Project Grant H79SP083375

COMPASS STOP SOUTHWEST PREVENTION CORRIDOR - COMPASS SOUTHWEST PREVENTION CORRIDOR WILL SERVE 12-17 YOUTH FROM DISADVANTAGED SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS WHO WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY RECENT MAYOR NATURAL DISASTERS AND/OR A CONSEQUENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS FIVE-MUNICIPALITY REGION. THESE SUBPOPULATIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO FALL INTO SELF-DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE TOTAL POPULATION IS 140,237. THE GOALS ARE TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CORRIDOR AND TO REDUCE YOUTH ALCOHOL USE AND ABUSE. ALCOHOL MISUSE WILL BE TARGETED FOR PREVENTION BECAUSE OF ITS EASE OF ACCESS, A HIGH DEGREE OF PENETRATION, AND NORMALIZATION OF USE AND ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY NORMS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT ALCOHOL IN PUERTO RICO STEMMING FROM AMONG OTHER THINGS, LACK OF RESTRICTIONS, WHICH RESULT IN FLEXIBLE CULTURAL RULES LIKE THE 18-YEAR LEGAL DRINKING AGE. THE PREVALENCE OF DUI (DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE) IN PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN MEASURED IN STUDIES CLEARLY DEMONSTRATING THE LACK OF POLICE ENFORCEMENT AND GENERAL IMPUNITY TOWARDS ALCOHOL. ASSMCA, THE STATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AGENCY OF PUERTO RICO - FOUND IN A STUDY THAT ONLY 15.3% OF 255 ALCOHOL VENDORS WERE ASKING FOR AGE OR PROOF OF AGE. THERE IS ALSO URGENCY FOR ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY-BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO RESPOND TO ALCOHOL USE MORE EFFECTIVELY AMONG MINORS. THERE ARE NO OTHER PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS IN THESE COMMUNITIES TRAINED IN THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) EXCEPT FOR THE RECENTLY FOUNDED COMMUNITY COALITION IN CABO ROJO. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING SO THAT COMMUNITY COALITIONS WILL FORM DURABLE PARTNERSHIPS, BE TRAINED IN THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK, DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANS AND IMPLEMENT IT, AND RELEASE SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES OF CHECK ID, "CUMPLO CON ELLOS" AND "TU NO TIENES DERECHO" SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. FOR ACHIEVING GOAL NUMBER 2, THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES WILL DRIVE THE WORK: REDUCE BY 5% UNDERAGE DRINKING IN YOUTH AGES 12-17 IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, ACHIEVE 10% REDUCTION IN YOUTH REPORTING SOCIAL ACCESS TO ALCOHOL BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN, OBTAIN 15% INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO REPORT RECEIVING HELP AT SCHOOL FROM A COUNSELOR, TEACHER, OR OTHER ADULTS TO STOP OR REDUCE USING ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, ACHIEVE 15% INCREASE IN YOUTH WHO REPORT THAT THEIR PARENTS HAVE SET BOUNDARIES WITH THEM ABOUT DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE AND CONSEQUENCES AND REDUCE BY 30% THE PERCENT OF 12-17 YOUTH THAT ARE ABLE TO ACQUIRE ALCOHOL FROM RETAILERS.