FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (MARCH 2, 2008)
Talbot County Blue Ribbon Commission Oversight Committee Presents 2007 Maryland Adolescent Survey (MAS) Data
The Talbot County Blue Ribbon Commission Oversight Committee recently presented the Maryland State Board of Education Maryland Adolescent Survey (MAS) results to the community. The survey asks public school students statewide every other year about their attitudes, knowledge and behavior concerning substance abuse. Overall, 90% of Talbot County 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students responded to the latest survey. Local adolescent use of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes—the first, second and third most abused substances – as well crack, other forms of cocaine, steroids, amphetamines and other drugs are reported.
While the 2004 MAS was a community wakeup call for Talbot County, the 2007 MAS data proves the continued need to act together as a community to protect our children. Compared to State numbers, Talbot County still has a big adolescent alcohol abuse problem, reporting that its 8th, 10th and 12th graders’ use of alcohol is at a rate 37%, 32%, and 42% higher than the state averages respectively. Talbot County 12th graders rank number one in the state for their abuse of alcohol and binge drink at a rate 67% higher than the state average, again ranking them number one among Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions. Talbot’s 8th graders binge drink at a rate 34% higher than the state average and its10th graders binge drink at a rate 56% higher than the state average.
Marijuana is the second most frequently abused substance by adolescents. Nearly 9 % of 8th graders, 11.4 % of 10th graders and 37.8 % of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the last 30 days. For 8th graders, these reported abuse rates are 30% higher than the state average, for 10th graders they are 34% higher than the state average, and for 12th graders they are 59% higher than the state average of 21%.
Cigarettes are the third most frequently abused substance by teenagers. Talbot County 8th graders smoked at a rate 107% higher than the statewide average. Talbot’s 10th graders smoked at a rate 157% higher than the state average, ranking them number one in the state for abuse of cigarettes. Talbot’s seniors smoked 72% higher than the state average.
Alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes are all considered “gateway drugs,” giving adolescents practice in the actions and attitudes needed for the use of other more harmful drugs. Furthermore, research indicates that these familiar substances cause measurable changes in, and in some cases, real and permanent damage to adolescent brains. Measured against the 23 remaining state jurisdictions, Talbot County public high school students use cocaine at the second or first highest rate in the state.
Hugh Dawkins, chairman of the BRC Oversight Committee who reported the data, advised that this is not just a youth problem. He stated that the community as a whole must take responsibility and begin to change the community norms that accept the abuse of these substances.
The Talbot County Blue Ribbon Commission, a 15-member panel representing a cross-section of the community and appointed by the Talbot County Council, met between 2006 and 2007 to review data on high local rates of substance abuse and to recommend a community-wide plan of action for reducing those rates. The Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report is available for download or by calling 410-819-8067.
Following the Blue Ribbon Commission Report, the Talbot County Council appointed nine citizens and two agency officials to the Blue Ribbon Commission Oversight Committee, which meets regularly to monitor implementation of strategies from the plan of action to address the growing substance abuse and addictions problem in Talbot County. For more information about the 2007 MAS Data, visit: www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/search and follow two links (using 2007 MAS as the search term in the first) to the 172 page pdf survey results booklet itself.
Talbot Partnership, which was founded in 1991 as a community coalition, encourages the community to recognize the problems and implement solutions related to alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse by implementing policies, promoting early intervention programs and building a community culture that favors drug-free youth.
Pictured is Hugh Dawkins, Chairman of the Talbot County Blue Ribbon Commission Oversight Committee, presenting the Maryland State Board of Education 2007 Maryland Adolescent Survey results to the community.
