Another story about underage drinking in Seattle parks

Earlier this week, I blogged about underage drinking in the Arboretum.  The Prevention WINS coalition recently completed a video about underage drinking at Golden Gardens and Magnuson Park.  Yesterday, KING 5 broadcast a story about youth drug use and underage drinking in a West Seattle park.

City Council requests regulation of medical marijuana market

On Monday, the Seattle City Council sent a letter to Governor Inslee, Senator Kohl-Welles, and Representative Goodman regarding "cannabis regulation and successful implementation of Initiative 502".  Here are a few excepts:

"Regulations for cannabis for general adult use will soon be in place through the implementation of Initiative 502, but the production and distribution of medical cannabis continues to operate in, at best, a gray market.  Medical cannabis dispensaries have proliferated across Seattle.  While many of their clients live with conditions ameliorated by medical cannabis, the vast majority do not and would be better served through the access made possible by Initiative 502.  If relatively easy access to medical cannabis continues, the goals and potential of Initiative 502 will be undermined."  

"We believe it is in the best interests of Seattle and the state to coordinate and improve regulation of the entire cannabis market, medical and recreational.  This could mean combining the general adult cannabis market and the medical cannabis market into a single, regulated system." 

". . . We also ask that you ensure there are sufficient resources available for local law enforcement to curtail activities outside the regulatory environment."  

Underage drinking in Seattle parks

Last week, the Garfield High School principal sent a message to parents that started like this:

Do you know where your son or daughter is at tonight? I spent the afternoon with Officer Radford and many other officers walking through the Arboretum. One hundred or more Garfield students were participating in hazing incidents, drinking hard alcohol and beer.

Underage drinking in our city's parks is not unique to the Arboretum and Garfield High School.  As the video posted to the Prevention WINS website homepage illustrates, it is not unusual for large numbers of north end high school students to congregate at Golden Gardens and Magnuson Park and drink.

Since this incident is gaining quite a bit of media attention, I hope our community can emerge from it with a few lessons learned.  One of them being that underage drinking is preventable.

Parents have a role to play
In his message to parents, the Garfield High School principal asks: As I email you tonight I asked the question do you know where your son or daughter is at? I ask that question because I want you to know that we all have a responsibility to keep our kids safe.  

Knowing where your child is and with whom is one important step parents can take to prevent underage drinking.  Setting consequences for not telling the truth about where they are is essential.  Following up on consequences if rules are broken is equally important.

Community members have a role to play
When teens are drinking in pubic places, they are bound to be seen by adults.  Community members should call 9-1-1 and report underage drinking and marijuana use.  Adults shouldn't attempt to break up large teen gatherings where drinking and drug use is taking place, but calling police is important for breaking up parties and preventing future parties.

Local institutions have a role to play
Seattle Police can break up underage drinking parties in parks.  Seattle policy makers and leaders can support police efforts by allocating funding for emphasis patrols in parks Friday and Saturday evenings.  The juvenile justice system can make sure minors who are referred to them for minor in possession violations go to alcohol education or are referred to substance abuse treatment, if needed.

These are just a few examples of what can be done to prevent teen drug use.  Underage drinking and drug use is a community problem and every community member has a role to play.

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

In 2011, President Obama issued the first-ever Presidential Proclamation designating October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. The tradition will continue in 2013, as parents, youth, schools, businesses, and community leaders across the country join in this month long observance of the role that substance abuse prevention plays in promoting safe and healthy communities.

Recognizing that everyone has a role to play, the Substance Abuse Prevention Month website includes ideas for ways that community members, including youth, parents, and businesses, can promote substance abuse prevention.   

Parents and organizations that work with parents are encouraged to visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse's new online toolkit for parents. The online resource, Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse, uses videos and information to highlight parenting skills that are important in preventing the initiation and progression of drug use among youth.

Enforcement of laws part of a comprehensive drug prevention strategy

Today’s Seattle Times article, “Downtown street offenses going unpunished”, reflects what Prevention WINS members have been struggling with since 2007.  While the article focuses on downtown crime, a similar situation exists in NE Seattle when it comes to the enforcement of underage drinking and marijuana use laws. 

The Times’ articles starts:

Tova Hornung was walking past Westlake Park downtown this summer when she saw a large group of young people with pit bulls and skateboards, smoking pot. One young man started swinging his skateboard as she passed, threatening another when he wouldn’t share his dope.

Hornung, who lives in Seattle, approached a group of bicycle police officers nearby and asked, “Why aren’t you doing anything? Isn’t there a law?”

