Community Action Committees
Mayor's Drug Task
Force
According to the Department of Health 2002 Socorro County Profile,
Socorro County’s age adjusted rate of death from illicit drugs during the
period of 1998 through 2000 was 26 per 100,000 standard population. This is
62.5% higher than the New Mexico rate of 16 per 100,000 and is the second
highest rate in the state. According to the 2001 Youth Risk and Resiliency
Survey, 25% of youth had initiated marijuana use at twelve years or younger.
In addition, primary data indicates that substance abuse is considered to be
the most important health issue by community members. SCOPE’s Substance
Abuse Core Team has merged with the Socorro Mayor’s Task Force and is
working to develop evidence based strategies and interventions. The Core
Team decided on the aim of “Decreasing the number of children under the age
of twelve initiating use of marijuana.
Fitness and Nutrition
Committee
Both obesity and diabetes are becoming
significant health problems, not just in Socorro County, but nationwide.
Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes as well as many other health issues.
The CDC estimates that, given current trends, one half of all Hispanic
females born in 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their lives.
This is an estimate of significant concern, given the County’s large
Hispanic population. The CDC estimates for males and non-Hispanic females
are as follows:
-
Males – 1 in 3 chance
-
Females – 2 in 5 chance
SCOPE has formed a Diabetes Core Team to determine risk and
protective factors, and develop evidence based strategies and interventions.
The Diabetes Community Action Team has identified lack of exercise as one of
the key risk factor for diabetes. An indicator of risk is question number
146 on the Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) which reads, “On how many
of the past seven days did you exercise or participate in physical activity
for at least 20 Events that made you sweat and breathe hard?” On the 2001
YRRS, 19% of respondents answered “0 da
Healthy Family
Initiative
It meets every month on the second Thursday. Events from these meeting will
be posted as soon as they are received.
|
SCOPE
Home Page