Elliott County CES

County Emphasis:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Concentration 1:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Concentration 2:

Mental Health and Well-Being

Situation:

Adult Focus

Though substance use and substance use disorder have been pressing social problems for decades, the public health burden and consequence associated with substance use has rapidly worsened in recent years. Drug overdoses have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death and overdoses have contributed to a reduction in average life expectancy in the US. Much of the substance use-related morbidity and mortality is a result of a persistent treatment gap. Each year, about 90% of people who need treatment for SUD in Kentucky do not receive it. To address this gap in service provision, more community-level programming is required to meet the complex needs of Kentuckians who use drugs. Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned, both with deep connections to each Kentucky county and with its transdisciplinary team of specialists, to address the holistic needs of Kentuckians who use drugs including mental health, fair housing, second-chance employment, nutrition and physical health, and much more.

Youth Focus

Substance use and substance use disorder are persistent public health problems in Kentucky. Kentucky youth fare worse than their US counterparts in terms of numerous indicators of drug use and drug-related harm including cigarette and smokeless tobacco use, vaping, alcohol use, and illicit drug use such as opioid and methamphetamine use. Accordingly, the recent University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Needs Assessment (2023) indicated substance use prevention is the primary concern among most Kentucky counties. Nevertheless, few Kentucky communities support prevention efforts that are informed by research. Cooperative Extension is well-positioned with deep collaborative community ties to support evidence-based prevention programming. Such programs may target substance use directly or indirectly by focusing on pertinent risk and protective factors and promoting overall well-being for Kentucky youth.

County Situation:

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Improved social and emotional competency
• Reduced youth substance use
• Reduced youth substance use disorder
• Reduced youth overdose fatalities
• Reduced stigma related to youth substance use
• Improved quality of life

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased availability and accessibility of evidence-based prevention programs
• Enhanced community partnerships that target youth prevention

Initial Outcomes:

• Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills)
• Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery
• Increased knowledge about substance use and its effects

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about addiction as a chronic disorder (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about substance use and its effects (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Initial Outcome: Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery (initial)

Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community

Method: Program metrics agents will track, and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC).

--------

Intermediate Outcome: Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.). (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).

Indicator:

• Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
• Number of participants who used self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC)

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Recovery Capital Building

Content or Curriculum: Recovery Gardens

Inputs: Programmatic materials, community partners, ASAP Boards and Community Coalitions, residential treatment centers, detention centers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and clergy

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Substance Use Prevention Programming

Content or Curriculum: Botvin Lifeskills

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, health coalitions, schools and school staff

Date: Ongoing

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about addiction as a chronic disorder (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about substance use and its effects (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Initial Outcome: Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery (initial)

Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community

Method: Program metrics agents will track, and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC).

--------

Intermediate Outcome: Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.). (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).

Indicator:

• Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
• Number of participants who used self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC)