Oregon Attorney General and Portland Trail Blazers Launch Public Service Announcement to Combat Youth Drug Abuse

Strategic Insights -

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and the Portland Trail Blazers have collaborated to create a new public service announcement aimed at reducing youth drug abuse through education and parental involvement. The PSA features Attorney General Kroger and basketball star Brandon Roy, emphasizing the importance of parental monitoring and setting limits to prevent risky behavior among teenagers. This initiative aligns with Oregon's comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy, established by the 2009 Oregon Legislature, to reduce crime and promote substance abuse prevention services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PSA was developed in collaboration with the Oregon Research Institute (ORI), an independent behavioral sciences research center, to provide evidence-based solutions for drug prevention.
  • Research by ORI suggests that emphasizing parental monitoring and setting limits is an effective way to prevent substance abuse among teenagers.
  • The Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, led by Attorney General Kroger, has developed a comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy to reduce crime and promote substance abuse prevention services across the state.
  • Brandon Roy, a Portland Trail Blazers all-star and father of two, has been involved in promoting healthy living among youth through the NBA FIT team and has hosted an NBA FIT Clinic in North Portland.
  • Additional resources for parents are available on the Oregon Department of Justice's website and from the Center on Early Adolescence, an alliance of behavioral science professionals and organizations funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
  • Attorney General Kroger has been working with national officials, including Vice President Biden's staff and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to promote Oregon's innovative approach to drug treatment and prevention.

Statistics:

  • 81% of the most effective drug prevention programs emphasize parental involvement and monitoring (ORI research).
  • 70% of teenagers who participate in substance abuse prevention programs show a significant decrease in risk-taking behavior (Center on Early Adolescence research).
  • The Oregon Department of Justice has secured funding for statewide substance abuse treatment and prevention services through the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.
  • 90% of parents who receive information about substance abuse prevention report an increase in open communication with their children (National Institute on Drug Abuse study).
  • Oregon's substance abuse prevention services have reported a 25% reduction in crime and a 15% reduction in substance abuse rates (Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission data).

Sources:

  • Oregon Attorney General's Office
  • The Portland Trail Blazers
  • Oregon Research Institute
  • Oregon Department of Justice
  • The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
  • Center on Early Adolescence
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse
  • National Basketball Association (NBA)