AREA TOWNS – Vermont ranks in the top 10 states for illicit drug use by teens, with Caledonia, Orleans and Lamoille County high school students slightly more likely than the rest of the state to believe their parents don’t see alcohol or cannabis use as wrong or very wrong and that regular marijuana use isn’t harmful to them.
Most illicit or federally classified drug use is cannabis use. The two most used substances by high school students in Vermont are alcohol and cannabis. Healthy Lamoille Valley (HLV) Coalition Coordinator Jessica Bickford said, “I think sometimes we hear illicit and we think, all our kids are using opioids. . . There are some that are using the harder drugs, but that’s actually a relatively small fraction. . . they start to use the things that are most accessible to them, the alcohol, the cannabis, the pack of mom’s cigarettes.”
According to the latest data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, while teen drug use has declined, there are moderate differences by state. In Vermont, an estimated 9.4% of teens had used an illicit drug in the past month, making it the number-eight state for teen drug use.
Bickford said, a foundational principle for the organization is working to embed prevention at many, many levels. “Then lots of people hold it and that impact is greater.”
“Vermont is in the highest tier in the country of youth substance use, and our region sometimes is actually higher than the state. We’ve been doing a lot of work to build connections and capacity for many people.” She continued, “When we think about youth substance prevention we know that connections matter. Spending meaningful time with the children and youth makes a difference as do meaningful relationships. When we think of behavior change it also comes through meaningful connections. Loved ones and role models play a big part.”
Bickford says when looking at the roots of substance abuse, it boils down to a lack of connection such as mental health struggles and isolation. “It can boil down to just that peer group is using. It can also boil down to what they see modeled in the community or the availability of substances.”
She says youth need meaningful activities and places to release stress and emotions. This can look many different ways from arts such as theater, singing and writing or sports such as competitive and non-competitive. She also said there is a strong connection between physical activity and emotions.
Healthy Lamoille Valley works within the Morrisville Health District, which covers Lamoille County and the greater Hardwick area.
Recently HLV helped support two projects in Hardwick through the Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium’s subgranting process. These projects include CAE (Center for Agricultural Economy)’s prevention project, listening sessions and collaboration with Hazen Union as well as the creation of Hazen Union’s Student Wellness Center last year. HLV is part of the Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium, which includes Newport, St. Johnsbury and Morrisville Health Districts.
Bickford says legalization has its benefits and downsides. On one hand, 30% of the cannabis excise taxes go to prevention. “Because cannabis is in 21-plus stores, it does in some cases, decrease youth direct access. They’re not walking into a store and taking products like nicotine products and alcohol, there’s some theft that goes on because youth are in those stores with those products.”
However, Bickford says, considering Vermonters can grow their own supply and, with the overall increase of cannabis products, there is cause for concern about potential access by youth in our communities.
HLV is hosting its annual Fall Kickoff Event Tuesday, October 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 at GMTCC. The interactive event for youth, will include legislators as special guests and is open to all community members. Learn more at Healthylamoillevalley.org.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
