Project Grant H79SP084615

WITH STOP GRANT FUNDING THE JOHNSTON PREVENTION COALITION PLANS TO REDUCE ALCHOL USE AMONG YOUTH UNDER SEVENTEEN AND SUPPORT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. - JOHNSTON PREVENTION COALITION IS APPLYING FOR THE SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING (STOP) ACT GRANT NO. SP-25-001 ON BEHALF OF THE TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND REDUCE YOUTH ALCOHOL USE AMONG THOSE UNDER 18. OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE COALITION WILL IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK-SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING ALONGSIDE ITS DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT TO DECREASE PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AMONG 12-17-YEAR-OLDS, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, AND TO INCREASE THE PERCEPTION OF ALCOHOL'S RISKS AND HARMS. JOHNSTON, A TOWN OF NEARLY 29,000 RESIDENTS, HAS A YOUTH POPULATION (AGES 19 AND UNDER) COMPRISING 21.2% OF ITS TOTAL. CENSUS DATA SHOW THAT 9.1% OF RESIDENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, AND 21% OF CHILDREN UNDER 18 RESIDE IN SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS-BOTH FACTORS THAT INCREASE VULNERABILITY TO SUBSTANCE USE. RHODE ISLAND RANKS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING, WITH 22% OF YOUTH AGED 12-20 REPORTING PAST-MONTH ALCOHOL USE (SAMHSA, 2023). THE 2024 RISS SURVEY DATA FROM JOHNSTON FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THIS URGENCY, SHOWING PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE RISING FROM THE 2022 RISS SURVEY. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, THE COALITION WILL ENGAGE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 YOUTH AND PARENTS IN THE FIRST YEAR, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 480 REACHED ANNUALLY, ULTIMATELY SERVING ABOUT 5,440 INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH EDUCATION, ENFORCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO REDUCE 30-DAY USE., INCREASE PERCEPTION OF RISK AND HARM AND PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL.