Clay County has come a long way in fighting substance abuse, but change may not be measurable for 10 years, community leaders said Friday.
Susanne Williams, Minnesota State University Moorhead assistant to the president, started working on the problem after former MSUM student Jason Reinhardt died in a Moorhead fraternity house after trying to consume
21 drinks during a "power hour" at a local bar in 2004.
"We have come miles just in the last few years in putting the necessary pieces in place in order to move forward to effect positive change," she said.
Williams noted that state legislation, substance abuse organizations and programs aimed at substance abuse prevention among students are part of a comprehensive community approach that seems to be making a difference.
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"I think we will emerge as a model community," Williams said.
A group of community leaders addressed the issue of substance abuse in Clay County on Friday at the 38th annual Intergovernmental Retreat. Leaders offered statistics showing the severity of the problem:
E According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Upper Midwest has the highest percentage of binge drinkers in the country.
"This is certainly a cultural issue," Williams said. "We need to wake up as a community."
E A 2004 Minnesota student survey shows the percentage of Clay County 12th-graders who binged was higher than the state average.
E Detox admissions of 18- to 24-year-olds in Clay County doubled between 2004 and 2005.
"That is a concern for our county, and it needs to be a concern," said Pat Boyer, Clay County Social Services supervisor.
E In 2005, 19 percent of children who were put into out-of-home placements were removed from their homes because of substance abuse. In 2006 that number was 14 percent.
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E Chemical dependency treatment for Clay County cost $1.8 million from July 2005 to June 2006. Of that, Clay County funded $483,685.
"This is a considerable cost to Clay County," Boyer said.
Effecting change
On a positive note, the percentage of adult binge drinking rates dropped by almost 10 percent from 2002 to 2005.
"That is a huge drop," said Gina Nolte, Clay County Public Health director of health promotions.
Community leaders do not yet know what caused the drop or whether it is a trend.
To significantly effect change in the substance abuse problem, Williams said, "The community commitment has to keep going year after year after year."
Readers can reach Forum reporter
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Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526