“No,” she said she was told by the officers. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Underage marijuana use is illegal.  Smoking pot in public is also illegal.  At the very least, warnings could have been given, in line with stated police policy.  (Police are to give people who use pot in view of the public a warning first and, if the warning is not heeded, tickets are to be given.)  But, then again, marijuana remains the lowest priority for police enforcement in Seattle. 

Enforcement of minor in possession laws

In 2007, Prevention WINS surveyed North Precinct police about underage drinking and law enforcement.  The survey results indicated that while police think underage drinking is a problem in NE Seattle, they felt that “top law enforcement officials” were not very supportive of the enforcement of underage alcohol violations.  They cited the apparent lack of consequences and follow-up to their efforts as a primary reason for not enforcing underage drinking laws more vigorously.* 

In the Times’ article, Mayor McGinn seems to support the police point of view:

“I think what has been going on, quite bluntly, our officers are not going to write tickets if there’s no ultimate consequence for writing the ticket. That’s just not a good use of their time,” McGinn said when asked what direction he gives police about law enforcement downtown.

Community laws & norms favorable to drug use

In August, I blogged about the significant increase in the adolescent substance abuse risk factor “community laws and norms favorable toward drug use”.  One of the main components of that risk factor is the non-enforcement of laws.  It turns out that this may not be unique to NE Seattle.  

A multi-faceted prevention strategy is most effective

In the Times' article, the Mayor notes that previous "enforcement-only" approaches have not worked.  Youth substance abuse prevention advocates know this well.  Multiple solutions that are implemented at the same time are the most effective way to prevent a community problem. Every community member has a role to play.

In NE Seattle, Prevention WINS coalition members and associated organizations are doing multiple things to prevent underage drinking and marijuana use.  Evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for students and parents are implemented at Eckstein Middle School.  Middle and high school students conduct prevention activities in their schools.  A social marketing campaign urging parents to monitor their teenage children started two years ago.  But as community laws and norms become more favorable toward drug use, community institutions such as Seattle Police, City Council, Mayor, and City Attorney need to step up to the plate and play their role, as well. 

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* Please note that when police cite underage consumers with minor in possession violations, kids are not put in jail.  In Seattle they are not even brought to the police precinct.  Minor in possession cases are referred to a county diversion program.  No criminal record is established.  In fact, the criminal justice system is one important way that youth who need help with drug problems are linked to the help they need.

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Update: According to an October 4 Seattle Times article, minors using and dealing marijuana at Westlake Park is an ongoing problem.

In an August letter sent to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and members of the Seattle City Council, William Mackay — a resident of the Seaboard Building and president of Friends of Westlake — urged officials to permanently assign police officers to Westlake Park, citing the alleged attack on the security guard. According to his letter, a gang of 20 to 30 young people have taken over the southern section of the park, where they remain all day with their dogs and possessions, selling and smoking marijuana.

Minors make up 24% of the current marijuana market

The average marijuana user consumes about 123 joints per year, according to an article in today's Seattle Times.  While the article discusses consumption data which the Liquor Control Board is using to determine what the new commercial marijuana market will look like, it does not provide a complete picture of who is currently using marijuana.

According to the Liquor Control Board, 24% of current marijuana users are under the age of 21.

For those 24%, the law that concerns them is not changing and they likely will continue to get marijuana the way they currently get marijuana: socially.  Virtually none of the proposed Liquor Control Board rules address preventing social distribution to minors.  Rules and already established laws that do address social distribution continue to rely on local police for enforcement.  In Seattle, current police policy is to not enforce marijuana laws.


The Seattle Times' article also touches on the issue of concentrated marijuana products, that was blogged about yesterday.

But the state recognizes that the joint is losing popularity, particularly with younger stoners. A panel discussion at the Drug Policy Alliance’s upcoming biennial conference is even titled: “Is the joint obsolete?”

Edibles, topicals and concentrates, such as hash oil, have become so popular that the state figures the market for those products will be as large as the more traditional buds and flowers combusted in joints and pipes.

Seattle Councilmember: Marijuana policy to create "massive social change"

Marijuana stores in Seattle were discussed at the very beginning of the September 17 edition of the Seattle Channel's City Inside/Out: Council Edition.

Councilmember Nick Licata said that the Council likely will vote on the proposed marijuana zoning and land use ordinance on October 7.  The vote was delayed several times because they wanted to ensure that Seattle laws would work in concert with the Liquor Control Board's rules for marijuana businesses.  When asked if he was concerned about the possibility of a concentration of marijuana businesses being located in the industrial SoDo area, Councilmember Licata said that he expects businesses to be located throughout the City.  Multiple places throughout the City will be available for marijuana business development.

