The 2013 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey asked high school students to report on their lifetime usage of alcohol and drugs. The most commonly used substance among Calvert County high school students was alcohol—65.2% of Calvert County high school students reported having at least one alcoholic drink in their life. The second most commonly used substance reported was marijuana (36.7%).

The emerging issue among youth is the use of prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription. The reported use of prescription drugs among high school students was 16.7%. The percentage increased to 24.1% among students 18 years of age and older. This percentage is greater than the Maryland state average percentage of 20.3% for this age group.

Qualitative data collection from both key informant interviews and focus groups in our most recent Needs Assessment discussed the issues surrounding substance use. Topics included the increased use of substance among youth as well as the effects of adult substance use on children and families. Substance use is the third most commonly reported issue or concern among key informant interviewees and the most commonly reported issue or concern among the focus group participants.

When asked what they would like to see happen in their community, focus group participants often spoke of the need for additional resources to address substance use including prevention, treatment, and family support. Some of the barriers cited include a lack of transportation to appointments/services, lack of social activities, lack of parental supervision, and lack of providers to address pediatric mental health and substance use disorders.

• Tri-County Youth Services Bureau
• Calvert County Health Department
• Calvert County Public Schools
• Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse
• Calvert County HIPPY/Healthy Families
• Calvert's Local Coordination Team
• United Way of Calvert County
• Maryland Coalition for Children & Families
• Tri-County Council's Youth Advisory Committee

• Therapeutic interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectic therapy and motivational interviewing techniques
• Youth development programs, with evidence based curriculums like Second Step and Reconnecting Youth Curriculums
• Providing therapeutic supports at home/at school to reduce transportation challenges
• Decreasing the number of prescribed opiates to reduce teenage access
• Reducing mental health stigma with awareness campaigns
• Parenting support using curriculum like Guiding Good Choices
• Youth engagement in strategic planning efforts

• Youth Intervention & Engagement - Tri-County Youth Service Bureau's therapeutic interventions addessing mental health needs, peer led groups to build soft skills and resiliency, case management, and psychoeducational curriculum for families.
• Healthy Families/HIPPY targeted interventions and maternal depression screenings for new parents and/or those with multiple risk factors such as substance use or mental health issues.
• Health Department's school-based behavioral health counseling - integrating substance use and mental health counseling
• CAASA's parent outreach regarding addiction, treatment and recovery, with a focus on opioid abuse
• Calvert Memorial Hospital's prescription opiate reduction strategy with physicians
• Peer support and recovery specialists

Use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) poses many health risks for youth. Early use of some substances (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) is associated with later drug use and the prevalence of high-risk behaviors. Healthy behavior patterns formed in adolescence play a crucial role in health throughout life.Use of substances, whether it be alcohol, tobacco or drugs, decreases ability to make good choices, engage in learning, develop age-appropriate maturity levels, and remain disease-free.The increase in the use of opiate drugs, whether prescription or heroin, endangers the life of the users, especially teens who do not have knowledge of lethality or the ability to gauge risk.