Alcohol and drug use among Westbrook teens is above the state average, and more Westbrook teens are smoking than two years ago, according to a state survey.
The just-released Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey puts Westbrook at a level significantly above the state average in a number of categories, particularly in marijuana use.
“The marijuana use is alarming, and so is the kids coming to school either drunk or high,” said Sandy Hale, Westbrook schools health coordinator.
The survey questionnaire, created for the state by Market Decisions of Portland, was distributed to sixth- through 12th-graders during the 2005-06 school year. Students completed the survey anonymously.
The results indicate marijuana use among Westbrook teens is almost a third higher than the state average, and twice the state average for this year’s 11th graders. About a third of Westbrook High School students reported using marijuana within the last 30 days.
For alcohol use, results show Westbrook is slightly above the state average, and for cigarettes, the results are just hair over the average, but up significantly from two years ago. More than 40 percent of high school students reported drinking alcohol within the last 30 days. Also up significantly from two years ago, when the state last conducted the survey, are binge drinking and the number of teens coming to school under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes remain the local drugs of choice. In the survey, more Westbrook teens reported using prescription drugs than the state average, but fewer reported using inhalants or stimulants. According to Hale, even statistics below the state average are not good enough because Maine historically has higher drug and alcohol use than the national average.
“These statistics are much too high and not acceptable,” said Bruce Dyer, Westbrook High School substance abuse counselor. He said the problem is a community one, and a reflection of the dynamics of Westbrook and communities in Maine.
“Obviously, we have a lot of work to do to digest the information in the survey,” said Colleen Hilton, chairmwoman of the Westbrook School Committee. “Clearly, it’s a community-based issue and it needs lots of strategies to address it, first and foremost from parents, guardians and family, as well as police and schools.”
A telling statistic, according to Hale, is a part of the survey that asked kids if they had committed certain prohibited behaviors in the last year. Westbrook High School students admitted to being drunk or high at school, getting suspended from school, selling illegal drugs or being arrested, all at a significantly higher percentage than the state average.
At the same time, fewer Westbrook High School students said they participated in activities such as school clubs or organizations, did extra work for school or volunteered for community service than the state average.
Hale said she would like to see the community create more opportunities for kids to participate in what are considered pro-social behaviors such as sports, clubs or community service.
“They feel like there’s nothing else to do in Westbrook but drink,” said Trina Couture, Wescott Junior High PTO president.
Maggie Hurd, who has one son in junior high school and one in high school, said she thinks the community as a whole needs to be more aware of these statistics.
“I think that we need to be more in-your-face when it comes to statistics,” said Hurd. “These kids are smart. The more we bring it up, the better it is.”
The results of the survey come on the heels of a recent incident where at least 10 Westbrook student athletes were punished for violating the school’s code of conduct. The school committee is now looking into softening the punishments for violating the code.
Hurd said she’s proud of the Westbrook school department for punishing the athletes who violated the code.
“The group of kids that were suspended were warned beforehand,” she said. “If I had known about the party, I would have called.”
The party in question was an incident that led to athletes being suspended either for two weeks or for a calendar year from their sports. At the moment, Westbrook has 22 students serving suspensions for violating the code of conduct.
Hurd is a vocal advocate in the Westbrook Community Prevention Coalition, which was formed in the spring to curb underage drinking in the community. The coalition is made up of educators, law enforcement officials and parents. The group met a couple times in the spring and early summer, and plans to meet again Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m., at the Westbrook Public Safety Building conference room. Residents are encouraged to attend. The coalition plans to meet the third Thursday of every month at the same time and location.
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