With Covid stopping some of our previous programs, this year we were able to bring back Truth and Consequences for Bracken County’s 8^th grade class. There still is a strong need for substance abuse prevention. Truth and Consequences is an enrichment activity designed to educate students about the impact of substance abuse, including the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences.    The event was held at the Judicial Center in Brooksville.   We invited the 8^th graders from Bracken County Middle School and Augusta Independent School to come.  We had total of 115 students attend this year’s event.  We partnered with 19 community partners to provide people for the scenario stations, 3 community partners for the stations, and a local family for our speaker. 

Immediate feedback of the event showed that students were impacted by learning about real situations of being involved in legal and illicit drugs. It was evident that the students took the scenarios seriously as they were conversing with each community partner. Of the 115 students who participated and responded, 80% reported a better understanding of the legal consequences of substance abuse, 75% reported a better understanding of the harm and risk of substance abuse and 90% reported knowing where to turn in the community to access help.