Over 2 years ago (2016) the Bullitt County Extension Service was approached by the Mount Washington Police Department School Resource Officer about creating a program for youth attending Mount Washington and Eastside Middle School that could possibly deter more youth from using drugs, alcohol and helping youth make better lifestyle choices according to their decision making.

The Mount Washington Police department, Mount Washington Middle School Youth Service Center, the City Government of Mount Washington and the Bullitt County Extension Office chose to use the University of Kentucky’s Truth or Consequences curriculum.

Truth or Consequences is designed to give each youth a different experience, they are assigned a scenario in which they must go to different agencies (local police department, county jail, county judge, local clergy) to find out their fate based on actions that could occur from each scenario.  

On March 23, 2018 the Truth or Consequences community action program took place at the Mount Washington First Baptist Church in which 165 8th graders from Mount Washington Middle School and 239 8th graders from Eastside Middle School participated. Youth from each school were put into 3 rotations:
1. Truth or Consequences Scenarios with community partnerships
2. Recovery Addicts question panel
3. Reflection Video and Guest Speaker

Before the students began the rotation(s) a survey to gauge their knowledge of drug addiction. Of the  297 collected surveys the following was discovered:

• 113 youth have reportedly had access to drugs or alcohol from a family member or friend in the past 12 months
• 201 youth and 31 adults believed that 0-20% of youth have tried illegal drugs/ alcohol in middle school
• 11 youth have known at least one person who has overdosed in the past 24 months


After completing 3 rotations, each youth was given a completion survey to reflect on their experience. Of the completed surveys the following was recorded:
• 78% of youth participating gained awareness of the drug epidemic within their community
• 47% of youth participating acknowledged the fact that families effected by drugs are in each socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds

The program has been deemed a success by our community partners, the schools that participated along with the Bullitt County Board of Education. As a direct result of this activity, we have secured a date for the 2018-2019 school year and have added 7 community members to serve on the planning committee.