I donʼt think it is possible to totally stop drugs, but together we can definitely find a way to drecease it! quoted from a local teen

Transcription

1 We heard from 3432 youth throughout Oxford County! I donʼt think it is possible to totally stop drugs, but together we can definitely find a way to drecease it! quoted from a local teen

2 Oxford County Drug Task Force Structure Our Vision: The Oxford County Drug Task Force envisions a community free of problems associated with the harmful effects of substance use. Our Mission: The Oxford County Drug Task Force works collaboratively to improve the overall health of Oxford County residents and to protect communities from harm related to substance use. Our efforts are focused on strengthening and coordinating prevention, education, public awareness, early intervention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement services within Oxford County. Our Values: We work collaboratively with a variety of partners throughout the community. We embrace people with substance abuse problems within the context of their environment. Our efforts span the substance use continuum from prevention through to treatment. Our efforts aim to strengthen the existing infrastructure in Oxford County. Our efforts work towards accessible and timely services for Oxford residents. I feel awareness is high already, but people do them out of boredom. We need more things for youth to do that don t require money. - Youth Our Goals: The Oxford County Drug Task Force identified eight goals. 1. Implement a comprehensive strategy. Support the implementation of a comprehensive population-based substance abuse strategy to support healthy living and contribute to a sustainable community. 2. Identify substance abuse prevention as key to a sustainable community. Work with leaders in Oxford to identify substance abuse prevention as a key contributing factor for a sustainable community. 3. Get sustainable resources. Facilitate and leverage access to sustainable funding and resources. 4. Advocate for coordinated services, increased communication and harmonized action. Will advocate for system changes to provide better access to coordinated services and support to increase communication and harmonized action between service providers. 5. Address service gaps and maximize services. Address service gaps and maximize existing services to ensure that service providers offer a seamless continuum of support. 6. Provide information and support. Provide information and support so that service providers and intermediaries in Oxford are well informed about training, resources and services. 7. Build awareness. Work with stakeholders to build awareness about substance abuse. 8. Provide a continuum of enforcement options. Work with enforcement agencies to provide a continuum of enforcement options that are demonstrated to be effective for harm reduction and substance abuse prevention in Oxford County. Purpose and Mandate of the Oxford County Drug Task Force The purpose of the OCDTF is to serve as a unifying structure across Oxford County, helping to facilitate communication among stakeholders, coordinating resources to address duplication and gaps, and promoting the importance of using a comprehensive approach to address substance use in Oxford. Structure of Oxford County Drug Task Force The OCDTF is comprised of an overall networking body, a Steering Committee and three standing work groups: Prevention Working Group, Treatment Working Group, & Enforcement Working Group For more information visit OCDTF website: Treatment Working Group Prevention Working Group Steering Committee Enforcement Working Group 1

