1999 Comprehensive Community Assessment

HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

March 9, 2000

 

SUMMARY OF GROUP DECISIONS

 

 

Definition of terms: Alcohol and Drugs will encompass use of all legal and illegal substances by youth, and all use of illegal substances and abuse of legal drugs by adults. The terms encompass both abuse issues and addictions. This study will focus on the development of plans for two groups: youth and the elderly. Youth is defined as under the age of 20 and elderly is over age 60.

 

Contributing Causes:

 

Ø      Biological - predisposition

Ø      Physiological

Ø      Social

Ø      Role modeling/community norms

Ø      Culture and attitude - law enforcement - media

Ø      Peer group pressures

Ø      Mental Health

Ø      Low self esteem

Ø      Learning disabilities

Ø      More likely to abuse

Ø      Family conflict/dysfunction

Ø      Lack of hope in the future - feeling of uselessness

Ø      Inability to receive treatment

Ø      Poverty/stress

Ø      Parental attitudes/drug use

Ø      Family breakdowns

Ø      Single parents

Ø      Behavioral problems

Ø      Boredom - lack of stimulation

Ø      Lack of healthy alternatives

Ø      Higher the age, the lower the risks

Ø      Athletics - performance enhancement drugs

Ø      Chronic pain - illness

 

 

Desired Outcomes:

 

Ø      Reduce the amount of alcohol and drug consumption by age groups - youth - adults - elderly

Ø      Reduction in dropout rates

Ø      Reduction in FAS (sp)

Ø      Reduction in children born with addition

Ø      Reduction in domestic problems

Ø      Access to health care for all children

Ø      Awareness of services

Ø      Reduce drug and alcohol arrests - fewer battery related charges

Ø      Reduction in emergency room problems and health care costs

Ø      Improvements in family functioning and parenting

Ø      Reduction in teen pregnancies

Ø      Improved work force - reduction in violence and accidents

Ø      Reduction in welfare roles - greater self-sufficiency and workers compensation claims

Ø      Fewer drug related crimes

 

 

Define focus group participants:

 

1. Parents of youth who have experienced past or present problems with alcohol/drug use (2 groups)
2. Parents of youth who have not experienced past or present problems with alcohol/drug use (2 groups)
3. Youth ages 15-20 who have experienced past or present problems with alcohol/drug use (2 groups)
4. Elderly who are experiencing current problem with alcohol/drug use (2 groups)

 

 

Subcommittee Participants:

 

Tom Stein, (Chairman), Fifth Third Bank

Barb Gaisser, Evansville Housing Authority

Barbara Michels, Youth First

Diana Simpson, Vand. Health Dept.

Dr. William Wooten, Mulberry Center

Faye Camp, Impact Health

Jaclyn Kloehn, Family & Children Services, Inc.

Ginny O’Connor, St. Mary’s Health Services

Marjorie Soyugenc, Welborn Foundation

Martha Thomas, Vand. Health Dept.

Michelle Reeve, Goodwill Family Ctr.

Mojgan Bailey, Mulberry Ctr.

Rosemary Knight, ECHO Health

Stacy Kaufmann, Deaconess Cross Pointe

Tim Suenram, ECHO

Trish DeVoy, Red Cross SWI

Vic Chamness, EVSC

William Swingle, Aroundtown Clowns