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Substance Abuse: A Bradley County Clear and Present Danger
A recent report released by the Associated Press (see below) highlighted that the drug problems in our high schools are getting
worse and that many parents are expressing doubts that our schools will ever be "drug free". Here in Bradley County we face
our own teen drug issues. A recent survey showed that 53.3% of all 11th graders believe that drugs are a problem in our schools.
While this is below the national average, it is no less an indicator that drugs are a clear and present danger to our youth.
So what are we doing locally to combat this clear and present danger? Many local agencies and organizations have developed
individual programs, activities, or efforts to hit this issue head on and many have been successful in winning the battles
against substance abuse. But what is truly needed to win the war is a collaborative effort with all partners working together
toward a shared vision of defeating substance abuse once and for all and nothing else. We must, as a community, move away
from the silo mentality of working individual programs and move toward a coordinated, systems change
mentality where all parts work together for the greater good; shared information, shared resources, and shared outcomes.
Are we doing that? Does Bradley County have a shared vision when it comes to fighting substance abuse? The GRAAB Coalition
has been cited often in both local and statewide media as a model example of partnership, collaboration, and coalitions in
the fight against substance abuse. But this is not the only effort of a group of like minded individuals and agencies cooperating
to accomplish this shared vision.
When it comes to substance abuse, the most recognized problem drug, particularly for youth, is alcohol. In the same survey
cited above, 70.2% of all 11th graders in Bradley County believe that underage drinking is a problem in our schools. A couple
of weeks ago I was introduced to a group of individuals representing several different agencies that have created a new coalition
to combat this very issue, underage drinking, here in Bradley County. The creative name of this group is AUDIO C. AUDIO
C is an acronym for Against Underage Drinking In Our Community.
The mission of AUDIO C is to help our youth avoid the trappings of underage drinking through peer support and substance abuse
education. This team includes representatives from Behavioral Research Institute [BRI], Bradley Initiative for Church and
Community [BICC], Bradley County Juvenile Drug Court, Mount Olive Youth Ministries, and Bradley County Juvenile Court; including
the advisory support of Juvenile Judge Daniel Swafford. The have developed a comprehensive strategic plan which includes
the direct involvement of youth. The belief of AUDIO C is that you cannot push an agenda on our youth without the support
of our youth. It must be a voluntary, cooperative effort between our community leaders and our youth. AUDIO C has embraced
the idea of working with our youth rather than working for our youth. This is a model we can all learn from.
Submitted by Matt Ryerson, EJD
Safe Schools Healthy Students
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