Saving

Helping our youth put away drugs andalcohol

OurTeens

Written by: Yvette Berta, Ryan Allred, Eva Sommer Edited by: Bethany Walker

With substance abuse so apparent among today’s teenagers, it is our goal not only to educate the general public on the role in which they play, but also to invite them to action. It is our belief that most populations are not only willing to help where they can, but also that many desire to do so. However, we realize that often no action is taken simply because the course of action needed is unknown.

In hopes that we may lay forth vital solutions to today’s vast abuse of drugs and alcohol, this book has been created to bring awareness and hope of success. Not only does it pres-ent the problem and cause, but also several ways in which those in any community may become involved. When these suggestions are followed, as shown in many studies herein, success in limiting drug and alcohol abuse among teens is inevitable.

No matter what your role in a community may be, from parent to school teacher or prominent business man, your impact can be felt. The information obtained through this book will provide foundational knowledge needed to begin your impact in your community. As you become more aware of the ramifications of substance abuse and its’ causes, you will be better prepared to know what steps you can take to lessen its’ impact on many teenagers around you.

Sincerely,

Ryan AllredYvette BertaEva SommerBethany Walker

A call to action

i Saving Our Teens

All images used in this book are royalty free.

Table of ContentsAn Urgent Issue ...................... 1

Why it happens ....................... 3

Where are they gettingtheir alcohol? ........................... 4

Statistics .................................. 5

Dangers of Substance Abuse ....7

What happens to your brain if you keep using drugs? ............. 8

Costs associated with underage drinking .....................9

Option 1 ................................... 10

Option 2 & Option 3 ................ 11

Blank space for notes ... 12

Resources and otheruseful websites ............. 15

Bibliography ................ 16

Appendix ...................... 17

ii Saving Our Teens

Back cover pageWhen Brian graduated from High School there were many gradu-ation parties to attend. His parents set a curfew and Brian knew what his parents expected. He was not to drink alcohol and if he felt uncomfortable his parents would pick him up with no questions asked. Brian went to the first party. Jell-O wrestling and alcohol were the main events. Brian had a strict curfew, but when he tried to leave the chaperone parents would not let him. They said “We are serving alcohol, so no one goes home until tomorrow.” Brian said “I haven’t been drinking and I need to be home, or I will be grounded.” Reluctantly they allowed him to leave. When he shared the story with his parents they were upset that alcohol was being served. They felt like it was hard enough when kids were sneaking around, and now they had to worry about parents offering alcohol and drugs to their son. Unfortunately this happens more than parents want to believe. In 31 of the 50 states it is not illegal to serve alcohol to your own chil-dren, but it is illegal to serve it to anyone else.

One in five students has used marijuana one or more times during the previous 30 days. Two out of five students have had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the previous 30 days. One in five students has had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row. [1] Do you think this is a problem? We do too!

An U

rgent Issue

1 Saving Our Teens

Every time a teen takes a drink an adult is involved, whether it is a parent, a store clerk, or another legal-aged person getting alcohol for them. Underage drinking and drugs are problems we need to recog-nize, acknowledge, and work together to solve. Par-ents need to educate their children about the dangers of drinking and driving or even riding with those who do. The consequences of underage drinking and drunk driving are devastating. One-third of drivers ages 15-20 killed in crashes have been drinking. More than a quarter of teens killed in accidents be-cause of drunk drivers, the drivers had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit for adults. Parents should let teens know they will pick them up if their friends are drinking. [2]

In May 2011, 20-year old Kevin Coffay crashed his car and fled from the scene. He left his three friends dead or dying. He was too drunk to realize there were people in the car when he walked away from the accident. Coffay said the crash was a blur and when he came to, he felt overwhelming fear and ter-ror. Coffay received a 40-year sentence with all but 20 years suspended. His attorney had asked that he receive no more than 18 months. [3]

How do we prevent accidents like Kevin Coffay’s from happening?

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Back cover page

In the United States 72% of High School students have consumed alcohol by their se-nior year and 37% by the 8th grade. 26.4% of kids aged 12-20 have consumed alcohol in the last thirty days, even though the legal drinking age is 21 in all of the states in the United States. 17.4% of those kids have been binge drinking in the last thirty days.

