Author: Staci Thrasher
Planning Unit: Fleming County CES
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Plan of Work: Nutrition/Health/Wellness
Outcome: Initial Outcome
There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Fleming County. The number of diverted prescriptions and illegal drugs, overdoses, thefts, arrests, court cases, and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse continue to negatively impact a large number of families in the community. To address the variety of substance abuse issues impacting our community, the Fleming County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with other local agencies to organize Truth or Consequences. Truth or Consequences is an enrichment activity designed to show students the impact of getting involved with illicit and legal substances. Based upon the format of the 4-H Reality Store, students role-played scenarios including possession of prescription drugs, driving under the influence, sniffing, possession of alcohol, drug paraphernalia, or illegal drugs, trafficking, stealing drugs, etc. Depending on the scenario, students visited appropriate officials and/or agencies to experience the consequences of their behavior. This year’s event was possible with a wide variety of community partners including the County Attorney, Local Judge, Fleming County Health Department, Regional Prevention Center, Fleming County Sheriff, Flemingsburg PD, Kentucky State Police, Fleming County School Board, and more. Extension Homemaker members and other parent volunteers 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. 175 students participated in Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours to learn more about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse. More than 40 community partners and adult volunteers participated in the event to assist in making this valuable for the youth. Evaluation results revealed the following: Youth indicated strong usage and acceptance of alcohol; 45% of youth identified slight or no risk of marijuana usage;40% indicated slight or no risk of usage when taking prescription medicine without a doctor’s prescription or taking over the counter medicines to get high; and 43% of youth have vaped during their lifetime. A continued need for parent education and support is evidenced by the fact that 60% had not talked to parents/caregivers about the dangers of substance abuse during the past 12 months
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