There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Woodford 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 continue addressing the variety of substance abuse issues impacting our community, the Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with Woodford County Schools to offer the Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours program. Truth & Consequences is an enrichment activity designed to show seventh grade 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 event was made possible with a wide variety of community partners including County Sheriff Office, City Police Department, State Police, District Judge, County Attorney, Alcohol Beverage Control, Coroner, Hospital, Detention Center, EMS, Health Department, County School Administration, Pharmacist, Treatment Providers, Zero Tolerance Program, and local ASAP (Agency on Substance Abuse Policy) Board. Community volunteers, including Woodford County 4-H Council members, served as “parents” to the youth and accompanied them as they visited the various agencies. The entire eighth grade population of Woodford County Middle School (nearly 300 students) participated in Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours to learn more about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse. Forty community partners and adult volunteers participated in the event as well.

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 serious as they were conversing with each community partner. Students’ parents were invited to attend the event with their child, and while there were minimal parents who were able to attend, the ones who did thanked us for the event. Of the 174 participants who participated and responded, 90% reported a better understanding of the legal consequences of substance abuse, 89% reported a better understanding of the harm and risk of substance abuse and 84% reported knowing where to turn in the community to access help. Future plans for this event are to continue to host the event in partnership with the Middle School for eighth graders while also offering it again in partnership with the high school for sophomores.