Don Carson LADC, LCSWDon Carson LADC, LCSWOutpatient Therapist/ConsultantOutpatient Therapist/Consultant

Aroostook CountyAroostook County

Caribou, MaineCaribou, Maine

How I got involved?How I got involved?

From “The County” From “The County”

My family lives, works, and goes to My family lives, works, and goes to school hereschool here

AMHC, OSA have encouraged dual AMHC, OSA have encouraged dual competencies in MH and SAcompetencies in MH and SA

Case Study of adult with chronic Case Study of adult with chronic huffing disorder-gasolinehuffing disorder-gasoline

1996 data revealed Aroostook County 6-1996 data revealed Aroostook County 6-8th graders had highest level of inhalant 8th graders had highest level of inhalant use in the state (Lifetime 18%)use in the state (Lifetime 18%)

Grants became available in 1998 for Grants became available in 1998 for Primary Prevention and Coalition BuildingPrimary Prevention and Coalition Building

Organized gatekeepers who wanted “to Organized gatekeepers who wanted “to make a difference”make a difference”

Decision made to attempt to knock Decision made to attempt to knock inhalant use down across Aroostook inhalant use down across Aroostook CountyCounty

Hawkins Catalano’s Communities Hawkins Catalano’s Communities that Care Prevention technologythat Care Prevention technologyPrimary PreventionPrimary Prevention– Project PreventionProject Prevention

Coalition BuildingCoalition Building– Aroostook Cares Best Practice ForumAroostook Cares Best Practice Forum

Free National Inhalant and Poison Free National Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week kitsAwareness Week kitsParent, teacher, Business Fact Parent, teacher, Business Fact Sheets, distribution of dataSheets, distribution of data

What have we accomplished?What have we accomplished? It is on the Radar for:It is on the Radar for:– Helping HandsHelping Hands– Houlton Police DepartmentHoulton Police Department– Aroostook County Boy Scout leadersAroostook County Boy Scout leaders– TAMC Nurses: Inhalants 101, Medical aspectsTAMC Nurses: Inhalants 101, Medical aspects– Job Corps Staff :Inhalants 101Job Corps Staff :Inhalants 101– The Christopher Home: InhalantsThe Christopher Home: Inhalants– Presque Isle Rotary PresentationsPresque Isle Rotary Presentations– Union 122 Parents/teachers/concerned othersUnion 122 Parents/teachers/concerned others– MH and SA Clinicians: Treatment of Inhalant AbuseMH and SA Clinicians: Treatment of Inhalant Abuse

Radio WEGP Medical MondayRadio WEGP Medical MondayWAGM TV interviewsWAGM TV interviewsAroostook Republican Public Service messagesAroostook Republican Public Service messages

We learned to recognize and seize We learned to recognize and seize “teachable moments”“teachable moments”– ””Can I talk to you?”Can I talk to you?”

Huffing Gas, paint, whiteout, whipped creamHuffing Gas, paint, whiteout, whipped cream

– Abuse of poisons and toxins in group Abuse of poisons and toxins in group homeshomes

– Ether use at Job CorpsEther use at Job Corps– Interrupting huffing incidentsInterrupting huffing incidents

“ “blind spots” for professionalsblind spots” for professionals– effective assessment and interventioneffective assessment and intervention

To fulfill our mission to promote the To fulfill our mission to promote the health and well-being of our health and well-being of our communitycommunity

Inhalant use for 6-8Inhalant use for 6-8thth graders in graders in Aroostook County was 18% in 1996, Aroostook County was 18% in 1996, average in 2000, and we’re at 12.3% average in 2000, and we’re at 12.3% in 2004 (MYDAUS 2004)in 2004 (MYDAUS 2004)

We share what we have learned with We share what we have learned with others, we believe we are making a others, we believe we are making a differencedifference

How do we sustain our efforts? How do we sustain our efforts?

NIPAW for 8 years and countingNIPAW for 8 years and counting

Continued commitment ofContinued commitment of– Office of Substance AbuseOffice of Substance Abuse– Maine Inhalant Prevention CoalitionMaine Inhalant Prevention Coalition– New England Inhalant Prevention New England Inhalant Prevention

CoalitionCoalition– ADCAREADCARE– National Inhalant Prevention Web SiteNational Inhalant Prevention Web Site– Free Inhalant Prevention KitsFree Inhalant Prevention Kits

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?

Promote expectation of core Promote expectation of core competencies in mental health and competencies in mental health and substance abuse assessment and substance abuse assessment and treatment via licensingtreatment via licensing

““No door is the wrong door” for No door is the wrong door” for inhalant users/familiesinhalant users/families

Knit together ongoing initiativesKnit together ongoing initiatives

Develop more local experts in inhalant Develop more local experts in inhalant and poison abuse preventionand poison abuse prevention

Why do this?Why do this?They’re our children, we take it They’re our children, we take it personallypersonallyProvide children with a chance to live Provide children with a chance to live up to their potential unhindered by up to their potential unhindered by neurological or physical impairments neurological or physical impairments associated with use of inhalantsassociated with use of inhalantsTo improve adult’s awareness of the To improve adult’s awareness of the risks of inhalant use and to teach risks of inhalant use and to teach effective intervention skillseffective intervention skills

Thank youThank you