3 Oxford County Drug Task Force Strategic Plan Executive Summary Substance abuse is a pervasive problem that affects every community in Canada. It impacts all aspects of a community s life and does not recognize boundaries, real or imagined. While there may be parts of a community where more illicit drug use is obvious, there is no corner of a community that is free of the use, or negative impacts, of substance abuse. Oxford County experiences substance abuse in much the same way as other rural communities of its size. A national 2002 study pegged costs for substance abuse in Ontario communities the size of Oxford County at about $122 million. 1 Substance abuse has a strong and direct link with crime committed both in order to access drugs, and due to being under the influence of substances. Familial and community impacts are incalculable. Familial use often creates a generational continuing dynamic of substance abuse and harm and community suffers as a result of vandalism, public disorder, prostitution and violence. In addition to these impacts, are the very real health costs for treating direct users, and the children born of users, and the incalculable emotional and psychological costs on families and loved ones. These impacts create a damaging ripple effect throughout a community. The pervasive nature of substance abuse impacts is critical for understanding the need to act now to prevent, treat, reduce harm and enforce substance abuse. My granddaughter and her friends do talk about drugs she always tells me that it doesn t matter where she is, she is offered drugs all the time, they are everywhere. She s come home and told me tonight I was offered crack, ecstasy, pot, you know alcohol, cocaine. - Caregiver In my daily work, I see people who are deeply entrenched in their addictions. These are often the most marginalized people in our community and if I can show them compassion and understanding while they are at their most vulnerable then I am doing my job well. - Service Provider It all starts at home. Parents should teach their kids more and watch them closer. - Youth A caring community means we try to notice things that place people at risk and get them help so they don t have to carry that load alone. To give them someone to connect with if they are worried about a friend. Teachers, parents, police, people who come in contact with kids have to know what to look for. And then we can have a caring community. -Service Provider Although Oxford County has similar rates of substance abuse to other communities of its size, there are some disturbing trends in alcohol and cannabis use. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor (2005), alcohol use was more prevalent in Oxford County and South West Ontario than the rest of Ontario. CAMH reported that cannabis use (marijuana) had increased between 1996 and 2005 throughout the South West Region. How youth experience substance abuse is of particular concern to Oxford County residents and service providers. Tobacco use among those 12 and older was higher in Oxford County compared to Ontario residents. The Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (2009) reported a significant decrease in students who used tobacco, methamphetamine, crack and steroids, but an increase in non-medical use of Oxy-Contin. It is alarming to hear the ease with which youth can describe exactly how and where to access drugs in their community. Still, there is no indication that youth in Oxford County abuse substances to any greater degree than their counterparts in other parts of the province. Despite this, in a survey of Oxford County youth conducted by OCDTF, youth in the county reported that it is relatively easy to access substances primarily alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, and similarly report that these substances are the most commonly used by youth in Oxford County. Prescription drugs, mushrooms and cocaine were also reported relatively easy to access and fairly commonly used. Oxford County residents access addiction services most frequently for alcohol and cannabis use followed by crack, prescription opiods and cocaine. Among those accessing services who were 16-24, most common substances abused were cannabis, alcohol and prescription opiods. Understanding the scope of illicit drug use is difficult. Oxford County Police Services and Oxford County OPP indicated that over a thousand Oxford County residents are known to be engaged in illegal drug use. Police estimate that 70% of theft and breaking and entering charges are related to substance abuse. The Children s Aid Society estimates that between 600 and 720 of families on their caseload are struggling with substance abuse issues. The CAS also reports that about 40% of referrals reported to them are a result of addiction issues. 2

4 Oxford County Drug Task Force Strategic Plan Executive Summary Key stakeholders in Oxford County reported that most drug use occurs in the family home. Over half of youth surveyed for the Oxford County Drug Task Force (54%) reported seeing people use drugs while growing up. Community stakeholders who work with youth involved in the justice system estimate that 70% of the youth they serve have familial substance abuse. In addition to familial connections, many people who abuse substances also experience mental health illnesses. This makes diagnosis and treatment of mental health illnesses very challenging. Other changes in Ontario s medical system appears to have made substance abuse problems worse. Stakeholders suggest that changes in how physicians prescribe prescription drugs have lead to increased abuse of prescription drugs across Ontario and Canada. Drug use happens in every corner of the community. Oxford County youth and stakeholders report that substance abuse takes place throughout Oxford County at schools, in public parks or at recreational activities, crossing boundaries of gender, class and income. Oxford County residents are concerned about substance abuse, particularly among youth. Community perception that prescription drugs are easy to access and heavily abused is strong. Friends always try to get me to use drugs - Youth Oxford County has some characteristics that make the risk of substance abuse higher and its effects more significant. The lack of transportation and suitable, stable housing, a weak sense of belonging, increased number of early school leavers, and the rural nature of the County contribute to increased risk for substance abuse. There are also important challenges to accessing services in Oxford County fewer supports for accessing services, service centres that are spread out across a wide geographic area and no County-wide public transportation. The same challenges that make it difficult to access services for the individual, contribute to barriers in communication between services and organizations. There is a sense of frustration among service providers who address substance abuse and stakeholders concerned about substance abuse in Oxford County. There is a disconnect among the perception of what services are available, waiting lists for services and the reality of available services. Substance abuse services are provided commensurate to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOH LTC) service levels for the size of the population and assessed level of need in the community, and yet there is an ongoing and persistent belief that these services are not adequate. The lack of residential treatment and withdrawal management programs are a significant concern, but levels of service are consistent with those in other communities of the same size and situation. I was taking anti depressants and it wasn t doing anything so my friend handed me the pipe and it made me feel great and I wasn t upset I was happy. - Youth I find too in this town, especially with the oxy s they will tell you right up off the bat. I will just ask them, what s your habit? Oh yah, I take 4 a day, I take 5 a day. They are very open with me. Service Provider The critical issue here is not that Oxford County experiences substance abuse to a greater degree, or has a serious deficit in services, but it is that service providers, community stakeholders and residents in the County have decided that the impacts of substance abuse are so dire that the status quo is not good enough. The community is demanding better prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement for substance abuse. A strategic plan to address substance abuse in Oxford County has been created. It provides a way forward in creating a proactive approach to substance abuse in Oxford County. 1 J. Rehm, D. Baliunas, S. Brochu, B. Fischer, W. Gnam, J. Patra, S. Popova, A. Sarnocinska-Hart, B. Taylor The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse March

