Pulaski County CES

County Emphasis:

Minimizing substance use and supporting recovery

Concentration 1:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Situation:

Adult - 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, second-chance employment, nutrition and physical health, and much more.

 

Youth - 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:

Our community needs assessment indicated that our first and third priority issues pertained to substance use and prevention in both adults and youth. Kentucky By The Numbers indicated between the years of 2018 to 2022, Pulaski County had almost 4,500 emergency room visits relating to substance use. In the same year range, Pulaski County had 1,287 non fatal overdose related emergency room visits. Our community has therefore experience an increase in substance recovery centers, bringing more individuals needing programming related to substance use, prevention, and recovery.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Adult – improve quality of life

Youth – improve quality of life, reduce youth substance use

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adult - enhanced community partnerships that target recovery from substance use disorder.

Youth - enhanced community partnerships that target youth prevention. 

Initial Outcomes:

Adult - increased confidence making decision related to substance use, increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.). 

Youth - increased knowledge about substance use and its effects, increased confidence making decisions related to substance use, increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.)

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills) (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
2. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use 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).

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

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
2. 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)

 

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

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
2. 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: Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB), Recovering Your Finances (RYF), Recovery Gardens, Positive Employability, Question. Persuade. Refer (QPR), Mind Art Recovery Kentucky

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: Positive Youth Development

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Positive Employability,  Mindful Mechanics, Get Experience in Mindfulness (GEM), Social/Emotional Health-Focused Programming

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, schools and school staff

Date: Ongoing

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills) (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
2. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use 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).

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

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
2. 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)

 

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

Indicator: 

1. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills (ST)
2. 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)