The Question You Need to Address on our Blog - Please read the section below and answer/comment on the following. Should we invest coalition moneys in comprehensive prevention messages in central, south utah county, or both?
If you look at percapita rates, south county is most impacted by drug use. If you look at overall numbers, central county is most impacted by drug use.
What we know about our target population - per the data we've collected (for data see: http://sites.google.com/site/utahcountycoalition/data-collection-workgroup) we have learned the following:
PRESCRIPTION NARCOTIC: we have identified Payson, Springville, Santaquin, Spanish Fork, Salem, Mapleton, and Provo as potential areas to target. Here’s why:
- Santaquin, Payson, Springville, Spanish Fork, and Salem (south county) –Southern county cities consistently rank high across all consequence data. These cities have the highest (all based on per capita) ER visits, treatment admissions, Medical Examiner death data, and shipments of prescription narcotics into their communities. Additionally, youth in Nebo School district use prescription narcotics at slightly higher rates than the other two districts.
In short, prescription narcotics appear more available in these cities resulting in (1) higher use rates, (2) higher mortality rates (per capita) and (3) the highest, per capita, ER visits across Utah County. - Orem and Provo (Central County) – Orem and Provo have 50% of total narcotic related deaths in Utah County (not per capita). Provo and Orem also have a significant portion of IHC ER visits. Comparatively, Provo and Orem have lower per capita rates. This presents the coalition with an interesting dilemma – do we focus on communities with the most per capita problems or the communities with the largest numbers overall?
ALCOHOL: we have identified Santaquin, Payson, Springville, Spanish Fork, and Provo/Orem as potential areas to target. Here’s why:
- Santaquin, Payson, Springville, Spanish Fork (south county)– these southern county cities consistently rank high across all consequence data. Specifically, these cities have the highest (all based on per capita) ER visits, treatment admissions, alcohol related motor vehicle crashes (ARMVC), the lowest EASY compliance rates, highest density of alcohol outlets, and youth in Nebo School district consume alcohol at slightly higher rates than other districts. In short, alcohol in these cities is more available than other cities in Utah County resulting in (1) higher use rates, (2) highest number of alcohol related motor vehicle crashes (per capita) and (3) the most residents involved in alcohol related motor vehicle crashes across Utah County.
- Orem and Provo (Central County) – Orem and Provo make up 50% of all ARMVC in Utah County; however, they have lower per capita rates than the cities listed above. Comparatively, Orem has more ARMVC problems than Provo.
How do you post a comment? - (1) just below this sentence (outside of white box) you'll find in red underlined text comments. Click thion comments. (2) In the new page, on the top right under "Leave Your Comment" - type your comments in the box. (3) After you complete comments either sign into your Google account and click "Publish Your Comment" OR if you do not have a Google account click "Anonymous" and then click "Publish Your Comment." If you use the Anonymous please place your name on top of the comment.
7 comments:
My initial thought on this issue would be to focus where we would have the greatest impact. Im not convinced south county deserves all our attention. I understand and accept data shows a higher availability in south county which would explain why south county showes higher imparment problems. That being said more people in central county (orem and provo) suffer than in south county. I belive looking at the numbers per capita and focusing all our time and energy on south county turns a blind eye to an overall county problem. I would vote to include both groups as our target population. With money being tight i feel centralizing our efforts may provide more bang for our buck. If we financialy cannot target both populations i would vote to center where the most people suffer. Orem and provo.
I agree. Can we focus our efforts on items that may impact both south and central county, such as radio and TV ads.
I feel that if it is possible to target both South, and Central locations that would be the best.
I really like Casey's idea for targeting both populations...
I think we should target both areas.
Target Orem-Provo. Keep an open mind as to possible strategies that may be adapted to southern county. We may be able to target both ends of the county if we can get enough resources (volunteered time and donated money).
I can appreciate the need to address the overall numbers in Provo/Orem, but the need as a function of a percentage of the population has a greater significance to me. We should probably consider what form our message/aid will take. If there is a need and/or desire to formulate a mass media campaign, we probably will be able to target a larger population. If we are looking to initiate a focused print campaign or put dollars into preventative social services, the population served will be more narrow.
Post a Comment