5 Youth Survey Results, Data and Information It has never bothered me until people tried to pressure me into it. -Youth Survey Participant Characteristics A survey was conducted with Oxford County youth in The survey was distributed through schools and in community locations. A total of 3432 respondents completed the survey. Survey participants were divided equally between males (48.9%) and females (49.5%). Most survey participants reported they were from Woodstock (43.5%), Ingersoll (25.6%), Tillsonburg (12.2%), East Zorra-Tavistock (5.8%), Blandford-Blenheim (4.3%), Zorra (2.8%), and South-West Oxford (1.6%). Most survey participants were ages (43.9%), followed by (35.7%) and 12 and under (17.3%). The average age of respondents were 14.6 years old. Survey Participant Characteristics by Age Age First Used Drugs Oxford County Youth Who Reported Ever Using Drugs 43.9% % % % % Percentage % % 1 12 and under Missing/ Ineligible 5.0% 0.7% 2.4% Male Female 26.4% 18.1% 57.3% 68.4% 11.6% 11.4% 4.7% 2.1% All 22.5% 62.4% 11.5% 0.1% 3.5% 12 under Missing/ ineligible Age Group and Gender Still Using Drugs Oxford County Youth Who Reported Ever Using Drugs Types of Drugs Easy to Get (within 24 hours) Problems Associated with Drug Use Oxford County Youth Who Reported Ever Using Drugs Reasons for Past Drug Use Oxford County Youth Who Reported Ever Using Drugs Report Getting Involved with the Law Because of Drugs 9.3% 14.2% Everybody else is School stress Want to 14.0% 20.9% 38.6% Parents use too 6.4% Report Using Drugs to Cover Emotions 18.9% 30.2% To be rebellious Nothing else to do Feel cool 8.3% 9.0% 16.3% Have a good time 64.5% Report Feeling Withdrawal from Drug Use 19.0% 16.7% Help escape problems Peer pressure Depression 21.7% 20.1% 25.3% Male Female Family stress 25.8%

