10-14 years old: How many? 40,030 54,723 60 – 64 years old:How many? 27,556 48,615

15 – 19 years old: How many? 42,665 57,658 65 – 74 years old:How many? 26,276 58,212

20 – 24 years old: How many? 39,485 50,153 75 – 84 How many? 26,881 35,876

25 – 34 years old: How many? 74,193 94,224 ≥ 85 years old:How many? 8,535 12,241

3. Describe Cultural Characteristics: Place an X on ALL that apply and indicate the (%) of each.

A. Race

Black or African American 17%16.4%

White 78% 75.25

Asian 1% 0.54%

Hispanic/Latino 7% 6.38%

American Indian or Alaska

Native 0.48% 0.48%

Native Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander 0.02% 0.01%

More than one race 1.14% 1.2%

Race unknown

B. Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 8.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino 91.7%

C. Geographic

Rural

Urban

TX-Mexico Border

D. Socio-Economic Status (SES)

Level of Education:38% 29.6%

High School Graduates

8% 17.3% Bachelor’s Degree

5% 10.1%Master’s Degree

Income Level:

Median household income$30,831 $38,038

Per capita money income$15,821 $15,820

E. Religious Affiliation

List:

Evangelical Protestant 38.34%

Mainline Protestant 04.66%

Orthodox Christians 00.01%

Catholic 14.02%

Other: 01.00%

Buddhism

Muslim

Unclaimed: 39.29%

Comments: Evangelical and Mainline Protestant being our largest religious group and Catholic is our second largest for Region 5

Prevention Resources Capacity and Gaps

1. Resources:

What type of prevention resources currently exist in your target community?

Describe: Community Coalitions, in school prevention programs, health fairs community events, educational presentations/programs, prevention trainings.

2. Please describe how you can engage the following entities in assisting the PRC:

a. DSHS funded Coalitions (includes CCPs, SPFs)

Describe: We can engage coalitions to continue to help promote the PRC and the services it provides by attending meetings and assisting in planning events that they sponsor and participate in those events as well by setting up booths, distributing literature and providing prevention activities.

b. Drug-Free Community Coalitions, etc.

c. School Programs

Describe: These programs can assist the PRC by utilizing our services and allowing us to come on their campuses. Services that we provide these programs can include educational presentations to both students and faculty/staff and free prevention literature at not cost such as pamphlets, posters, videos, stickers, bookmarks and or coloring activity books. They can also help us by participating and recognizing the national campaigns that we take part in (i.e. Red Ribbon week, Great American Smokeout, Texas Tobacco Free Kids Day, etc.)

d. Community services (YMCA, Goodwill, etc.)

Describe: We can build better relationships with the various community services that are through out our region. With better relationships with these agencies, they will know who we are and what services we can provide to their clients as well and refer them to us for these services.

e. Parent programs (PTA, etc.)

Describe: Parent programs can assist the PRC by allowing us the opportunity to provide educational presentation/information at their parent meetings /events.

f. Direct Prevention Service Providers

Describe: Direct prevention service providers can assist the PRC by being a satellite library for us. These agencies can house the various prevention literature that we carry and distribute them as patrons come in and out of their places of businesses

g. Treatment Providers

Describe: These Providers can assist us by providing our resources to individuals and their family members.

h. OSAR providers

Describe: OSAR providers can also assist the PRC by providing our various resources to the individuals and their families of those they see.

i. Mental Health Centers

Describe: Mental Heath Centers can provide our mental health resources and information to their clientele. We can also participate and give input in local mental health meetings.

3. Who do you serve in your Region? Place an X on all that apply.

Other, List_____________

Comments: others served in region include: law enforcement, healthcare providers, mental health centers, colleges/universities, courthouses and libraries.

4. Gaps:

a. What prevention gaps exist in your target population?

Our prevention gaps include providing services in our smaller, rural counties, building relationships w/local law enforcements, marketing the PRC in our largest county (Jefferson) and minimizing resistance from some schools in our region.

Consequences and Consumption Patterns of the Community

Please identify the patterns in each of the following data sources, when available. If the data source is unavailable in the community, provide an explanation. Please feel free to also utilize alternative data sources.

a. DWI Rates

According to the Criminal Enforcement Actions summary from TABC only 3 of our counties reported DWI violations. There was no data information on the remaining counties.

b. Alcohol related vehicular fatalities.

According to Texas Department of Transportation alcohol related vehicular fatalities for Region 5 fluctuates (increased from 2006 fatalities of 23 to 48 in 2007 but decreased to 39 in 2008.) According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Texas Department of Public Safety Alcohol Related Fatatlities in 2008 was 387 and in 2007 was 352 which was an increase of 2%.

c. Violent crimes per year

Prevention Resource Center has collaborated with the local law enforcement agencies and at this time they have been unable to compile and release the information. According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Texas Department of Public Safety violent crimes experienced a decrease of .08%

d. Possession of illicit drugs (arrests)

e. Public intoxications (arrests)

. Prevention Resource Center has collaborated with the local law enforcement agencies and at this time they have been unable to compile and release the information Public intoxications (arrests) data not released by standard sources.

f. Suicide rates

Prevention Resource Center has collaborated with the local law enforcement agencies and at this time they have been unable to compile and release the information Suicide rates data not released by standard sources.

g. Homicide rates

Prevention Resource Center has collaborated with the local law enforcement agencies and at this time they have been unable to compile and release the information According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Texas Department of Public Safety homicide rates (Murder non-negligent man slaughter and negligent man slaughter) decrease of .02%.

h. Hospital discharges for youth alcohol poisoning.