According to NIAAA Underage alcohol and drug abuse hap- pens for a variety of reasons. They include :

1. Low Socioeconomic Status2. Parents with lower education3. Family disruption and conflict4. Parental permissiveness and lack of rules about alcohol use5. Weak family bonds6. Low parental supervision7. Family history of abuse8. Peer abuse9. Perceived peer and adult approval of alcohol use.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-1/5-14.htm

To create a way to prevent alcohol use we need to learn the reason it happens in the first place. The more teens and their parents are aware of statistics and causes such as depression or weak family bonds, the better they are able to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. School or community-run classes can be set up as educational tools as well as public service announcements and commercials which help a community become more educated to the problem and possible solutions.

On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking session than adult drinkers. [4] In 2008, there were approxi-mately 190,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol. Young adults who consume alcohol before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely to become depen-dent on alcohol later in life.

Why it happens?

If it’s against the law for the kids to drink where are they getting their alcohol from? 30.8% bought it themselves, 22.3% gave money to someone else to purchase it and 37.4% received alcohol from someone of legal drinking age.

If these statistics were not enough 21.1% re-ceived alcohol from a parent, guardian or family member.

Why do kids drink and experiment with drugs when they know that they are breaking the law and harm is caused?

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Back cover page

If it’s against the law for the kids to drink where are they getting their alcohol from? 30.8% bought it themselves, 22.3% gave money to someone else to purchase it and 37.4% received alcohol from someone of legal drinking age.

If these statistics were not enough 21.1% re-ceived alcohol from a parent, guardian or family member.

Why do kids drink and experiment with drugs when they know that they are breaking the law and harm is caused?

Where are they getting their alcohol?

Much of the research that has been done suggest that some people have inherited genes that make them more susceptible to alcohol and drug abuse. The rates for whites and American Indians are higher than other cultural groups. More boys than girls are apt to try alcohol. The higher the teenager’s weekly income the more likely he or she will buy alcohol from a bar, restaurant or store. Teens seek out more risky behaviors, because they are still unable to weigh consequences and risks in their decision mak-ing process.

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Back cover page

• Nearly 10.8 million youth are underage drinkers.

• 72.5% of students had had at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during their life and 41.8% of students had had at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.

• 4.5% of students had drunk at least one drink of alcohol on school property on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.

• 24.2% of students had had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row (i.e., within a couple of hours) on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.

• 36.8% of students had used marijuana one or more times during their life.

• 20.8% of students had used marijuana one or more times during the 30 days before the survey.

• 2.8% of students had used any form of cocaine (e.g., powder, crack, or freebase) one or more times dur-ing the 30 days before the survey.

• 11.7% of students had ever sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high one or more times during their life.

• 4.1% of students had used methamphetamines (also called “speed”, “crystal”, “crank”, or “ice”) one or more times during their life. • 3.3% of students had taken steroid pills or shots without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their life.

• Up to 50% of children have at least tried alcohol before the age of thirteen. [7]

An online study found that teens watching movies with alcohol were twice as likely to start drinking. A high percentage of teens progress to binge drinking especially if their peers do. Movie exposure to alcohol is ranked the third-biggest risk for drinking. [5]

Statistics

Percentage of Students Who Smoked Cigarettes; Used Chewing Tobacco, Snuff, or Dip; or Had at Least One Drink of Alcohol on at Least one Day During the 30 Days Before the Survey, By Sex *

*Differences between males and females are statistically significant based on t-test

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Back cover pageIf alcohol was not enough, illicit drug use is on the rise. Drugs such as anabolic steroids, hallucino-gens, inhalants, marijuana (cannabis), methamphetamine, opiates, prescription drugs and tobacco are all known drugs types with different side effects and stimulants.

* Data for this chart and graph was gathered from U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/du.htm

More than half of the youth ages 12 to 17 said that it was easy to obtain marijuana if they wanted it. 1 in 4 youths agreed that a lot of drug use went on in their neighbor-hoods. 42% of the youth reported that their friends used marijuana. 28% reported that a few or a lot of adults they knew used mari-juana. Youth who reported that they knew of adults who used marijuana were 9 times more likely to use marijuana. Amphetamine drug use has increased over the last 20 years.

