According to the 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Caldwell County Report, there is a strong need for substance abuse prevention and intervention in Caldwell County.   The availability of substance use prevention programs was listed as the third top priority in the Health and Wellness category. To address the variety of substance abuse issues impacting our community, the Caldwell County 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumers Sciences Agents partnered with the COPE Youth Services Center and other local agencies to organize Truth or Consequences: The Choice is Yours for 9^th grade students at the local high school. Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours is a scenario based role-play activity designed to help students learn more about the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences of substance abuse.  Students were given a scenario related to substance or alcohol use. Depending on the scenario provided, students visited appropriate officials and/or agencies to experience the consequences of the behavior listed. The event was made possible with the support of numerous community partners and volunteers.   Community volunteers served as “parents” to the youth and accompanied them as they visited the various agencies such as law enforcement, judges, school officials, hospital, coroner and more.

One hundred and thirty five students participated in Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours. Fifty-seven community partners and adult volunteers participated in the event as well. A survey was given to participants following the program.  91% of students developed a better understanding of the health and financial consequences of substance abuse.  87% developed a better understanding of the emotional consequences of substance abuse. 88% developed a better understanding of the legal consequences of substance abuse. 89% developed a better understanding of the harm and risk of substance abuse.   After the program, 77% of students reported that they would be able to access help in the community if they or someone they knew had a substance abuse issue.    All volunteers reported that they expect to use the information and resources from the event in the future and 86% became aware of at least one new resource available in the community. One participant stated, “This is a great program!  I hope we can keep it going for the kids.”