Project Grant NH28CE003312

ANACONDA COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, INC., 2021 CARA PROJECT - THE ANACONDA COMMUNITY INTERVENTION COALITION SERVES DEER LODGE COUNTY, MONTANA, A COMMUNITY OF 9,162. ACI, COALITION MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND REGIONAL CDC PROGRAMS (FOCUSING ON SIMILAR GOALS) WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS OUR YOUTHS MISUSE/ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND THE ONGOING OVERDOSE CRISIS. WE WILL ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES (E.G.,ACES, LACK OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, ETC.) BY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED AND PRACTICE-BASED STRATEGIES. STRATEGIES THAT WILL: 1) LIMIT ACCESS TO SUBSTANCES; 2) CHANGE THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH DECISIONS ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE MADE; AND/OR 3) SHIFT THE CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE USE.THE GOAL OF THE COALITION?S AIM IS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE ABUSE OF OPIOIDS AND THE ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AMONG OUR POPULATION, WITH A FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH AGES 12-18. WE WILL STRIVE TO ENGAGE AND TARGET ALL SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES THAT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY-WIDE CHANGE RELATED TO THE NORMS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SHARING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, AND OVER-PRESCRIBING OR OVER-DOSING OF OPIOIDS. STRATEGIES WILL INCLUDE INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS BY ALL AVAILABLE MEANS; REACHING CHILDREN EARLY, IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS; WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EXPLORE DRUG DROP OPTIONS; PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS; WORKING WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND STATE AGENCIES TO FOSTER COOPERATION BY DEVELOPING SOUND POLICIES AND PRACTICES; AND PROVIDING MEDICATION SAFETY EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE TO PARENTS AND OTHER SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF OUR EFFORT, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING OUTCOME OBJECTIVES. TO IMPROVE PRESCRIPTION DRUG CORE MEASURES, YOUTH (IN GRADES 8, 10 &12) BY JUNE, 2026 AS FOLLOWS: DECREASE PAST 30-DAY USE FROM 8TH GRADE 2.4% (2020) TO 1% (2020); 10TH GRADE FROM 3.2% EACH (2020) TO 1% (2026); INCREASE PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL FROM 97.1% (2020) TO 99% ( 2026); INCREASE PEER DISAPPROVAL FROM 93.2% (2020) TO 98% (2026); AND INCREASE PERCEPTION OF RISK FROM 85.5% (2020) TO 95.5% (2026). OUR PROJECT HAS DEVELOPED ANNUAL STRATEGIES THAT WILL SERVE ALL YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 (CURRENTLY, 650); ALTHOUGH WE REALIZE THE IMPACT OF OUR EFFORTS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL TARGET THE 50+ PRESCRIBERS (PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, ETC.); 4 PHARMACIES; OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS; SCHOOL STAFF; PARENTS; AND COMMUNITY.