Trending
Voices in Prevention spotlights people on Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i who are working in drug use prevention, treatment and recovery, or are affected by substance use. This month, we spoke with Lauren Loor, who has a master's degree in public health and is the Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition coordinator for Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i.
Q: What shaped your desire to work in public health or prevention?
Loor: I became interested in nutrition when my sister was diagnosed with hypocalcemia at age 12. This was related to a thyroid condition, but also because her diet consisted of highly processed foods. From there I became interested in the politics behind our food system and how food access and community design can be a strong indicator of health. These factors can control an individual's choice when it comes to food and that made me angry, truthfully. Soon, chronic disease prevention became my passion throughout my master's program.
I went on to become a holistic health coach to continue to learn about the integration of holistic practices with public health practices. At the end of the day, how we feel about ourselves, our relationships and our lives can be huge factors in how we take care of ourselves and how we feed ourselves on many different levels.
Q: How are food and substance use linked?
Loor: Food access and substance use prevention are two sides of the same coin. Statistically, places with low access to nutritious affordable food, sometimes called food deserts, often have high access to substances like alcohol. It is a shame that these places are usually communities of color and low socio-economic status. Imagine if communities were flooded with affordable nutritious food instead of substances like alcohol or tobacco?
This also goes beyond just food access, but access to land, water and culture; when these things are stripped away it is easier to turn to substances.
Q: How has COVID affected substance use on Maui?
Loor: COVID has affected substance use on Maui very greatly. There has been so much loss, and substances and addiction fill that void, unfortunately. I think that the price of food and housing and how expensive it has gotten just to live on Maui has affected substance use in our community as well. How could it not?
Q: What are you particularly concerned about right now with youth substance use?
Loor: I am concerned that the habits with substances that are formed now by our youth will follow them throughout their life. This has been an incredibly hard time and it can feel like this will never end, but I hope that our youth know that there is a brighter future for them and they are deserving of it.
Q: What are we doing well on Maui to help kids grow up substance-free?
Loor: I think a bright spot is that people are talking about mental health, mental wellness and self-care more than I can remember. This is something we should continue; the safe spaces to have these conversations are needed now and beyond.
Q: What can we do to reduce the impact of drugs and alcohol in our community?
Loor: I believe that if the community can make space for the hard times and lift each other up, then we can do anything. I hope we can work on making a life on Maui truly livable, affordable and based on the needs of our community and culture. If we can create a future filled with abundance instead of loss then voids might not need to be filled with substances.
Q: What message do you have for parents or youth who are worried about substance use?
Loor: We have all experienced so much and it can be overwhelming and that is more than understandable. Have patience with yourself and with those you love. And please bring up your concerns to your County Council members, the Mayor's Office and the community coalitions like the Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition, the Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth and the Maui Nui Youth Council. We can only shape a successful community together.
* To learn more about the Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition, visit www.hiphi.org/maui/healthy-eating-active-living-heal-coalition-for-maui-molokai-and-lanai/. For information on the Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth, visit www.mcdfy.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram @mauicoalitionfordrugfreeyouth.