The statistics for drug abuse are not quite as high as alcohol. For kids ages 12 to 17, 2.1 million have used some form of inhalants, in the last 30 days, such as glue, shoe polish and toluene. Among youths who were heavy drinkers 65.5 % were also illicit drug users. 11.3% of children had tried marijuana before the age of 13. 47.2% have used marijuana in their lifetime. 26.7% had used marijuana at least once in the last 30 days. 30.2% have been offered drugs on school property in the last 12 months and 9.5% have used cocaine/crack in the last 30 days.

Back cover pageThe dangers of substance abuse are extremely vast and dangerous especially to youth. Studies done by the University of North Carolina demonstrate some of the major ramifi-cations of drug and alcohol abuse. Among other things listed, abuse was shown to cause weight gain, depression, high blood pressure, liver disease, and 2-4% of all cancers. http://www.med.unc.edu/alcohol/prevention/health.html

Dangers of substance abuse

Further studies done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse report addiction to drugs as a brain disease. It was evidenced that continual use of drugs rewires the brain to the point where it literally needs them to survive. Addiction not only affects one’s health but also their abil-ity to think and contribute to society. Often it is assumed that these negative affects only come with continual use but this particular study showed that some may come as the result of just one use. http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/medical-consequences-drug-abuse

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The brain reduces the number of receptors that can receive signals when drugs are used. The impact on the brain is that eventually the abuser feels flat, lifeless, and depressed, and is not able to get pleasure out of things previously enjoyed. Abusers then need to take drugs to bring func-tion up to normal and need larger amounts of the drug to get a high. [8]

What happens to your brain if you keep taking

drugs?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains the effects of the brain on drugs, “glutamate is [a] neurotransmitter that influ-ences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate for this change, which can cause impairment in cognitive function. Similarly, long-term drug abuse can trigger adaptations in habit or noncon-scious memory systems.” [9]

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When young adults drink it not only affects families it affects the community as a whole. It places a financial burden on our welfare system, health care, and court system. It contributes to crime, violence and sexual promiscuity. Reducing underage drinking will require community-based efforts to monitor the activities of youth and decrease youth access to alcohol. In recent publications by the Surgeon Gen-eral and the Institute of Medicine they outlined many prevention strategies that will require actions on the national, state, and local levels. They want more enforcement of minimum legal drinking age laws, national media campaigns targeting youth and adults, increasing alcohol excise taxes, reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising, and development of comprehensive community-based programs.

Costs associated with underage drinking

Problem

Youth Violence

Youth Traffic Crashes

High-Risk Sex, Ages 14-20

Youth Property Crime

Youth Injury

Poisonings and Psychoses

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among Mothers Age 15-20

Youth Alcohol Treatment

Total

This translates to a cost of $2,070 per year for each youth in the State or $3.17 per drink consumed underage Underage drinking cost the citizens of the United States $62.0 billion in 2010

*http://www.udetc.org/UnderageDrinkingCosts.asp

Total Costs (in millions)

$35,094.5

$9,955.9

$5,184.0

$5,138.5

$2,133.3

$657.0

$1,307.2

$2,574.9

$62,045.2

Costs of Underage Drinking by ProblemUnited States, 2010

9 Saving Our Teens

Back cover page FUN FACT!

Teens who have more than three dinners with their family a week are less likely to use drugs. So Bon Appetit!Research has shown that children who

think adults are more tolerant to use of alcohol and drugs are more likely to use them. Regulations need to be set so that youth know drug and alcohol abuse is unacceptable.

Successful policy interventions ex-plored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism may include:

ALCOHOL TAxESIt is evident through recent studies that an increase in beer prices leads to a reduction in the levels and frequency of alcohol assumption in youth.

ZERO-TOLERANCE LAWS The National Highway System Act allows for incentives to be provided to any states who adopt the “zero-tol-erance laws” which put the maximum blood alcohol concentration limit at .02 percent or lower for drivers under 21.

