Knowing what to do about substance use disorder remains one of the greatest challenges in the country. At a time when life is most dismal, finding ways to stay positive becomes an even greater challenge. The lack of mental health can be a great obstacle for overall happiness as well as lay the groundwork for other problems.  Pete Wentz made the statement “If you aren’t just a little depressed, then you aren’t paying attention to what’s going on in the world.” So then, what are we to do?! Johnson County FCS has chosen prevention as one strategy to combat the issue.

Truth and Consequences is a youth program held for students usually in High School. It is designed to give them an opportunity to experience what it might be like if the made a poor decision as it relates to substance use. Even before Covid, the program was at risk of being postponed due to inclement weather or other obstacles. Many counties do not have the cooperation and resources needed to do the program as well. Given that it takes many hours and much commitment to host a live event, it was decided that a virtual version would be helpful to carry it on as well as expand it. Johnson County was the first to field test the idea. 

Here is how the Truth and Consequences program works: students select a scenario. This paragraph describes what they did in relation to substance abuse. For example, one scenario might be “pills were found in their locker”, or perhaps “a friend gave them meth” …. Once they have the scenario, they begin seeing each person and agency that would be a consequence of that action. There is an average of five people they would need to see, for example they may have to see law enforcement, the jail, a lawyer, a Court Designated Worker CDW,  and the judge. Next, they would visit the jobs station, they would look at the whole dynamic of what implications for their life would be, hear a wrap up summary, take an evaluation, then exit the program. Approximately 155 videos, and 2 PowerPoints were created in response to each scenario and uploaded into a virtual system by 4-H agent Staci Thrasher. 

There were 39 contributors who helped to create the virtual version of TC, coordinated by FCS agent Brenda Cockerham, utilizing the advice of a steering committee made up of several participants with leadership from Dr. Alex Elswick and FCS agent Christy Stearns (the original program designer of TC). Following the event Dr. Alex Elswick made an appearance and spoke to the Freshmen Class at Johnson Central who assisted in field testing the program. Three English teachers, Ashton Ross, Emily Warne and Megan Wilson, introduced it to all of 200 plus English students at Johnson Central, with the assistance of Freshman principal Marc Shepherd and Family Resource Center director Lynn Wilcox. One hundred and twenty-nine students responded to the evaluations.

The following were the results:

 Students responded about the virtual presentation by saying:

“It is a useful, interesting program. Giving the possible outcome and consequences really helped me get a better understanding”

“ I think it will help a lot of kids with their problems and give everyone else a better understanding.”

“I thought the program was great especially because you can see firsthand what can happen after you make these decisions. “

“I think this is a very good program. The directions are very clear, and I really enjoyed the number of people participating and giving advice. My favorite part was the exit message because the guy presenting went through a variety of bad things.”

“I don’t really know how to improve on this. Exit message was very inspiring.”

 When asked to name one thing they learned, all but 8 out of 129 responded with very valid responses, a few are as follows:

1. Yes, it is important to me because I feel many people think they can try it once and it does not bother them, but then they get addicted and can’t quit. One thing I learned is that it can be very difficult to recover and once you go to jail for it, it makes your future very difficult. 
2. I think it’s something that as a society isn’t talked about enough. I’ve personally witnessed how much substances can change people in ways that are indescribable, and it hurt me to watch them fall into addiction. So, yes, I think it’s important.
3. I learned I could be in a lot of trouble if I do something (In reference to inappropriate substance use)
4. I learned there are consequences to your actions but there are also people who can help
5. Now I know what to do if I’m in that situation
6. People can have bad mental health because they might just need someone there for them and to listen what they have to say about it
7. That someone is there for you
8. I learned that the process after a mistake like this goes through many people and many things. I also learned that the recovery from drugs is actually just creating an over amount of dopamine naturally like trying to get high off life.

Following the program, 99% could name at least one resource that would be helpful to those suffering from a consequence related to substance use disorder (SUD) and could name one strategy that would be helpful in increasing prevention and decreasing negative effects of addiction. Ninety eight percent indicated they increased awareness of SUD and increased knowledge as to resources, and prevention strategies. 

After responding to why it was important to use destigmatizing language, 98% responded that had learned the importance of using appropriate language when talking with those with SUD to help them move forward in a more positive direction, and 75% could site additional logical reasons for doing so. 

Ninety six percent stated they learned things and would apply them, that could change their behavior to deter the possibility of SUD in their lives.

Four to six students suggested they didn’t learn anything they didn’t already know. 

Those who delivered presentations were: 

County Attorney: Michael Endicott

Funeral Director: Jeremy Hyden

Court Designated Worker: Michael Endicott, PowerPoint by Brenda Cockerham and JC Blanton

Counseling and Treatment: Alex Elswick

Department of Juvenile Justice Case Worker JC Blanton and (Power Point)

Probation/Parole office JC Banton (and PowerPoint)

Hospital Worker: Rhonda Kendrick (coordinated by Laken Chapman)

Jail: Scott Hazlett

Judge: Kevin Holbrook

Law Enforcement: 

1. Coordinator: Valerie LeMaster
2. Deputy Adam Williams SRO
3. Deputy Tim Clark
4. Deputy Bill Meade
5. Deputy Jeff Castle K-9 Handler
6. Sheriff: Doug Saylor

Minister: Ben Stephens

Pharmacist: Coty Conley

Principle: Justin Arms

School Board Testing: Shawn Castle

School Resource Officer: Adam Williams

Early Intervention/prevention:

1. Brenda Cockerham -community involvement
2. Brian Jeffiers- Agriculture
3. Allison Salyer -Unite

Jobs: Johnson County Fiscal Court Economic Development: Judy Daniels

Commonwealth Attorney and steering committee member: Matt Runyon

Clinton County Attorney: Michael Rains

School Therapist: Sarah Browning

Nurse: Robin Shelton

Clinton County Schools: Julie York

Clinton County School Principal: Kenny Dearborn

Pastor: Jim England

Judge: Scarlett Latham

Coordinator: Brenda Cockerham

Technical Coordination: Staci Thrasher, steering committee

Landscape Screen designer: Dianna Reed, steering committee

Background Support: Haley Pierce Interim Director Agricultural Communications and Extension Marketing Manager

Coordinator for Clinton County, steering committee and presenter for wrap up: Christy Stearns

Dr. Alex Elswick: Counseling presentations, steering committee and What’s Next presentation, and face to face presentation

State Extension Homemakers Marketing Chair: Rebecca Clay