More than 1,000 die each year in Kentucky from drug overdose.  According to the Overdose Fatality Report from the Office of Drug Control Policy there have been a 34 percent increase in all overdose deaths in Kentucky. A community leader from the Juvenile Justice program asked the Jackson County 4-H Council  to provide the Truth or Consequence program to the local school system. One hundred and twenty six ninth grade students were targeted.  Below are the 2016 and the 2017 results targeting the same youth from the previous year during Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Week.

                            2016                                                                                   2017

1. Cigarettes                       8.82%                                          1.  Cigarettes                     4.9%
2. Smokeless tobacco        6.3  %                                           2.  Smokeless tobacco      6.3%
3. Alcohol                         15.12%                                           3.  Alcohol                          7.7%
4. Marijuana                       5.04%                                           4.  Marijuana                      3.5%
5. Prescription Drugs         1.4  %                                           5. Prescription Drugs         1.26%

While these youth go from booth to booth (led by volunteers serving in a parental role) with scenarios that focus on bullying, tobacco use, alcohol and drug use they meet community leaders and partners that work in law enforcement, juvenile justice, pastoral and counseling services etc.  They learn that whatever their scenarios are; consequences follow.  These consequences may be jail, school suspension and in extreme cases death due to drug overdose. These youth also listen to testimonials and ask questions from actual offenders. This year a twenty year old offender in a nearby drug rehab facility who was asked to give his testimonial asked if this program was done in ALL Kentucky schools.  He said that he wished it had been available when he was in high school--it may have saved him from his poor choices, because no one ever thinks that they will become an addict. Due to the drug epidemic in south eastern Kentucky we have been asked to continue this program but to include more grades for the following year.  The Jackson County 4-H Council has begun to target 4th and 5th grade students in all school using the Health Rocks curriculum and including the components  bullying, sexting and suicide along with the drug awareness.