Director's Message

Sept. 21, 2007

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
~Howard Thurman

As many of you may have read in the news, Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu paid Oregon a visit earlier this week to discuss ways to combat and reduce underage drinking. His purpose was to call attention to what is a national problem and encourage states to develop solutions.

I was able to meet with Dr. Moritsugu the evening before his news conference. We discussed the severity of the issue and the actions Oregon is taking to prevent and address the problem.

Most of us know the stats -- nearly one in three 8th graders -- 13- and 14-year-old children -- have consumed alcohol within the past month. By the ages of 16 and 17 -- in 11th grade -- half of all teens have had an alcoholic drink in the past month. And once started it can be hard to stop. People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.

That's a pretty dismal future for a lot of children, one that carries huge personal and societal costs. And that's why Dr. Moritsugu and I agree it's so important for us to focus on prevention.

Fortunately, we have some excellent programs and initiatives under way in Oregon. Some of our key prevention activities include strengthening community prevention coalitions throughout the state, bringing a program called Friendly PEERsuasion to elementary and middle school girls, and working with tribes to develop prevention programs.

We're also expanding programs to reach more high-risk youth in schools, developing wrap-around services to help at-risk children and families throughout Oregon, and educating adults through a media campaign on how to spot and stop underage drinking.

The newest effort under way is the Strengthening Families Program, which will use $1.5 million provided by Governor Kulongoski and the 2007 Legislature to reach 1,400 families in Oregon whose children are at risk for alcohol abuse.

I am very supportive of these excellent initiatives, but we still have a long way to go. The rate of alcohol use among teens and children is far too high. Even one youngster using alcohol is one too many. There's more to do and we all share the responsibility for getting results.

Please take a moment to consider this. It's easy to say from an organizational perspective that alcohol abuse and prevention is an Addictions and Mental Health Division or a Public Health Division issue, but it's more than that. Regardless of where we work within DHS, underage drinking directly or indirectly affects all of us -- our clients, our families, our communities, our programs. Every division within DHS has a role to play in addressing this issue. Our job is to do that in a coordinated and effective manner.

As DHS employees and as Oregonians, it's our responsibility to help give our state's children the best possible start in life. Reducing the number of youths who use alcohol will benefit not only the children affected, but their families and society as well.

What we do will make a huge difference for Oregon's youth and Oregon's families -- our families, our neighbors, our friends. Let's do our best to end this problem and save lives.

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To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.