About SNAP...
MISSION STATEMENT
SNAP exists to impact the attitudes and behaviors of families regarding youth drug and alcohol use by strengthening collaborative, preventative efforts in Hamilton County.
HISTORY OF SNAP
The Legacy Fund Community Leadership Committee, made up of Legacy Fund Board and community-at-large members chose as its current strategic initiative to focus on adolescent substance use and abuse. This determination was made with the help of Hamilton County residents, educators, law enforcement officials, and others who found that the county continues to deal with this issue but has not publicly addressed it. Due to many recent incidents, the timing of this initiative is important to the ongoing community dialogue of "Poor Choices" and to supporting the efforts of local community leaders and the community at large in curtailing the increase in adolescent substance use and abuse in our community. SNAP, a grassroots coalition, evolved out of these efforts and includes individuals from the Community Leadership Committee, parents, youth, the business community, school guidance counselors, youth clergy, service providers, law enforcement, representation from the Prosecutor's Office and others who are committed to working towards a shift in culture relating to how people think and respond to youth substance use and abuse.
THE GOAL OF SNAP
SNAP is focusing on raising awareness of the issue of adolescent substance use and abuse in Hamilton County through:
- Continued growth of the SNAP group to include representation from the entire Hamilton County community and the focus of community resources to address this issue
- Encourage collaborative and/or cooperative relationships between agencies, community groups and others that will lead to development of vehicles that curb the acceptance of substance use and abuse by young people and begin a cultural shift in how the community looks at and responds to this issue
- Create a greater awareness of the issue in the Hamilton County community where individuals, parents, educators and others can better identify appropriate resources when seeking help The long-term goal of SNAP is to impact the use and abuse of substances by adolescents in the Hamilton County community.
SNAPSHOT OF HAMILTON COUNTY'S CHALLENGES
More than 56,000 children and youth live in Hamilton County. By 8th grade, 45% of them will have tried alcohol, and by their senior year, 50% will be drinking at least once a week. By 8th grade, the youth will see ongoing use of inhalants and tranquilizers around them, and by their senior year, at least 11% will have used a drug other than marijuana in the past month. All of these numbers have risen in the past decade.
Other recent findings include:
- An anonymous survey conducted in 2003 by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center (IPRC) showed Noblesville High School students are using illicit drugs and alcohol at rates up to double the state average.
- The IPRC survey results also indicated that only 35.5% of Sheridan 8th grade students had never tried alcohol in their lifetime
- IPRC results indicated that 48.2% of Hamilton Heights 10th grade students saw little risk of occasional marijuana use
- 80.8% of Hamilton Southeastern Seniors taking the survey reported they saw little risk of occasional alcohol use
- Parents in Fishers were arrested in 2004 for hosting a teen party at which underage drinking was allowed. Parents felt that they had taken precautions by "taking everyone's car keys in order to prevent the teens from leaving the party and driving under the influence". (Taken from Hamilton County Court Records)
- A local dentist and his wife were arrested for allowing minors to drink and smoke marijuana at their home. Fourteen young people, all under the age of 20 years old, were charged with underage drinking (2004 Arrest Docket).
- The 2003 anonymous Indiana Prevention Resource Center Survey showed that 12.6 percent of sixth graders at Carmel Schools had used alcohol at least once in their lifetime. 1.2 percent of those students reported binge drinking in the two weeks prior to the survey.
- Officials are seeing children as young as 3rd grade experimenting with tobacco and alcohol. (School Counselors Forum, October 2004)
- 75% of young people in Hamilton Centers Youth Service Bureau (Shelter Care Facility serving 11-17 year olds) have a substance abuse problem. (HCYSB Annual Report 2004)
- Students feel that issues of alcohol, substance abuse (including marijuana and tobacco) are not talked about enough in our community. (Youth Forum, Fall 2004)
- Students feel that schools do not offer a safe, confidential environment to discuss substance abuse issues (Youth Forum, fall 2004).
- Hamilton County Probation Services 2004 Juvenile Annual Statistics were reviewed. Findings include a 1.8% increase in all drug/alcohol charges received from 2003; drug/alcohol charges were 32.4% of all charges filed; and Operating While Intoxicated jumped 22.7% from 2003.
- The 2002 Huskey Report (commissioned by Hamilton County Public Officials) documented that "at the time of the study, 15.5% of the Juvenile Detention Center detainees were charged with drug and/or alcohol relatedoffense and a total of 34% identified drug and/or alcohol problem".
2007 OBJECTIVES
- Raise parental awareness of youth substance abuse issues and risks; identify and initiate pro-active steps to prevent youth drug and alcohol use in Hamilton County.
- Raise parental awareness of youth substance abuse issues and risks; identify and initiate pro-active steps to prevent youth drug and alcohol use in Hamilton County.
- Create educational opportunities for Hamilton County school faculty, staff & administrators to heighten their awareness and skill levels in dealing with adolescent drug and alcohol use and abuse within their school setting.
- Continue to build SNAP's capacity through the growth of resources to strengthen the mission of the Coalition.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
SNAP, in collaboration with the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, is moving forward through the creation of several committees targeting different areas within the initiative to foster awareness of the SNAP group, the issues surrounding adolescent substance abuse and various activities and events that promote prevention and incorporate education and awareness .
For more information or to join in the effort to impact youth substance use and abuse, contact SNAP at contactsnap@snapintoaction.com.