News Flash

Overall the Eaton County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 852 calls for service/events.   Our higher call volumes were in the following areas:  Alarms (41), Car/Deer Accidents (32), Assist Citizen/Motorist Assists (29), Check Well Beings (26), Domestic Disputes (17), Shoplifting Complaints (31), Larcenies (14), Disorderly Person or Subject (13), Civil Complaints (10), Personal Injury Crashes (4), Property Damage Crashes (33), Suspicious Subject/Situation/Vehicle (48), Traffic Hazards (30), Traffic Stops (135), Traffic Violations (36), Vacation Checks (5).

The month of October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month.  Educating youth about the dangers of drug use can prevent a lifetime of addiction.  October is a time to acknowledge the harm substance abuse can cause to individual and community health, to remember those who have lost their lives to drug addiction, and to encourage the formation of drug misuse education programs that arm youth with the knowledge to lead drug-free lives – because when it comes to avoiding addiction, preventative steps are the best steps.

The earlier an individual begins smoking, drinking or using drugs, the likelier that individual is to develop an addiction.  The Center on Addiction notes that 9 out of 10 individuals who abuse substances began using before their 18th birthday.

• According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, 20.3 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2018
• In 2017, the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens reported that drug overdoses accounted for the deaths of 5,455 15- to 24-year-olds.
• Increased substance use in 8th grade resulted in elevated conduct disorder symptoms in 9th grade, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Tips for Talking to Teens

• Choose the right time to have a conversation. Make sure there’s no time constraint and that each individual is entering the discussion with an open mind.
• Don’t lecture, ask the teen’s views on substance abuse and listen to his or her opinions and questions.
• Discuss reasons to avoid drugs. Make it clear that abusing drugs or binge drinking at too young an age can damage brain development.
• Brainstorm ways to resist peer pressure. For many young adults, saying “no” is half the battle, so it helps to act out a situation in which drugs are being offered. 
• Be prepared to share your own experiences. Be honest. If you’ve chosen to live drug-free, explain why; if you’ve experimented with drugs, share what you learned from the experience.

 Yours in Public Safety,

 Sheriff Tom Reich