Project Grant NH28CE003310

ADDRESSING YOUTH METHAMPHETAMINE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE IN ROANE ROANE COUNTY, TN. - THE ROANE COUNTY ANTI-DRUG COALITION SERVES ROANE COUNTY, TENNESSEE, A RURAL AREA WITH A POPULATION OF 54,208. THE CARA LOCAL DRUG CRISES GRANT WILL ESTABLISH THE PREVENTION OF YOUTH METHAMPHETAMINE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE AS PRIORITY ISSUES IN ROANE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM GOALS ARE 1) TO REDUCE OPIOID, METHAMPHETAMINE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG YOUTH, AND 2) TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT REGARDING ACCEPTABILITY OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY-WIDE PREVENTION STRATEGIES WILL LEAD TO A 3% DECREASE IN YOUTH AGES 12-18 WHO REPORT USING METHAMPHETAMINE; A 5% DECREASE IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE; AND A 10% INCREASE IN THE PERCEPTION OF PEER DISAPPROVAL OF USE. THE PROGRAM BUILDS ON SUCCESSFUL LOCAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS WITH FUNDING THROUGH THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WILL CREATE MEASURABLE CHANGE IN ROANE COUNTY THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES: ?INCREASE THE PERCEPTION OF HARM OF METHAMPHETAMINE USE AMONG YOUTH THROUGH AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION?ENHANCE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS?DECREASE YOUTH ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?ENCOURAGE NON-OPIOID ALTERNATIVES FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT?INCREASE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COUNTY LEADERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DECREASE STIGMA AND SOCIAL NORMS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.EACH STRATEGY WILL NOT ONLY LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN USE BUT WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. INVOLVING MANY SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COORDINATE PREVENTION EFFORTS TARGETING YOUTH METHAMPHETAMINE USE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE WILL LEAD TO COUNTY-LEVEL CHANGE WITH A FOCUS ON LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND A REDUCTION IN CULTURAL NORMS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE.