Parent Alert September 2024

By rbean | May 28, 2025 |

Supporting Those in Recovery

It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop. – Confucius

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines substance use disorder (SUD) as “a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released the results of the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health which asked U.S. civilians 12 or older about their experiences with substance use and mental health. Here are some key findings from that survey:

30.5 million adults aged 18 or older perceived themselves as having ever had a substance use problem. Of these, 73.1% (22.2 million) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered.
64.4 million people 18 or older perceived themselves of ever having a mental health issue. Of these, 66.6% (42.7 million) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered.
12.8 million people 12 or older who were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year received treatment. This is 23.6% of the people meeting this classification which includes those who had a SUD in the past year, or received treatment for SUD in the past year.

These findings show a few things: SUDs and mental health issues impact more people than we realize, recovery is possible but that does not mean everyone with a SUD is currently in recovery, and substance use treatment is not always available for those who need it. Substance use treatments include hospitalization or outpatient treatment, therapeutic communities (highly controlled, drug-free environments), residential treatment (“rehab”), and mutual-aid groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. These resources have helped millions of people find recovery, but they need to be more widely available so everyone seeking recovery has the opportunity to reach that goal. Those who are receiving treatment and those who are in recovery also need the support of friends, family, and the community. Here are some things you can do to help them reach their goals:

Learn about addiction and recovery.
Offer substance-free fun activities
Listen to them
Be patient
Change your language when discussing addiction to reduce stigma and negative bias.

Recovery is a journey, not a race. Please use the resources below if you or someone you love is struggling with addiction.

National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Text your zip code to 435748 (HELP4U), or use SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

Local Resource
OneEighty: Contact OneEighty at 330-264-8498 or visit the OneEighty website for information about local resources and treatment options.

Resources

American Psychiatric Association: What is a Substance Use Disorder?
National Recovery Month 2024
SAMHSA Releases Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Top Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Addiction
10 Loving Ways to Support Someone in Addiction Recovery
Words Matter – Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction

Substance use prevention education is one of the six effective prevention strategies identified by SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Prevention education is intended to increase the knowledge and skills of a target audience through two-way communication between a facilitator and a participant. Some examples of prevention education include classroom and small group sessions, peer leader and peer helper programs, and groups for children with family impacted by substance use. Ohio law requires that students learn about prevention topics as part of their health education including opioid misuse, the harmful effects of electronic smoking devices, suicide, violence, and sexual violence. Teaching students about these topics can help prevent substance use, mental health issues, and other negative outcomes. The success of these programs can be measured by test results, self-report surveys, and by evaluating local trend data of youth behaviors.

The Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey (OHYES!) is one of the most comprehensive self-report student surveys available in the state. It is done via a collaborative effort between the Ohio Departments of Education, Health, and Mental Health and Education Services, Ohio National Guard, and representatives from higher education, juvenile courts, foundations, and community service providers. The survey asks students in grades 7-12 about substance use, bullying, school safety, parental attitudes, and adverse childhood experiences. The results of this survey help identify areas of concern, show what efforts are working, and can be used to help communities when applying for grants. Here are some of the findings in the OHYES! Entire State Report for 2022-2023:

72% of students heard, read, or watched an advertisement about substance use prevention during the past year.
56% of talked with at least one of their parents/guardians about the dangers of substances in the past year.
9% of students consumed alcohol on one or more occasions in the past 30 days.
18% of students reported having used an electronic vapor product.
6% of students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days.

This data provides important insights into current youth substance use trends, but it does not show if prevention efforts like prevention education are working. Thankfully, Ohio Youth Surveys has trend reports from the CDC-backed Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Surveys (YRBS/YTS) which show changes year over year. Youth substance use trends can change significantly over time. Here are some key datapoints regarding middle and high school use of alcohol, electronic vapor products, and marijuana with comparisons between current use and the oldest available data on the trend reports.

Current Alcohol Use (at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey).
- High School: 42.2% (2003) vs. 22.9% (2023)
- Middle School: 8.2% (2021) vs. 11.1% (2023)
Ever Used an Electronic Vapor Product
- High School: 47.7% (2019) vs. 36.6% (2023)
- Middle School: 25.7% (2019) vs. 14% (2023)
Ever Used Marijuana
- High School: 37% (2003) vs. 32.2% (2023)
- Middle School: 10.2% (2019) vs. 6.3% (2023)

This data shows that prevention efforts are working even if there are only small percentage changes. Prevention efforts have played a key role in bringing these numbers down, and requiring prevention education as part of a child’s health education is an important part of those efforts. Please visit the Ohio Youth Surveys website for additional reports and insights, and check out the resources below for more information about youth prevention efforts.

Resources

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce – Prevention Education
Youth.gov – Substance Abuse Prevention
2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results: Ohio High School Survey Trend Analysis Report
2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results: Ohio Middle School Survey Trend Analysis Report
Ohio Healthy Youth Environment Survey – OHYES! Entire State Report for 2022-2023
Ohio Youth Surveys – Reports & Insights

September 2024 Awareness

Wayne County Coalitions strives to observe the many different awareness events throughout the year that focus on mental health, substance use prevention, and other important topics. Please visit the links below for information and resources.

Suicide Prevention Month: This month is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives to suicide, acknowledging those who experience suicidal thoughts, and recognizing families, friends, and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It is also a good opportunity to educate yourself and raise awareness of this issue.

National Recovery Month: National Recovery Month started in 1989 to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the recovery community, and the service providers and communities who help make recovery possible.

Hispanic Heritage Month: This observance takes place from September 15 – October 15. It is meant to celebrate Hispanic and Latino history and culture, and the contributions this community has made in the United States.

Resources

Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
SAMHSA – Suicide Prevention Month
SAMHSA – National Recovery Month 2024
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino – Hispanic Heritage Month Resources

Communities Talk: Let’s Talk About the Effects of Marijuana

Learn more about addiction, the disease concept, and the mental health effects of marijuana from Dr. Nicole Labor, OneEighty Medical Director, and Dr. Dennis Helmuth, OneEighty Psychiatrist.

2.0 CEUs available for Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage & Family Therapy; Nursing CEs requested.

Please bring your license number

Certificates will include information generally necessary for other professionals to individually request CEs through their licensing board.

Preregistration is recommended for CEUs
https://forms.office.com/r/dpjPuytcdr

Questions: 330.804.3122

Event Page: https://bit.ly/CommunitiesTalkFB

Thank you for being a vital part of our community!

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