The Webster County Cooperative Extension Service implemented Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours, a scenario based role-play activity designed tohelp students learn more about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse, for 148 eighth grade students. Twenty-seven community partners and adult volunteers participated in the event. Three Judges, two Bailiffs, two attorneys, several law enforcement including Kentucky State Police, Game Warden, School Resource Officer, local police, and health care professionals including drug prevention, counseling and rehabilitation as well as a funeral director and and minister were all part of the event and volunteered their time.

Community partner evaluation data indicates that seventeen strongly agreed that substance abuse by youth is a problem in the community; seventeen indicated that it is easy for youth to get drugs in the community; and nine agreed or strongly agreed that one reason why alcohol and drug use occurs in our community is that there are not enough activities for youth.

Student evaluation results revealed the following: five percent of eighth grade students indicated that it was slightly or not wrong at all for someone their age to participate in one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage; five percent also indicated that there was slight or no risk in people harming themselves physically or in other ways if they participate in one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage; and two percent indicated slight or no risk in harm associated with marijuana use.

The event continues to make an impact on students each year by providing them with a first-hand look at the realities and consequences of getting involved with substance abuse.