6 Youth Survey Results, Data and Information I see my brother do it everyday but he thinks I have no clue. -Youth Substances Used Most Commonly by Youth 16 and Under As Perceived by Oxford County Youth Substances Used Most Commonly by Youth 17 and Over As Perceived by Oxford County Youth Blandford-Blenheim East Zorra-Tavistock Ingersoll Norwich South-West Oxford Tillsonburg Woodstock Zorra Acid 3.4% 2.5% 3.2% 5.4% 3.6% 3.6% 3.1% Alcohol 84.4% 71.5% 81.4% 73.4% 69.6% 78.5% 77.6% 76.0% Cocaine 17.7% 13.5% 17.3% 13.8% 5.4% 15.3% 16.4% 13.5% Crystal Meth 2.0% 6.5% 6.8% 11.0% 5.4% 5.0% 4.7% 7.3% Prescrip. Ecstacy Hash Marijuana Mushrooms Tobacco Drugs 6.8% 63.9% 15.0% 16.3% 78.2% 8.5% 63.0% 1 9.0% % 1.0% 73.0% 11.7% 19.8% 78.0% 5.5% 63.3% 9.2% 21.1% 70.6% 14.3% 1.8% 69.6% 14.3% 16.1% 69.6% 10.5% 1.2% 72.6% 22.2% 13.1% 75.9% 16.0% 0.7% 74.7% 18.7% 17.8% 71.3% 5.2% 58.3% 8.3% 9.4% 79.2% 1 Blandford-Blenheim East Zorra-Tavistock Ingersoll Norwich South-West Oxford Tillsonburg Woodstock Zorra Acid 8.8% 5.5% 8.4% 8.3% 7.1% 8.1% 9.6% 8.3% Alcohol 81.6% 78.0% 83.2% 79.8% 76.8% 82.1% 79.6% 83.3% Cocaine 34.7% 35.0% 36.9% 34.9% 17.9% 30.1% 37.5% 24.0% Crystal Meth 10.9% 16.0% 14.8% 29.4% 14.3% 13.8% 14.2% 16.7% Prescrip. Ecstacy Hash Marijuana Mushrooms Tobacco Drugs 17.0% 66.7% 18.4% 19.0% 83.0% 17.5% 0.5% 67.5% 14.5% 14.0% 72.0% 23.9% 2.2% 75.7% 23.9% 28.4% 80.8% 11.9% 64.2% 13.8% 25.7% 77.1% 17.9% 3.6% 58.9% 16.1% 16.1% 60.7% 18.4% 1.2% 74.2% 32.2% 22.2% 75.9% 27.5% 1.2% 73.5% 27.1% 26.9% 74.3% 12.5% 63.5% 14.6% 19.8% 74.0% Seeing People Use Drugs While Growing Up % % 55.0% 55.4% 54.9% 49.3% 49.9% % 4 Knowing Where to Get Help with Substance Misuse Blandford-Blenheim East Zorra-Tavistock Ingersoll Norwich South-West Oxford Tillsonburg Woodstock Zorra Youth Who Have Tried Drugs Substances Perceived as Problem Use 45.0% 37.5% 40.6% % 35.0% 30.7% % 25.0% 22.0% % 15.0% 10.1% 1 5.0% Blandford-Blenheim East Zorra-Tavistock Ingersoll Norwich South-West Oxford Tillsonburg Woodstock Zorra When we were younger, we had nothing to do, our parents didn t pay that much attention to what we were doing, we just hung out - Youth The pressure thing is a big one cause a lot of kids get pressured into it and then get stuck there - Male Youth **For further data on our comprehensive youth survey please see our Situational Assessment. 5

7 One of the main focuses of the Oxford County Drug Task Force is to work with existing service providers and collaborate to leverage new funding sources and to find workable solutions to filling service gaps in Oxford County related to substance abuse. Through the efforts of the Oxford County Drug Task Force and Addiction Services of Thames Valley, together we were able to leverage Federal dollars to Oxford County for the PIER Project. Through Addiction Services of Thames Valley along with their partners Fusion Youth Activity & Technology Centre and Oxford County Drug Task Force received a grant from Health Canada in order to fund the PIER (peers, information, education, resources) Project. The PIER Project is a youth focused, youth driven initiative. The overall goal of the PIER Project is to open communication and dialogue between youth and youth allies in order to prevent youth from using illicit substances The four main components within the PIER Project include: community capacity building, communication, resources and youth leadership. Community Capacity Building: Promote the PIER Project through presentations and speaking engagements to community organizations and individual schools. The Youth Prevention Worker with the PIER Project will maintain regular contact with existing community partners, through attendance at meetings, general forums, newsletter updates and community network opportunities. Insiders Report of the feedback from focus groups in Oxford: Communication: Within the PIER Project it is our goal to foster safe, healthy environments for youth to express their views on illicit substances with the hope of preventing youth from using illicit substances Youth Leadership: Throughout the PIER Project youth will be engaged through successful best practices to provide training, knowledge and tools that they will need in order to become successful Youth Leaders. Resources: Gather information about youth access to and knowledge of illicit substance prevention resources. I think parents need to be better informed, I know with my parents I try to tell them about what goes on in the school and they don t believe it, I guess they kind of refuse to accept it. - Female, Youth The PIER Project has been fortunate to host a number of focus groups throughout Oxford with caregivers, service providers and youth. We are extremely grateful for the participants who have been incredibly honest with us and allowed us to learn from their personal experience and opinions. I feel like parents...like it is hard to say no for a lot of kids and parents donʼt know that; they just say donʼt do it, just say no. But it is hard for us too and I want them to understand that it is not so easy ~ Female, Youth When I first told somebody that I did drugs it was in a chat room, because I didnʼt really know anyone back then, I was just a loser. Yeah, I would just go into a chat room and talk to everyone that I didnʼt know they didnʼt know who I was and couldnʼt tell anyone ~ Male, Youth I have a 28, 24 and then I dropped down to my son who is going to be 13. I thought I had open communication with them as well and I just learnt, probably last year that my 24 year old had actually used some pretty hard drugs when she was around maybe 19 and I never had a clue, not a clue, nope. So I thought, I thought we were good but, no clue, just shocked. ~ Parent What s next? We are currently still hosting focus groups with Caregivers, Service Providers and Youth. Subsequent to the focus groups we will be working with our evaluator to compile the data that we have collected. With the collected data we will create a presentation that will be shared with our partners and the community, in hopes of providing new information and knowledge regarding youth and their opinions and thoughts on illicit substances. The presentation will include direct information that we gather from the focus groups and will provide the youth perspectives on how caregivers and adults should communicate with them in a positive manner in order to have open communication and dialogue with them. 6

