Underage drinking program a model

DOVER-FOXCROFT – For the second consecutive month, the work of the small Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department has garnered national attention.

Rebecca Matusovick of the state Office of Substance Abuse told Piscataquis County commissioners on Tuesday that the department’s comprehensive underage drinking enforcement program was selected as a state model. As such, Matusovick and Lt. Robert Young of the Sheriff’s Department will be guest speakers at the sixth annual Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center’s National Leadership Conference to be held Aug. 18-20 in Tucson, Ariz.

Last month, the commissioners learned that the department’s crisis intervention team used during psychiatric emergencies will be recognized at a national conference next month in Ohio.

“I just can’t state how proud I am of the small department we have,” Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin said Tuesday.

Piscataquis County was one of five counties that partnered with the Maine Office of Substance Abuse in a three-year grant program that provided each of the participating counties with $25,000 in each of the three years for the development of a comprehensive underage drinking strategy.

The strategy developed in Piscataquis County has resulted in a reduction in underage drinking as well as in crimes in general and high-risk behaviors, according to Matusovick.

“All five counties did not see the level of success you had here,” she said. “There’s something happening here, specifically.”

According to graphs provided by Matusovick, the use of alcohol by Piscataquis County high school students in a 30-day period decreased from 43.7 percent in 2002 to 35.9 percent in 2004, while the statewide average increased from 40.8 percent to 41.6 percent during the same time period.

At the same time, the use of marijuana by Piscataquis County high school students in a 30-day period dropped from 27.7 percent in 2002 to 17.9 percent in 2004, while the statewide average decreased from 24.7 percent to 22.6 percent.

Goggin said his department had increased its enforcement of underage drinkers by having officers look for underage drinking in places such as parties. Programs specifically targeting underage drinking also are provided to local schools.

The success also was credited by Matusovick to the leadership of Sheriff John Goggin and Lt. Robert Young, the local task force, its training, a collaborative attitude, and active communication with parents.

Since the alcohol use by Piscataquis middle school pupils is much higher than the state average, the challenge now for the county is to bring the younger pupils into the fold, according to Matusovick.