There continues to be a strong need for substance misuse prevention and intervention in

Marshall County. The number of diverted prescriptions and illegal drugs, overdoses,

thefts, arrests, court cases, and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse continues

to negatively impact many families in the community. To address the variety

of substance misuse issues impacting our community, the Marshall County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Youth Service Center (YSC) and other local agencies to bring back Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours for the 8^th graders at North & South Marshall Middle Schools. The co-chairs of the program were the Marshall County YSC Coordinator and County 4-H Youth Development Agent.  The program had not been offered since February 2020 due to Covid-19.  Unfortunately, drug and alcohol misuse in the United States including Marshall County did not lessen but increased during the pandemic.

Truth and Consequences is an enrichment activity designed to show students the impact of getting involved with illicit and legal substances. Students role-played scenarios including possession of prescription drugs, possession of alcohol, drug paraphernalia, or illegal drugs, trafficking, etc. Depending on the scenario, students visited appropriate officials and/or agencies to experience the consequences of their behavior. 

Representatives from local businesses, students’ parent/guardians, and the County Extension Program Assistant served as “parents” to the youth and accompanied them as they visited the various agencies such as law enforcement, judges, school officials, hospital, and coroner.  Over 300 Eighth grade students participated in Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours to learn more about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse. Out of surveys received from students, 231 indicated they had a better understanding of the harm and risk of substance misuse after participating in Truth & Consequences.

Over 125 community partners and adult volunteers participated in the two events as well with some of these working both programs. Parent/guardian and community volunteer evaluation data indicates that 81 strongly agreed or agreed substance abuse by youth is a problem in the community; 71 indicated it is easy for youth to get alcohol in the community; 74 indicated it is easy for youth to get drugs (both illegal & prescription) in the community; and all were split on that one reason why alcohol and drug use occurs in our community is that there are not enough activities for youth. After the program, 70 parent/guardians and community volunteers signified they gained awareness of the program and impacts of substance abuse in the community.  With 73 of them noting they gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance abuse in Marshall County.  

Parent/guardian and community volunteer comments received day of and after included:

1. “I just wanted to share with you guys that both…(of our volunteers)said they found today's program very eye-opening and asked to go again next year. They were shocked by how many of the kids openly talked about either their own or their families' substance use. I really wish more parents with younger kids would volunteer so they would realize the reality of what is happening. It would also be great for our local elected officials to walk around with the kids.”
2. “Thank you for doing this!   I learned just as much as my daughter.”
3. “The kids I walked with during the program, each made comments they were glad this program was happening.  They said they learned a lot.”

Volunteers also provided suggestions to take the program a step further.  Thoughts included financial (current/future) costs to the various charges; effects on potential career/college scholarship opportunities given various convictions; and bring back scenarios related to sexual assault.  The Co-Chairs are working towards implementing some of these suggestions.

With the growth of the opioid addictions and other illicit drug use on the rise, substance abuse prevention efforts will be needed in the foreseeable future.  Marshall County Extension Service will continue to provide such educational opportunities when possible.