Project Grant H79SP085420

STOP UNDERAGE DRINKING PISCATAQUIS COUNTY - MRH CORP D/B/A/ NORTHERN LIGHT MAYO HOSPITAL'S PISCATAQUIS YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION COALITION (PYSUP) PROJECT, STOP UNDERAGE DRINKING PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, AIMS TO BOLSTER ALCOHOL PREVENTION EFFORTS IN RURAL MAINE. DATA INDICATES AREA YOUTH ARE ENGAGING IN HIGH-RISK DRINKING PATTERNS AND AT EARLIER AGES. EXPANDING EFFORTS AND INCREASING CAPACITY IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVING A GREATER AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE REDUCTION OF YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IN THE REGION. ALL LOCATIONS WHERE THE POPULATION OF FOCUS (POF), APPROXIMATELY 1,800 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-20, RESIDE IN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY AND DEXTER, MAINE, ARE DESIGNATED RURAL. SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS RELY ON STRONG COLLABORATION WITH MULTI-SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH REMOTE TOWNS AND RESIDENTS. EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS WILL ENHANCE ACCESS, REDUCE BARRIERS, AND IMPROVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THAT SEEK TO PREVENT YOUTH ALCOHOL USE. MAYO HOSPITAL STAFF WILL WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AND STATE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS TO COMPLEMENTARILY PROVIDE THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION, BEST PRACTICE APPROACHES, AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING TO THE POF AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CONCERNING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IN THE REGION. AREA YOUTH INDICATE A LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK RELATED TO UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE, AND LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF FIVE OR MORE DRINKS IN ONE SETTING (BINGE DRINKING). CORRESPONDINGLY, THE POF INDICATES HIGHER THAN STATE AVERAGES FOR PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE. THE POF ALSO REFLECTS A CONCERNING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER WHOSE PERCEPTION OF PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL OF YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IS 'LITTLE' OR 'NOT WRONG AT ALL'. SOCIAL NORMS AROUND UNDERAGE DRINKING WITH THIS POPULATION INCLUDE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS REPORTING THAT THEIR PARENTS ACCEPT ALCOHOL USE (1-2 DRINKS PER DAY). FURTHER, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN RECENT YEARS IN THE NUMBER OF MIDDLES SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE USING ALCOHOL. THE PYSUP COALITION WILL UTILIZE THE STOP ACT GRANT TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF FURTHER REDUCING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE, ALTERING YOUTH PERCEPTIONS, INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS, AND DECREASE RISK FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO UNDERAGE USE. THE PYSUP COALITION HAS DEVELOPED A FOUR-YEAR TIMELINE OF STRATEGIC APPROACHES AND WILL DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN EACH YEAR OF PROGRAMMING THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO NEWLY RELEASED MAINE INTEGRATED YOUTH HEALTH SURVEY DATA AND COMMUNITY CONDITIONS. AT THE ONSET, COMPLIANCE CHECKS WILL BE CONDUCTED TO PROTECT AGAINST YOUTH OBTAINING ALCOHOL FROM RETAIL SOURCES. RESPONSIBLE BEVERAGE SERVICE TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED TO BOTH ON- AND OFF-PREMISE LIQUOR LICENSEES. ANOTHER OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE YOUTHS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE LIKELIHOOD THAT UNDERAGE DRINKERS WILL BE CAUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED VIA PARTY PATROLS PROVIDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND EDUCATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. PYSUP WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT YOUTH POSITIVE ACTION TEAMS IN AREA SCHOOLS TO EMPOWER YOUTH VOICE AND PEER INFLUENCE.