The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received August 19, 2021.
To the HK Community,
I am truly grateful to return to the HK community as the Prevention Coordinator for Youth and Family Services. As a 2010 HKHS graduate, I feel honored to give back to the community that prepared me to face the challenges of today’s complex world. Over the past few months, I have enjoyed connecting and reconnecting with so many friends and neighbors in the community. And, as we move into another school year, I look forward to meeting even more of you!
As Prevention Coordinator, I am tasked with coordinating a community coalition that supports specific projects related to youth mental health promotion and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco/vaping, marijuana, prescription drug misuse, and other illicit drug use—especially among our community’s youth. The HK Community Coalition, therefore, will work together to implement evidence-based community-level programs aimed at addressing these issues head-on.
The substance abuse epidemic became personal to me in 2018, as it has with countless others across the country, when I received word that my best friend and college roommate succumbed to the disease of addiction and died as the result of an overdose. I have felt the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable disease. Unfortunately, the HK community also struggles with this epidemic.
According to data from a survey administered in 2021, 21% of HK youth in grades 7-12 reported using alcohol once or more in the last 30 days. Furthermore, 18% of our youth reported riding (once or more in the last 12 months) with a driver who had been drinking. These figures are startling and deserve our attention as these are some of the predictors of additional risky behaviors in the future. Fortunately, the field of prevention provides an answer and a reason to be hopeful.
Today, we have the tools to prevent tragedies like this from occurring. Preventative practices became more sophisticated as the country collectively grappled with the consequences of the drastic rise in substance abuse from coast to coast. However, a significant caveat remains: the success of these efforts depends on the willingness of a community to work together to achieve a common goal. A diverse coalition that represents all sectors of the HK community is absolutely key. It is for this reason that I am reaching out to ask you to volunteer to help your community by serving on the coalition.
I have tremendous faith in our community. I know that together we can rise out of this pandemic and work to create a healthier community. A community that works to tackle the issues our youth face head-on and prepare them to reach their full potential. We can achieve real results if we work together. Our youth and our community are deserving of our effort, but it simply cannot be done without you.
The only requirement to join us is a desire to uplift the HK community. If you are interested in joining in this journey, reach out to me directly via email at mmcewen@hkyfs.org or via telephone at (860) 345-7498 to discuss what is involved with volunteering on the coalition.
I look forward to working with each of you in the near future.
With gratitude,
Matt McEwen
