Duncan: BP has an alcohol, drug epidemic

The top leader for Steele County’s United Way is calling for a change in what she describes as an epidemic that’s out of control in Blooming Prairie.
United Way Director Annette Duncan said Blooming Prairie is on “everybody’s radar right now” when it comes to drug and alcohol prevention. “State officials are saying that something has to be done about Blooming Prairie,” she said.
Through her role with the United Way, Duncan has assumed oversight of the Steele County Safe and Drug Free Coalition. She is on a mission to facilitate positive change in the community.
“It’s a very serious issue,” said Duncan, pointing to the most recent Minnesota Student Survey completed in 2019. “Blooming Prairie is hurting. They are twice the rate of alcohol and marijuana abuse.”
In that survey, Blooming Prairie was about 2-1/2 times higher than the state average for alcohol use in the freshman class and nearly double the state average in the junior class.
For ninth graders, the state average of alcohol use is 11.8%. However, Blooming Prairie ninth graders reported 29.5%. It was much the same story for juniors, who reported 41.5% alcohol use compared to the state average of 22.6%.
Blooming Prairie’s marijuana use was also well above the state average at 19.5% for juniors and 13.6% for freshmen.
In the vaping category, Blooming Prairie freshmen reported 29.5% to the state average of 16.3%, while juniors were 46.3% compared to the state average of 26.4%.
Duncan said per capita, Blooming Prairie is “No. 1 in the state for the worst numbers.”
To curb this disturbing trend, Duncan is seeking community partners to secure a $1 Million grant from Positive Community Norms over five years that would be dedicated exclusively to Blooming Prairie Schools. Duncan said the grant would fund a new full-time prevention coordinator within the high school. There would also be a second part-time marketing and administrative position dedicated to the program. Duncan would oversee both positions.
She began circulating letters of collaboration last week to partners within the community to assist with prevention efforts and form a coalition. Duncan said that without 10 partners from the community, she will not be able to move forward with the grant.
Specifically, Duncan wants people to represent the following groups: parents, students, healthcare, law enforcement, justice and corrections, media, religious, business and civic.
“We don’t need people to know the solution … we just want them to be a part of it,” said Duncan.
She is on a tight timeline to submit the grant application by its March 26 deadline.
“I am doing the best I can to make this a powerful grant,” Duncan said.
Duncan is working directly with Superintendent Chris Staloch on the effort. Duncan says the Blooming Prairie school officials are at “their wit’s end” with the problem. A major issue for the schools, she said, is that they don’t have the resources or knowledge to address the problem.
Duncan said for whatever reason, up until recently, the issue has been “put on the back burner” and not dealt with accordingly.
“We have to figure this out,” Duncan said. “Something is happening to make the kids make some really bad choices in Blooming Prairie.”
Anyone interested in helping with this project should contact Duncan at 507-455-1180 or president@unitedwaysteelecounty.org.
 
 
 
Drug and Alcohol Epidemic
 
Ninth Grade              BP                   State Avg.
Alcohol Use                29.5%             11.8%
Marijuana                  13.6%             7.5%
Vaping                       29.5%             16.3%
 
Juniors                      BP                   State Avg.
Alcohol Use                41.5%             22.6%
Marijuana                  19.5%             15.5%
Vaping                       46.3%             26.4%
Source: 2019 Minnesota Student Survey