Youth leadership in prevention and reduction of opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse - safe?s grant is to educate and empower youth 12-18 in chesterfield county VA to prevent use…

Youth leadership in prevention and reduction of opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse - safe?s grant is to educate and empower youth 12-18 in chesterfield county VA to prevent use and misuse of opioids, methamphetamines and prescription drugs. We will reach the community level to change social norms, utilizing power and effectiveness of substance abuse prevention messaging created and delivered by youth for youth. Three strategies will change culture and context regarding acceptability of youth use and misuse of these substances. Goals of grant are by june 2022 to decrease past 30-day use of opioids and methamphetamines in 10TH graders to below national average and continue to have past 30-day use of prescription drugs in 12TH graders be below national average as measured by prevention needs assessment data. We will increase youth leadership in safe?s opioid, methamphetamine and prescription drug misuse prevention strategies by strengthening collaboration at local level. Year one of grant funding, we will increase engagement of middle and high school youth in drug misuse prevention strategies by increasing number of youth in safe?s youth coalition by 20% compared to june 2021 attendance and event rosters.youth will engage in three initiatives each year to educate themselves and peers about prevention of opioid, methamphetamines and prescription drug misuse: 1) interactive digital or in-person presentation at all 12 middle schools for all 4,846 6TH graders about health, social and legal consequences of substance use. 2) high school PSA contest at 3 schools with prevention message about dangers of use and misuse of opioids, methamphetamines and prescription drugs. Winning psas will air on local mass and social media with 83,333 impressions per year. 3) safe?s 13-member youth coalition will expand and create psas, including one spanish, and multiple social media messages for youth about dangers of opioid, methamphetamine and prescription drug misuse to air on local media outlets and be shared by schools and community partners. Yout h will advise safe on youth preferred methods of receiving media messaging. Youth will use knowledge and leadership skills to present prevention projects and psas to safe?s opioid and heroin prevention task force and to host and present psas at media release event with school and community. Grant strategies will be implemented by enhancing coalition partnerships with chesterfield county prevention services, public schools, communications and media and private media businesses who will help with student training and education.grant strategies will be evaluated by 2021, 2023, and 2025 prevention needs assessment of 8TH 10TH and 12TH grade students, pre and post surveys, number of schools and youth participating, attendance rosters, student surveys, and number reached by media spots and impressions. Over 5-year grant period, 24,230 6TH graders will be impacted at 12 middle schools. 241 high school students at 3 high schools will take part in PSA contests with messages reaching 416,665 community youth on social and mass media. 16 youth coalition members at 8 or more high schools will participate in grant strategies affecting youth in schools and communities. Safe will track social media reach analytics for youth coalition social media prevention messaging.