When Councilmember Tim Burgess was asked about medical marijuana businesses, he stated that the medical system cannot co-exist with the new recreational marijuana system.  He noted that with the establishment of a legal commercial marijuana system we are on the verge of "massive social change".

Substance abuse prevention is suicide prevention

Earlier this year, I blogged about how preventing youth substance abuse is also about preventing academic failure.  We can say the same for preventing suicide.  Here are excerpts from a recent White House blog post:

When we prevent or successfully treat substance abuse, we prevent suicides.

. . . In 2010, U.S. emergency departments treated 202,000 suicide attempts in which prescription drugs were used as the means, 33,000 of which were narcotic pain relievers

. . . Many of the factors that increase the risk for substance abuse . . . also increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and substance abuse, like mental health problems, is linked with a several-fold increase in suicide risk.

. . . There is hope, however: Prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible. Life skills that support effective problem-solving and emotional regulation, connections with positive friends and family members, and social support can protect individuals from both substance abuse and suicide.

In September 2012, a newly revised National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) was released by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the Office of the Surgeon General.  . . . The connection between suicide prevention and the prevention and treatment of substance abuse is either implicit or explicit in each of the 13 goals of the NSSP, as it should be.  Recognizing this, the NSSP calls for several actions, including: 

• Work with individuals, families and other social groups, and communities to reduce access to drugs, especially access to lethal quantities of drugs among individuals at increased risk for suicide.  This includes reducing stocks of medications kept in the home, locking up commonly abused medications, and encouraging the proper disposal of unused and unneeded prescription drugs . . .

 Let us commit to stronger collaboration between substance abuse and suicide prevention efforts at all levels: community, state, tribal, and national. And let’s take action. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.

Learn about plans for marijuana tax revenue

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is hosting a series of Community Forums regarding implementing the legislative mandate for Initiative 502.

DBHR, along with other state agencies, has begun to prepare for the funding expected in late 2014 from Initiative 502 (I502) marijuana sales tax revenue. This funding is designated for community assessment, media-based education campaigns for adults and youth, prevention hotline, youth marijuana use prevention, youth treatment, and evaluation.  DBHR will share plans for implementing their legislative mandate and provide an opportunity for input from partners, service providers and community members.

Who should  attend:

• Community providers, members and volunteers interested in preventing marijuana abuse among youth
• Community coalitions with a  focus on substance abuse prevention
• Community and public health professionals
• School administrators
• Treatment providers

Dates and Locations:

A community forum will be held in Seattle on October 4, 2013, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Please RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/I-502CommunityForumRSVP.  Seating is limited to approximately 100.

A webinar will be offered October 9, 2013, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  To join the webinar you must RSVP at:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/163378706

For more information about these forums visit http://www.theathenaforum.org/dbhrmjpublicforums

Questions?  Contact P. Scott McCarty at mccarps@dshs.wa.gov.

Binge & heavy drinking among teens

Between 2005 and 2011, high school seniors nationwide reported the following rates of binge drinking within the last two weeks:

• 20% reported drinking 5 or more drinks;
• 11% reported drinking 10 or more drinks;
•  6% reported drinking 15 or more drinks. 

Authors of the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week, call consuming more than 10 alcoholic drinks “extreme binge drinking”.  The number of seniors engaging in the most extreme drinking "is really concerning because they're most at risk for the really severe consequences," including reckless driving, car accidents and alcohol poisoning," said lead researcher Megan Patrick of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

The study is important because it provides insight into seemingly conflicting trends:  that reported levels of binge drinking – traditionally defined as having five or more drinks in a row – have been declining among adolescents, although medical emergencies involving teen alcohol use have not.

Heavy drinking locally

While the WA Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) does not measure binge drinking like this recent study does, it does collect data about heavy use.  

Below are two charts from the 2012 HYS showing the rates of drinking among Nathan Hale High School and Roosevelt High School students (in blue) compared to the state average (in green).  As you see, most students do not drink (the lightest shaded areas in the columns).  However, most of those who do drink use alcohol often and/or heavily.  

The darkest colors at the bottom of the columns show the rate of "heavy drinking" -- 6+ days of drinking in the past month and/or 2+ episodes of binge drinking (5 or more drinks at one time).

The next shade lighter shows the rate of "problem drinking" -- 3 to 5 days of drinking in the past month and/or 1 day of binge drinking.  

Nathan Hale High School (blue)

WA (green)

Roosevelt High School (blue)

WA (green)

These charts are available on the Prevention WINS website under 2012 Healthy Youth Survey Results, high school summaries.