The effects of Drug and Alcohol Abuse on Youth in Rural Communities

Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug Use by Youth in Rural Communities addressed by the research at Colorado State University. Ruth W. Edwards, PH.D. addresses how peers play a role in substance abuse both in urban areas and rural and compares the two. In the urban areas a substance can be isolated within small subgroups of a population. But, in rural areas peers can influence a whole age group. Therefore, rural communities are more likely to show greater substance abuse in adolescents than in urban areas.


For more information click on link
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/drugfree/v1edward.htm

Drugs and alcohol is a nation wide problem and it needs to be prevented at an early age. This can happen with programs and classes being implemented in the school system. Generalized prevention programs delivered in school or through the media discourage youth who have not tried drugs to maintain abstinence.

Alcohol- related harms for youth:
    *Lower graduation rates, higher drop-out rates
    *Lower GPA's, lower academic achievement, higher school failures
    *Higher incidents of unplanned sex, sexual assaults, and unprotected sex
    *Troule with community
    *Lower wage potential
    *Higher chances of alcohol related traffic crashes and fatalities



Prevenative Programs/Activities Implementated in Youth lives
              
 Johns Island and Baptist Hill provided athletics to young people; in particular football. The NFL Youth Football Fund not only benefited the kids with adding a cheerleading program. But, it involved local parents; serving as coaches and referees. The football games provide a place to engage the rural public. For example, at the end of each game parents and volunteers would stick around to discuss community concerns. This program does more than just allow rural kids to play football. It brings rural communities closer together. In Harney County the same is happening with the sports programs, parents are really getting involved with this program by supporting it with funding out of the 7600 population they have managed to raise over 200,000` because they know that this is a positive experience for their children and dont want them  to become another teen substance abuser statistic.