Worcester County is acting on survey results

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is issued across the State of Maryland to students in grades 6-12, but the results are revealed up to a year later. All of the counties across Maryland can choose what they want to do with the results. The outcome of the 2013 survey is paving the way Worcester County will be taking on the upcoming school year.

Some of the questions on the survey asked to middle and high school students ranged from “Have you ever taken a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription?” to “Have you ever been bullied on school property? Some of the most concerning results of almost two thousand students in Worcester County Public Schools, revealed that they have been bullied, taken drugs or engaged in underage drinking.

Health officials tell 47ABC that according to the latest survey, more than 7% of seniors across Worcester County have used heroin, 23% of seniors admitted to using prescription drugs that have not been prescribed to them. Worcester County was above the state average for the usage of cigarettes, marijuana, chewing tobacco, and underage drinking amongst the students.

The Worcester County Health Department and Public Schools are taking action to help fight the problems as a collaborative Task Force. This Task Force is made up of 11 members from both the Public Health and the School System. They are working together to come up with solutions to help and educate children and to also provide information to the parents and the community.

Marty Pusey, The Director of the Prevention Center of Worcester County, told 47ABC about some of the actions the Health Departments has taken like increasing amount of enforcement funds available to local law enforcement to do compliance checks. These checks are done at stores that have alcohol available and monitor if the clerks are selling to the underage.

Marty tells 47ABC that from health department aspect, they proposed an education program for the kids that have been caught with drugs or alcohol.
The Health Department is “looking to expand health education programs in the schools” like offering required courses, says Marty.

The Task Force discussed several campaigns that would focus on some of the biggest issues revealed in the survey.

Another solution that the Task Force is looking to launch to the schools is a ‘40 developmental assets’ program. Some of those assets are Resistance Skills, Peaceful Conflict Resolution, and a Positive View of Personal Future.

Tamara Mills, the Coordinator Instructor of Health says “The more assets a student possess the more likely they are to make healthy and wise decisions with their lives.”

Both side of the Task Force agree that it’s important to fix the problem at an early age.Tamara also says “We are looking at prevention as opposed to being reactive, so that’s why we really want to gear towards the middle school.”

The Task Force has made a lot of progress and will be meeting again to come up with even more solutions for Worcester County.