Truth and Consequences - Clay County Kentucky has an ongoing problem with drugs, methamphetamine, oxycodone, opioids and other various illegal and prescription drugs. Clay County is 5th out of 220 counties in opioid use or potential use of the substance.  Nineteen years ago our county hosted a March on Drugs; on a rainy day in the Fall. We had over 200 marched through town.   Many of our arrests for DUI are drug related rather than alcohol related. There is a need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Clay County.  You only have to read the weekly paper to understand the number of prescription and illegal drugs, overdoses, thefts, arrests, court cases and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse in our county. 

 All three agents in the Clay County Extension Office in cooperation with the Clay County Middle School and fourteen local organizations and 38 volunteers hosted Truth and Consequences program, a scenario based role-playing activity designed to help students learn about the physical, legal, financial and emotional consequences of substance abuse for 175 Middle School students.  Of the 118 student evaluations returned:

96% stated they developed a better understanding of the legal consequences of substance abuse 92% stated they now understood the health consequences of substance abuse 88% stated they understood the emotional consequences of substance abuse and can ruin your family 95% stated they understood the financial consequences of substance abuse 89% know where to go in the community to get help

Student comments: I was amazed at the funeral expense, why use drugs they will destroy your life, I really enjoyed Chad’s Hope, drugs can ruin your life, going to the hospital is expensive.