Reduce Youth Substance Use & Abuse

Goal

• Reduce the percentage of adolescents (high school students in grades 9-12) who report binge drinking in the past 30 days from 21.8% (2010) to 17% by 2020.
  Source: Healthy Alaskans 2020

Substance abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities. The effects of substance abuse are cumulative and significantly contribute to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems.

The Alaska Adolescent Health Program supports adolescent substance abuse prevention efforts through programming and resource development, however much of the current substance use and abuse prevention work is done through the State of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health and various community organizations.

Alaskan adolescents’ substance use and abuse facts:

• Office of Adolescent Health Substance Abuse Fact Sheet (Alaska)
• Alaskan Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey
  
• Talking With Youth About Marijuana Use
• School Health Profiles
• School Climate and Connectedness Survey

Substance Use & Abuse Prevention Projects in Alaska:

• The Fourth R for Healthy Relationships
• Healthy Relationships Plus Program
• Substance Use & Abuse Prevention Publications & Resources