PrOJeCT STAr“Project STAr--involving schools, mass media, parents, community orga-nizations, and health policy components in two sites in the Midwest--attempts to delay the onset and decrease the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use among students beginning in sixth grade. Project STAr teaches skills to resist alcohol use and educates students about the actual, as opposed to the perceived, prevalence of alcohol use among their peers.” http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa34.htm

Option 1

Drawbacks to this option

Increased laws on substance abuse have almost always proven to be suc-cessful; however, skeptics argue that they would only increase the amount of illegal trading that already exists. They fail to recognize that the only real time that this occurred was with the complete prohibition of alcohol in the early 1900’s. While it is true that complete prohibition may not be wise, every state that has increased laws has seen a reduction in abuse especially among teens. Where most of a child’s view on drugs comes from their per-ceived perception of the adults view, these laws discourage teens from even a desire to try drugs or alcohol.

Also, Getting laws and regulations passed can be a grueling and drawn-out process. Agencies would need to be consistent and monitor the regula-tions.

Increased Laws

10 Saving Our Teens

Back cover page

In Glasgow, teachers and parents recognized that not all teens are interested in football or other sports. They met with a housing association who gave them free use of a build-ing one night a week. They arranged for an artist to decorate the café. Teens can play pool, drink soda, listen to music, and dance. [10]

Option 2

Fun night

Drawbacks to this option

Providing a building for teens to meet in is an insurance and risk man-agement conflict. The business providing the building would have to be willing to pay the insurance for the building in case the build-ing is damaged. Someone would also need to be willing to pay for risk management issues. If teens are hurt on or near the premises and sued, who would pay for the lawsuit?

This community group would meet with com-munity leaders, local law enforcement, teachers, parents and students. There would be ongoing training where parents would learn about the signs of drug and alcohol abuse, they would be given information on the latest drugs to hit the market. Because parents would be forced to meet, it would open the lines of communication. One of the best defenses for a parent is to know where the next party is and if a parent is going to be home or not. If you were to ask a high school teacher that is actively involved in the School, they would tell you which student had the last party. The rumor mill around a high school can be a wealth of information.

Programs

Drawbacks to this optionChildren would feel that their civil rights were being violated. The communication from teacher to student may be inhibited if they knew the teacher was going to rat them out to their parents or the police. This could cause the kids who are part of the community group to become alienated by their peers.

Because teen drug use goes hand in hand with alcohol consumption it is important that parents realize the dangers of alcohol and illicit drug use. Implement a community group similar to the D.A.R.E program for parents or guardians of adolescents and teens. The DARE program offers drug resistance training, and targets critical age groups of. They training start in elementary school and continue throughout high school.

Option 3

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Organizations:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – http://www.drugabuse.gov/

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) – http://www.dare.com/home/default.asp

Addition recovery Program (ArP) through the provident living section on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,6629-1-3414-1,00.html

Enforce Underage Drinking Law (EUDL) – http://www.dontserveteens.gov/enforce.html

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) – http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm

Pacific Institute for research and evaluation (PIre) – http://www.pire.org/topiclist2.asp?cms=50

Additional Websites:

Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center – www.udetc.orgBe the Parents – www.betheparents.orgPrevention Idaho – www.preventionidaho.net

Resources

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ResourcesNotesPlease use this space to take notes during your community forums.

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NotesPlease use this space to take notes during your community forums.

14 Saving Our Teens

Works Cited 1 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion. Adolescent and School Health. Atlanta: Georgia, 2011. Print. <http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm>.

2 McLean, Kurt. "Don't drink and drive - or even ride." Regional Edition. The Washington Post, 10 Jan 2012. Web. 6 Mar 2012. <http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/>.

3 Flaherty, Mary Pat. "Driver who fled fatal Olney crash gets 20-year sentence." Washington Post [Washington D.C.] 5 Jan 2012, n. pag. Print. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/driver-who-fled-fatal-olney-crash-gets-20-year-sentence/2012/01/05/gIQA8NFndP_story.html>.

4 Cogdon, Kamahl. "Teens seduced by booze on the big screen." 1 - First Edition. Herald Sun (Australia), 5 Mar 2012. Web. 6 Mar 2012. <http://www.lexisnexis.com.adam2.byui.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/>.

5 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey Overview. Print. <www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_overview_yrbs.pdf>.

6 National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institutes of Health. Drugs, Brains, and Be-havior: The Science of Addiction. 2010. Print. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain>.

7 National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institutes of Health. Drugs, Brains, and Be-havior: The Science of Addiction. 2010. Print. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain>.

