Kentucky has one of the highest rates of drug abuse in our country; we fall in one of the top ten states in several drug use categories (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Specifically, in Northern Kentucky, there is heroin epidemic. More babies are being treated for heroin withdrawal, more individuals are being treated for opioid overdose, and more people are dying from heroin overdoses than anywhere else in the state of Kentucky. In Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties, heroin-related court cases (for ALL law enforcement agencies), increased 750% over a five year period, from 257 in 2008 to 2,202 in 2013 (KY Administrative Office of Courts). According to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Campbell County ranks in the highest quantile for heroin-related overdose deaths (2016). In addition, 1 in 4 teens in NKY have used alcohol in the past month (Drug Free Northern Kentucky, 2017).Therefore, there is a strong need for substance abuse prevention and intervention education especially in Northern Kentucky.

The Campbell County Extension Agents for 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences (Owen Prim and Kate Thompson) collaborated with the family and youth resource coordinator at Dayton Middle/High School to facilitate the program, Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours to 49 eighth graders. A total of 18 community partners and adult volunteers were involved. Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours hands-on curriculum taught the students about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse. The program comprised of the following four rotations: 1) student role-playing scenarios with community agencies, which included possession of heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol, and other drugs; 2) debriefing session with a counselor after the role-playing scenarios; 3) watching a video made by the Cincinnati Enquirer about local Northern Kentuckians who were negatively impacted by drugs and alcohol; and 4) a guest speaker who spoke about the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent (Kate Thompson) was in charge of contact/coordination with all community partners via email and phone calls and wrote the follow-up evaluation. End of the program written evaluations showed the following: 1) 98% of the students said that they developed a better understanding of the legal consequences of substance abuse; 2) 98% developed a better understanding of the health consequences of substance abuse; 3) 98% developed a better understanding of the emotional consequences of substance abuse; 4) 98% developed a better understanding of the financial consequences of substance abuse; and 5) 98% said after today’s program that if they had a substance abuse issue, they would be able to access help in the community. 96% of the students said Truth and Consequences might flash through their mind if they were put in a situation that would result in serious consequences. 94% of the community partners said they gained awareness of the drug problem and impacts of substance abuse in our community, and 100% also said they gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance abuse in our community. According to the “Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents: A Cost-Benefit Analysis” from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that drug prevention programs can save $18 for every one dollar that is spent. Based on the average cost per student of an effective school based drug prevention program ($220), Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours could potentially lead to an estimated savings of $194,040. Some of the comments from the students were the following:  “I learned the consequences of using illegal drugs and what would happen from different perspectives,” and “I learned that even people that have a good life can still get on drugs and that one decision could change your life forever.”

6 month follow-up written evaluations showed the following: 1) 94% of the students currently use cigarettes less or not at all. 2) 94% currently use smokeless tobacco and drink alcohol less or not at all. 3). 90% currently use marijuana less or not at all 4). 94% currently use the following drugs less or not at all - cocaine, prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, heroin, methamphetamines, ecstasy, hallucinogenic drugs, and over the counter drugs to get high. 5). 94% currently get into the car of someone who is under the influence of drugs/alcohol less or not at all. 6). 80% thought the event, Truth and Consequences, positively influenced them to choose to use drugs/alcohol less or not to use drugs/alcohol at all.