8 Initiatives of the Oxford County Drug Task Force Our work to date: Mobilized community groups to form as a Task Force, wrote Terms of Reference, hired a consultant to write up work, key informant interviews completed (with Oxford County agencies), youth survey (completed by 3432 youth) and youth focus groups completed, created a Strategic Plan and hosted media launch in November of Following the Media Launch the Oxford County Drug Task Force has been busy with many initiatives in the community. Our three subcommittees began to meet to address the four pillars used in Drug Strategy work: Prevention, Treatment, Harm Reduction and Enforcement. Here is a brief summary of some initiatives that have taken place: The development of a flyer to go out to the general public about the safe return of unused medications to the pharmacy. The flyer reminded people that 21% of youth reported non-medicinal use of prescription pain relievers, and that 75% of them got the meds from home. Successful grant application to the RCMP Foundation and Ontario Chiefs of Police, totaling $2200 to develop materials to be used with youth. Successful grant application through Addiction Services of Thames Valley, in partnership with the OCDTF, for $297,000 to Health Canada for the development of the PIER Project (see previous page). The development of a Prescribers and Dispensers campaign to raise awareness about the diversion and misuse of opioid medication. In the fall of 2009, a letter from the OCDTF Prevention Subcommittee was sent to all physicians, dentists and veterinarians in Oxford County. Attached to it was a comic strip developed by an Oxford Youth that illustrated how a prescription for Oxycontin can be easily diverted. The letter campaign was followed up with visits to physicians at Medical Meetings in Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. Our hope was to engage the medical community in discussions around this challenging topic. The OCDTF Prevention Subcommittee organized and hosted a successful workshop entitled Understanding Opiate Dependence An Education Session for Service Providers who Work with High Risk Clients. The featured speaker was Dr. Don Fuller, from Clinic 461 (Methadone Clinic) in Woodstock, as well as speakers from the Needle Exchange Program out of Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services, and Addiction Services of Thames Valley. Over 120 service providers attended the half-day event. The OCDTF has been asked to submit an article on our successful work done to date to the Four Pillars Magazine, a Canadian magazine that is published quarterly that highlights drug strategy work being done across Canada. The OCDTF has also been involved in some letter writing campaigns to continue to support any efforts that aim to reduce substance abuse issues and increase community awareness. The Oxford County Drug Task Force would like to thank our funders for funding The Oxford County Drug Task Force s Strategic Plan Development and The Oxford County Situational Assessment report. of Oxford OXFORD SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTRE INC. A Community Futures Development Corporation Report printing paid by: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Agence féderale de développement économique pour le Sud de l Ontario In 2007, more Oxford County residents report being heavy drinkers. (26.5%) than in Ontario (21.2%) (CCHS 2007) For further information about the Oxford County Drug Task Force or the full size report(s) please check out 7