Submitted Press Release
Fernandina Beach Police Department
James T. Hurley, Chief of Police
www.fbpd.us
January 11, 2015 3:011 p.m.
The Fernandina Beach Police Department works closely with the Nassau Alcohol, Crime and Drug Abatement Coalition (NACDAC) to reduce substance abuse among young people in our communities through a combination of education and enforcement strategies. It is important to have accurate and timely data from which to make effective decisions about trends and challenges facing our kids.
The 2014 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, recently published and available for review, provides a great deal of information for anyone interested in a comprehensive overview of related topics, to include the types of alcohol and drugs being used by youth in Nassau County, as well as a look at behavior relative to those substances. For example, “binge drinking” saw a significant reduction over previous years, as did alcohol use in general among middle and high school age youth. Similarly, synthetic drugs were used less than half as often as they were just two years ago.
Susan Woodford, Executive Director of NACDAC, said “we are excited about the reduction of 30 day alcohol use among middle and high school students and the healthy decisions our youth are making. Through our collaborative partnerships we hope to continue our efforts in providing the best prevention services for Nassau County.”
Of particular concern, slight increases were observed in the use of both prescription pain relievers and depressants. With all the mixed messages about medical and recreational marijuana that kids are receiving from television advertising and other sources, it is not surprising that marijuana use is also up slightly in Nassau County.
Data related to the use of various substances in combinations was also alarming, and often points to dangerous recreational practices, frequently leading to unexpected drug overdose or multi-toxicity deaths. Using illegal drugs, prescription narcotics or medications, and alcohol in combination should be considered extremely reckless personal behavior.
Demographic data provides a myriad of raw information that will help parents, educators, counselors, physicians and law enforcement stay ahead of substance abuse trends in our communities.
The community is invited to hear more about this important topic at the NACDAC Lunch and Learn Series on January 20th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Fernandina Beach Police Department Community Room. Because lunch is provided, please RSVP to Kerrie Albert at 904-994-2502 or [email protected].
Good job – each one of you who represent us on the streets. Each and every day. We are all in this together, and you are our civilized glue.