8 Nicoll, Vivienne. "HS - News." New kids cafe to keep them entertained. Evening Times (Glasgow), 6 Mar 2012. Web. 6 Mar 2012. <http://www.lexisnexis.com.adam2.byui.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/?http://www.lexisnexis.com.adam2.byui.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/>.

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"CDC - Fact Sheets-Binge Drinking - Alcohol." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 17 Dec. 2010. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm>. "Drug Use." Department of Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/du.htm>.

"NIAAA Newsletter." Department of Health and Human Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. <pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Newsletter/winter2004/Newsletter_Number3.pdf>. "NIDA for Teens: Mind Over Matter - Mind Over Matter Home." NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/index.php>. "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility." The National Academies Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10729>. "Sacramental wine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free en-cyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramental_wine>. "Statistics of Teenage Drug Abuse." Adolescent Substance Abuse. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <www.adolescent-substance-abuse.com/statistics-drug- abuse.html>. "Surgeon Generalâs Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking | SurgeonGeneral.gov." Surgeon General | SurgeonGeneral.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/>. "Underage Drinking Costs." Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.udetc.org/UnderageDrink

Bibliography

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17 Saving Our Teens

Appendix

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My name is ryan J Allred; I am currently studying speech and religious education at Brigham Young University-Idaho. After this semester I will have completed my associ-ates’ degree and by fall I will begin my bachelors at Utah State University. I look forward to teaching religion to high school age students which is part of the reason drug and alcohol abuse among teens is important to me. I come from the small town of Rexburg, Idaho and a family of nine. My hobbies in life include mostly soccer, guitar, and public speaker. Other than that, I feel the need to try my hand at just about everything. I am one who often feels more comfortable among those I do not know than those I do. As a team we decided to research solutions to drug and alcohol abuse because it is an is-sue that is obviously relevant in this world, yet there is plenty of room for improvements through our involvement. As team writer number three I was able to enhance my knowledge of the specific ramifications of substance abuse. However, it was learning of the effects of possible solutions that I enjoyed the most. The more I studied, the more apparent the levels of success were among those who spent the time to get involved. Perhaps the most benefi-cial part of my studies was learning how much each individual can contribute to limiting substance abuse.The majority of my research consisted of reading government research articles allowing me to learn of different government based tests on abuse. I also had the opportunity to inter-view a local school teacher to see what effects the abuse is taking on the teenagers learning abilities and what efforts are already in place to limit abuse. I was surprised in some areas as I learned, such as learning how much success programs such as D.A.R.E. have exhibited. At the same time, there were a lot of things that I learned that were less surprising, such as the extent of drug and alcohol abuse even among those in junior high school.

Appendix for Writer 3:1- What are the ramifications of alcohol and drug abuse?2- What are the effects of efforts to limit abuse?3- Solution – Increased awareness through school education.4- Statistics and evidence of success rates5- Additional websites and statistics

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My name is Yvette Berta; I live in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. r. I am 45 years old and have been married for 24 years. I am the mother of 4 children and I have a new granddaughter. I have lived on the East Coast for the last 25 years. I graduated from Ricks College in 1990 where I earned my associates degree. I have been using the pathways program to finish up my degree. I am substituting teacher, coach soccer, basketball and I also give piano lessons. I work with a lot of children, and understand a lot of the pressures that the face. I am currently the achievement day leader in our ward and CTR 10 and 11 year old teacher.I have lived in the mission field for the last 24 years. My two older children were the only members in their High School. They were exposed to a lot of different values and it has been an eye opening experience realizing how much of a minority we are. I have seen the effects of drug and alcohol abuse first hand. Many of my kid’s classmates have been arrested for underage drinking, and driving. I have also seen a good friend of mine overcome the addiction from pain killers. My grandfather was an alcoholic and died from the affects of alcohol and tobacco. I had always thought the DARE program was a good start in helping combat the problem. It is a huge problem for many communities. The amount of money it costs when we our children use drugs and alcohol. This problem does not just affect a family, it affects a whole commu-nity. It was interesting to hear the perspective from a DAre officer from a local police station. I thought marijuana (Cannabis) would have been the drug of choice, especially with push to have it legalized. It was surprising that prescription drugs abuse was so prevalent. The other side was how young children were beginning to experiment with drugs and alcohol. When the officer told me that he had arrested a 12 year olds it surprised me. Most 12 year olds I know are either in 5th and 6th grade that means that the problem affects our elementary schools. I was a big believer in the DAre program before I started this project, but I realize know how much the program falls short in adequately preparing our teens. I also learned that some kids are more prone to become dependent on drugs and alcohol. This was one of those things I think I already knew. I had seen some kids struggle while others were just able to walk away from drugs and alcohol. We as a community need to make a conscious effort to work with the kids, give those good role models, activities to take the place of drugs and alcohol and warn parents of the dan-gers of letting their kids drink alcohol.

