabbing is.
 
More information
Free Parenting Workshop

 More information can be found on the Banana Moments Website

Alcohol Found in E-Cigarettes
Nicotine exposure at a young age "may cause lasting harm to brain development," warns Dr. Tom Frieden,
chief of the Centers for Disease Control

A new Yale University study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that the alcohol content in some e-cigarettes was high enough to impair motor skills.
 
The vaporized alcohol in e-cigs is absorbed and affects the brain "more quickly and efficiently" compared to drinking it. Even when the study subjects didn't feel like they were "buzzed" from the vaporized booze, their motor skills were significantly impaired.
 
Ethyl alcohol is commonly used by the industry to extract the flavor from the base ingredients found in e-cigarettes. The level of alcohol found in the various e-cig products from barely measurable to as high as 23%. Among e-cig users, creating their own vaping liquids is popular which can contain even higher alcohol levels than commercial products. E-cig vapers who use liquids high in alcohol content may be on the track to "a faster level of dependence" on both alcohol and nicotine.
 
Dr. Mehmet Sofuoglu, professor at the Yale School of Medicine and co-author of the study, said the findings are especially worrisome in light of recent data showing a dramatic rise in the number of middle school and high school students using e-cigarettes.
 
As of 2014, the number of such students who reported using the devices had risen to 2.49 million - up from 800,000 in 2013. The ad spending on e-cigs had reached $115 million by 2014.
 
The CDC noted that "about 69 percent of middle and high school students were exposed to e-cigarette advertisements in retail stores, on the Internet, in magazines/newspapers, or on TV/movies."
 
"Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements may be contributing to increases in e-cigarette use among youth," the CDC said. 
Teens Use E-Cigarettes to 'Vape' Pot
 
Nearly one-fifth of high school students who use e-cigarettes have tried putting pot into the devices, according to a study conducted at Oberlin College.  Using E-cigs to smoke marijuana appeals to teens because it's harder to detect than smoking since there is no smoke and no odor.

Keep your children/teens safe from the "e-cig" generation. Learn the facts and talk with them about the risks.
The Dangers of E-Cigarettes





Get Involved - Join CALY
Please join us in keeping Auburn and Lincoln youth healthy and safe.

Come to our next meeting:   Tuesday, April 19, 2016    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lincoln City Hall - 600 6th Street, Lincoln

For more information contact Melissa Kelley  (530) 273-9541    mkelley@corr.us

Like CALY on Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/CALYCoalition 
Encourage friends and family to join our email list -   contact Melissa Kelley     mkelley@corr.us
VOICE YOUR IDEAS 
Mental Health, Treatment Services
 
Please join us:
Placer County Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Board meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month. Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and meeting immediately follows at 6:15 p.m.
 
Date:     February 22nd   6 PM
Dewitt Center (large conference room) 11533 C Avenue, Auburn
           
Feature: Local agencies will present Transitional Age Youth (TAY) services offered in Placer county. TAY services address a variety of needs of youth between the ages of 17-25, including mental health services and substance abuse programs.
 
Contact: Theresa Thickens, Psy.D. , Chair, Placer County Mental Health, Alcohol, & Drug Board  
Have You Taken? - The Parent Pledge

The Parent Pledge is entering its 5th Year of enrolling Parents, Guardians, Households and Families in our Campaign to do what ever it takes to STAND UP for Youth in our Community.
  
Please join the other responsible and dedicated individuals who have signed on to this important campaign!
  
Follow the link below to learn the details about what you can do to ensure that our Community Continues to become a safer place for youth to learn, grow and become the young adults we all want them to be!


Support CPY
All tax-deductible contributions are applied directly to programs that benefit the youth of Placer County.  Donors to the Coalition for Placer Youth can submit donations via check or PayPal.    
F ollow Us
 
Events
CPY - Rocklin Partnership Leadership Committee
February meeting postponed
Thursday March 3rd   3:30 - 5:00 pm
Rocklin Library Community Room
4890 Granite Drive, Rocklin
Contact: Christina Ivazes  (530) 889-7238
                civazes@placer.ca.gov

Parenting Tech-Savvy Teens
Free Parenting Workshop
Wednesday February 3rd  6:30 - 8:00 pm
South Placer Teen Center
3860 Oak St  Rocklin, CA
Refreshment provided

Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board (MHADB)
Monday Feb 22, 2016   6 pm
DeWitt Center, Auburn
Contact:  Theresa Thickens, Chair

Understanding Marijuana Addiction
Thursday Feb 25, 2016    3:30 - 5:30 pm
St. Matthew Lutheran Church
5901 Lonetree Blvd.  Rocklin
See flier in this newsletter for details
Space limited - register today
Contact:  
Christina Ivazes  (530) 889-7238 
        civazes@placer.ca.gov

CALY - Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth 
Tuesday April 19, 2016  3:00-5:00 pm
Watch for details
Contact:  
Shelley Rogers, (530) 273-7956

UROC - Teen Group  
Lots of fun, safe, and age appropriate activities for youth.  
Meets Friday nights from 7-9 PM
Crossroads Community Church
3860 Oak Street, Rocklin CA 
Contact Dan Britton   ( 916) 624- 8246
            danbritton78@gmail.com  

Parent
Resources
Partnership for  Drug Free Kids  - where families find answers
Answering your child's tough questions about alcohol
A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain - Skills, Tools & Tips
Parent Tool Kit 

Small conversations can make a big impression

HELPLINE: 
1-855-DRUGFREE
Parents toll-free helpline 
1-855-378-4373
Mon. to Fri.  10 am - 6 pm ET
(English and Spanish)
Time to Act
Think your teen is using?
Step-by-step guide for parents who suspect their teen is using alcohol 
or drugs.
Spanish Language Parent
Resources
HablaConTusHijos 
free, bilingual online resource
Bilingual Toll-Free helpline
1-855-378-4373
(Monday-Friday 10am-6pm EST)
Teen
Resources
Placer County Youth Commission
UROC - Teen Group  
Lots of fun, safe, and age appropriate activities for youth.  
Meets Friday nights from 7-9 PM
Crossroads Community Church
3860 Oak Street, Rocklin CA 
Contact Dan Britton danbritton78@gmail.com 
( 916)624- 8246


PeerX
F acts for teens about prescription drugs

Placer Sheriff's Activity League (PSAL)
activities for youth - 
Mondays 2pm - 4:30pm
Wednesdays 3pm - 5:30pm
Fridays 3pm - 5:30pm
Rock Creek Elementary,Auburn    
Contact Detective Shon Schoer
(916) 652-2422
Rocklin Police Activities League
Activities program for Rocklin youth - coming soon!
For information contact Chris Osborne, Rocklin Police Dept.
(530) 889-7238