Dover-Foxcroft – The Piscataquis Public Health Council (PPHC), our region's Healthy Maine Partnership has teamed up with M.S.A.D. #41's Every 15 Minutes Committee to increase awareness to underage access to alcohol in the community by promoting the Sticker Shock Program. The program was conducted in January and the youth plan to do the program periodically throughout the year.
Based on the Office of Substance Abuse Indicator Data, Piscataquis County has a higher than state average of youth alcohol related arrests. Risk factors that were identified for Piscataquis County include ease of access to drugs, community norms tolerant of use, economic and social deprivation, family history of substance abuse, parental attitudes accepting of drug use, and early initiation to alcohol or drug use.
Youth show an increase in use around ages 13-14 and from ages 13-18, there is a steady increase in use rates. Risk factors that the Piscataquis Public Health Council will be looking to address are strategies that change community norms and reduce drug and alcohol accessibility to youth.
The Sticker Shock Campaign is designed to reach adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors. Stickers warning about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors are placed on all multi-packs of bear, wine coolers, and other alcohol products that might appeal to underage drinkers. The impact of the stickers is increased by longer-lasting signs to be displayed by participating retailers. The project represents a partnership between youth, retailers, concerned parents and community members, prevention professionals, and law enforcement with the goal of educating potential furnishers, raising public awareness about underage drinking, and strengthening the deterrent effect of the law against providing alcohol to minors.
Special thanks to those retailers who participated in the program to include: C & J's Variety, Milo Farmer's Union, Pat's of Milo, Milo Exxon Mini-Mart and Reuben's Country Store all located in Milo. Robinson's Fuel Mart, The General Store and More, and Station Market all located in Brownville.
The Piscataquis Public Health Council would also like to acknowledge Nick Clukey, Brownville Police Chief and officers from the Brownville Police Department who partnered with the youth to conduct the campaign; along with the youth from MSAD #41 that include: Haley Flanders-Patten, Britnee Genthner, and DJ Olmstead.
The Piscataquis Public Health Council is one of 28 local Healthy Maine Partnerships/ Comprehensive Community Health Coalitions, working on tobacco-prevention and control, physical activity, nutrition, chronic disease prevention and self-care management, and substance abuse prevention using tobacco settlement funds provided through the Fund for a Healthy Maine along with other funds provided through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you would like more information about how you can get involved in addressing tobacco and alcohol use by youth in your community, please contact Robin Mayo, Community Partnership Director, Piscataquis Public Health Council at rmayo@mayohospital.com, 564-4344.