MEO youth services K?OHI (to prevent) program - the MEO youth services kaohi (to prevent) program will serve 105 youths from ages 11 to 18 on moloka`I island, county of maui, state of hawai`I, by…

MEO youth services K?OHI (to prevent) program - the MEO youth services kaohi (to prevent) program will serve 105 youths from ages 11 to 18 on moloka`I island, county of maui, state of hawai`I, by administering a hybrid of in-school evidenced-based curriculum and out-of-school-time (OST) services. This maui economic opportunity (MEO) program positively affects youth behavioral and social change of harmful issues, such as teen suicide, (CYBER) bullying, tobacco/vaping and underage drinking. According to the university of hawaii, john a. Burns school of medicine [1], substance use represents a significant health disparity among indigenous and minority populations in the U.S., including in hawai`I. This is particularly problematic in rural communities where health promotion and prevention resources are limited. In addition, the majority of hawaiians reside in rural areas of the state of hawai`I. Furthermore, native hawaiian youth tend to have early substance use onset and higher use rates relative to their non-hawaiian peers. The rural island of moloka`I is predominantly populated by native hawaiians and hawai`I's rates of drug and alcohol use are highest among youth in this category. Native hawaiians are reported as having the highest lifetime and 30-day rates of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs compared with other youth ethnic groups.[2] studies show that youth who consume alcohol are at higher risk of unsafe behaviors, for example, physical and sexual assault, alcohol induced accidents or injuries, and suicide. ____________________________________________________________________________ [1] native hawaiian health and drug prevention in rural hawai`I – department of psychiatry - portal [2] http://blog.hawaii.EDU/DOP/research/introduction/native-hawaiian-health-and-drug-prevention-in-rural-hawaii/