I am writer #1I. What we need to know about underage alcohol abuse?II. Where they get their Alcohol FromIII. Costs Associated with underage drinking?IV. Drug Abuse StatisticsV. Because drug abuse and underage alcohol consumption go hand and handOption 1 Fines for parents who host partiesOption 2 Community Group such as DARE for parentOption 3 Parents held criminally liable for offering drugs or alcohol to their children.

Appendix

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Appendix

Eva Sommer works for the Dean of the College of Business and Communication at BYU-Idaho. She has been pursuing her education at BYU-Idaho and will graduate with her bachelor’s degree April 2012. Her major is in University Studies with a minor in Communication and clusters in Business and Home and Fam-ily education. Previous to working at BYU-Idaho, she worked at Questar Corporation, equipment Distribu-tors, and the LDS Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the Spring of 2000, she received the BYU-Idaho Exemplary Service Award.

The team of Saving Our Teens picked the issue to research social problems and specifically youth problems of drugs and alcohol. The team goal is to educate the public and give information and encouragement to members of the community to get involved. Sommer contributed to this issue book with research on the ef-fects of drugs on the brain; the dangers of drinking and driving as well as even riding with those who do.

The purpose of this issue book is to bring this tragic problem to the attention of all communities. We hope parents and communities will work together to come up with solutions for each individual area. Even though statistics are reducing, the risk to our youth is still unacceptably high.

As I researched this topic, I realize I have been too passive. People get caught up in their busy lives every day and forget what’s really crucial—our youth and future leaders. At first, I thought because statistics were declining we didn’t need to address the issue. Then interviewing experts in the area I changed my mind. One in five students has used marijuana one or more times during the 30 days. Two in five students have had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days. One in five students has had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row. These statistics are unacceptable! We need to educate our youth, our families, and our communities.

Our thanks to the following for their assistance in this research:Steven Stokes, faculty member in the BYU-Idaho Department of Sociology and Social Work,Darin Burrell, Chief Probation Officer of Fremont County Juvenile Probation, andNancy Lopez. Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) grant program coordinator at Prevention Home

Appendix for Writer 2:1. What happens to your brain if you keep taking drugs2. Underage Drinking;3. Approach One (or Option One)4. Approach Two (or Option Two)5. Statistics6. Organizations7. Additional Websites

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Appendix

My name is Bethany Walker. I am currently a student at Brigham Young University- Idaho and am working on a degree in Psychology with an emphasis on adolescent studies. I will graduate in December 2012. I got married in July of 2006 and now have two children. A son and a daughter who are ages 3 years and 8 months old respectively. I enjoy arts and crafts, playing the piano, and I love graphic design. My career goal is to eventually be a guidance counselor in the middle school or high school setting. So naturally I am especially interested in issues of today’s adolescents. I know drugs and alcohol are one of teenagers’ greatest problems today, so it is important to know how to help them in this aspect. My contribution to this issue book was not only involving in the editorial work, de-sign, and layout of the book, but also to help teammates stay on schedule with deadlines and to give feedback and critique on their work. I was also able to give my teammates additional information and help with their research.

As I read and pondered my teammates’ research findings, I was able to realize that the scope of the problem is wider than I had originally thought. Not only is there a broader selection of drug choices, but the age of using drugs and alcohol are becoming younger. As the editor it is my burden to make sure to compile the book in such a way that I spark delib-eration in your community forum. I hope my persuasion skills will be able help your youth in the way your community individually works. I hope you by reading this, I and the rest of my team have helped made an impact.