PRC has collaborated with the Hospitals in this area and surrounding counties to provide this information but at this time the hospitals have been unable to release the information. Hospital discharges for youth alcohol poisoning data not released by standard sources.

i. Hospital discharges for youth

PRC has been collaborating with the Hospitals in this area and surrounding counties to provide this information but at this time the hospitals have been unable to release the information.

j. Underage binge drinking rates

Reported instances of underage binge drinking of beer have steadily decreased while reported incidences of underage binge drinking of hard liquor have remained relatively consistent.

k. College age binge drinking

Reported incidences of college age binge drinking increased slightly for female students and decreased for male students. Approximately one third of all college students report that they have participated in binge drinking.

l. Current 30 day drinking rates

The current 30 day drinking rates have remained consistent in comparison to the previous 30 days.

m. Current 30 day illicit drug use rates

The current 30 day illicit drug use rates have remained consistent in comparison to the previous 30 days.

n. Perceptions of harmfulness of use (alcohol and other substances)

Students report that they are aware of the harms of using alcohol and other substances with exception to marijuana which did not have the same perceived risk as other substances.

o. Future intentions to use

Of the students that had reported not trying alcohol or other substances there was a decrease in the number of students that felt they may try at a future time.

p. Family/social bonding indicators

Students who reported having tried alcohol and other substances indicated that they experienced a higher instance of family/social bonding issues in comparison to the students who reported that they had not tried alcohol and other substances.

q. HIV infection rates and transmission route

According to the CDC and the County Health Districts the HIV infection rates have remained relatively consistent showing no significant change. According to DSHS Texas Surveilence Report 2008 data showed 2007 infection rate was 13.4% compared to 2008 11.8% which shows decrease of 1.6% in the region. The transmission route was sex between male-male and male-female.

r. Noise violation data

Most cities have noise ordinances. Noise violations can vary from anything to loud music to barking dogs. However, there were no statistical data found within this region to report any trends or data in the enforcement of this type of ordinance.

s. Treatment episode admission data

Individuals within our region are constantly being referred and admitted to the various treatment facilities. If there is no bed available, the client is placed on a waiting list and is contacted as soon as one becomes available

t. Minors in Possession (MIP) data

With Various law enforcement agencies working together, those who are caught under the age of 21 in possession of alcohol, are charged with being in possession. With the various agencies enforcing this charge, youth are less likely to be in possession of alcohol due to the wide spread enforcement and the consequences associated with this charge/citation According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Texas Department of Public Safety Minors in Possession data increased .02% over area. MIP Classes held in Angelina County for this area had 161 attendees this past year.

u. Truancy data / drop-out rates

There was a significant increase in this region in student drop-out rates as the grade level increased. According to Texas Education Agency’s 2006-2007 Secondary Schools Completion and Dropouts in Texas Public Schools report, our region had 43 drop-outs in grades 7 and 8. According to same report, we had 1,297 drop-outs when the survey was extended through grade 12. According to the Secondary School of completion and Dropouts in Texas Public Schools, 2007-2008 report our region had 601 dropouts in grades 7 through 12 which shows decrease 1.6% rate compared to the 2.2% ratec of 2006-2007.

v. TABC data on citations

TABC continues to conduct undercover sting operations and provide instruction to licensee’s and their employees to promote a better understanding of the law and to encourage complaisance.

w. Texas School Survey data

According to the spring of 2008 Texas School Survey the average age of first use of alcohol and tobacco was as early as 11 years of age.

x. CORE survey data

The CORE Drug and Alcohol Survey is used by universities and colleges to determine the extent of substance use and abuse on their campuses. However, we noticed that some stats such as alcohol and drug violations were being recorded through the University Police Departments. Some universities are also incorporating programs for incoming Freshman such as E-Chug and E-Toke which are confidential online surveys focusing on alcohol and marijuana use.

y. Other data sources

SYNAR report. Looking at the average rate of tobacco sales to minors, there has been a significant decrease in the number of sales compared to years past (9.90% lowest rate in SYNAR twelve year history). This decrease is due to continuous retailer education and the enforcement from law enforcement agencies.

Intervening Variables

1. Please discuss each of the following variables as they relate to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) in the target community of your region.

A. Easy Retail Access

Retailers are aware of the consequences of selling to underage persons. Even though they are aware of these consequences, often still sell to minors. This may be due to the high turnover rate of employees, lack of employee training, not checking identification, etc.

B. Low Enforcement

There is enforcement of ATOD in this region. When there is intervention consequences are often ignored or minimized.

C. Social Access

Most youth access ATOD through friends, at parties or when someone older supplied it to them. Some parents and adults event host parties and events where alcohol/drugs are provided to minors as well.

D. Perceived Risk

Most people feel that using ATOD isn’t dangerous or it won’t hurt them because they don’t see immediate effects of using them. Since they don’t see the effects immediately, they either believe that it’s minimally harmful or that it isn’t harmful in any way. For example, our region’s Spit tobacco use surpasses that of the state. Many individuals think spit tobacco is less harmful.

E. Social Norms

Many people feel that it is a “rite of passage” for youth to drink. They feel that it officially enters them into adulthood when they drink. Our youth think and feel that the use of Marijuana is not harmful and there has been an increase in marijuana use.

F. Promotion

Stores are promoting alcohol by moving it to center aisles and making it more visible

G. Pricing

Whether pricing is cheap, average or inexpensive, individuals still tend to find the financial means to buy ATOD.

2. Do you feel that the area in which you serve has a high incidence of drug use?

Yes No

3. If yes, what types of drugs are being used in the areas you serve? Place an X to ALL that apply:

Community Readiness

1. Please describe the readiness of your community, in each of the following community sectors:

a. Youth

_____ No knowledge of local problems / issues

_____ Some knowledge of local problems / issues

__x__ Knowledgeable of local problems / issues

_____ Very knowledgeable of local problems / issues