State Survey Shows More Martin County Youth are Choosing Not to Use Alcohol or Drugs

The 2012 results of the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey show a continued decrease in drug and alcohol usage among Martin County’s youth.  Specific highlights of the report include:

• 72.3% did not use alcohol in the past 30 days, compared to 56.3% in 200
• 87.3% did not participate in binge drinking, compared to 72.9% in 2000
• 93% did not use cigarettes in the past 30 days, compared to 75.9% in 2000
• 85.5% did not use marijuana in the past 30 days, compared to 74.9 in 2000

The Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey results are provided every two years to counties statewide to assist in tracking drug and alcohol use among middle and high school youth.  This is an anonymous and voluntary survey for students.  The most recent results reflect the survey administered in the spring of 2012.

In addition to the results listed above, the survey also indicates a reduced amount of bullying, including cyber bullying, among middle and high school youth.

“We’re very proud of these results.  When we received the first survey results in 2000 we knew we had a tremendous amount of work to do in our community.  It’s important that our youth understand that when they choose to not use alcohol or drugs that they are in the majority of their peers.  To simply say ‘everyone’s doing it’ is not true in Martin County,” said Robyn Vanover, Certified Prevention Specialist with the Martin County School District.

“These results are encouraging and we thank our community partners for the collaborative effort to raise awareness of these important issues, as well as implementing prevention programs in our community.  Our school district works closely with CHARACTER COUNTS! (a program of the United Way), Tykes and Teens Prevention Services, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Quit Doc Research and Education Foundation. We would also like to thank our parents, students, teachers and administrators for their commitment to prevention,” said Superintendent Laurie J. Gaylord.

Click Here to see the attached summary report outlining Martin County’s 2012 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey results.

Click Here to see the complete 2012 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey.

__________________________________________________________

Martin County Shared Services Network Kicks Off the Be the Influence Campaign at Veteran's Day Parade, Memorial Park Dedication Ceremony

The Martin County Shared Services Network introduced the organization's Be the Influence campaign to the local community during this year's Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Stuart.

Fifty members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin Countyproudly marched in the parade, wearing shirts and carrying signs promoting this new resource for the residents of Martin County... Read More

_____________________________________________________________

Martin County Board of County Commissioners Vote to Implement New Signage to Reduce Tobacco Litter
By Barry Hummel, Jr., MD, Quit Doc Research and Education Foundation

On July 26, 2011, the Martin County Board of County Commissionersvoted unanimously to implement a program to increase signage promoting existing local ordinances and a Florida Statutes designed to reduce litter in local parks and beaches. The new signs will focus attention on tobacco-related litter, which is a particular problem in Martin County... Read More