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Casco Bay CAN, hosting meetings for parents, is encouraged by a state survey.

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A 2013 state survey of high school students revealed that they’re less confident that they can get away with drinking and driving than they were four years ago. The survey shows that 18 percent of students think they might get caught by police, compared to just 12 percent in 2009.

That’s good news to the Casco Bay Create Awareness Now (CAN), a group of volunteers working to deter substance abuse among youth.

“That’s progress, absolutely,” said Beth Blakeman-Pohl, director of Casco Bay CAN. “That’s a lot of education in the community, and the police talking about their expectations.”

Good as the news is, Blakeman-Pohl knows there’s a whole lot left to do in combating youth substance abuse. Casco Bay CAN, working on its final year of a $625,000 federal grant, focuses on three aspects of the problem each year. This year, it’s alcohol, prescription drug misuse and marijuana use – priorities the organization derives from still more state surveys, Blakeman-Pohl said.

Casco Bay CAN includes community volunteers from law enforcement, schools, businesses, churches, parents and youth themselves. It works to reduce youth substance abuse in Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Pownal, Yarmouth and most recently, Gray and New Gloucester. The group has recently forged a relationship with the Casco Bay Branch of the YMCA of Southern Maine, which will host two sessions for parents on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The first session, called “Talk Early, Talk Often,” is at 11 a.m. for parents of elementary and middle school students. Parents of middle school and high school students will engage in “Table Talk” at 5:30 p.m.

John Lee, youth and family director for the Casco Bay YMCA, said Casco Bay CAN made the connection with the YMCA three weeks ago.

“They are donors to our annual campaign,” Lee said. “They started a relationship with us. We just started a partnership in which we can devote a space for their talks. They want to tap into our families and our resources, as to our parents.”

Lee said he is hoping for 10 or more families at each meeting.

“That would get the ball rolling,” he said. “As a parent of two young children myself, I know they’re sensitive issues, and sometimes you avoid them for too long. They’re going to provide a lot of valuable resources, in terms of substance abuse prevention. They’re going to show you how to look for signs of abuse, and they’re going to give you resources.”

While young people might be more aware of the risks of alcohol consumption, marijuana use is a different story, Blakeman-Pohl said. Two Maine cities have made it legal for adults to use a small amount of pot: Portland and South Portland.

“Pot is in the press, and there’s no real difference in usage,” she said. “Their perception of alcohol and driving is that it’s a problem, but that marijuana and driving is not.”

Blakeman-Pohl said that Casco Bay CAN has established good relationships across the public sector, including schools.

Michael McManus, school resource officer at Freeport High School, has an office in the school. Casco Bay CAN has a presence in McManus’ office, too, in the form of dozens of brochures it supplies to law enforcement in the area.

“Casco Bay CAN is a coalition that strives to hold different elements of the community together,” said McManus, who is chairman of the group’s law-enforcement subcommittee. “It’s a grassroots effort to deter underage drinking and drug use.”

McManus said that, in addition to arranging community meetings, Casco Bay CAN funds local police with mini-grants to offset the cost of overtime paid to officers who go out and find underage drinking parties, and assure compliance on the sale of alcoholic beverages to stores and restaurants.

“If minors are served, we go in and address the issue, and do administrative summonses,” he said. “The goal is to be pro-active. Then CAN offers seller training once or twice a year. They pay for the speaker. It’s a one-day class that teaches what to look for. They’re actually very well-attended.”

McManus, who is assigned to all Regional School Unit 5 schools, said that kids’ safety is a primary concern.

“We just want kids to make good choices, to make themselves safe and their friends safe,” he said.

McManus said that police catch up to parties mostly in spring during prom and graduation season, during early fall and perhaps during the holidays.

“CAN sends letters to hotels during prom and graduation time, urging them not to rent rooms to kids.”

A CLOSER LOOK

Casco Bay CAN, which works to deter substance abuse among youth, will hold two meetings for parents on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Casco Bay Branch of the YMCA of Southern Maine in Freeport. The first meeting, for parents of elementary and middle-school children, is at 11 a.m. The second session is for parents of middle and high-school students, and is set for 5:30 p.m.

Michael McManus, school resource officer at Freeport High School, has stacks of brochures and other information provided to him by the Casco Bay CAN.