ENFIELD STOPS PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE (EPS) - ABSTRACTENFIELD STOPS PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE (ESP) PROJECT, A PROGRAM OF THE ENFIELD TOGETHER COALITION (ETC) SERVING THE TOWN OF ENFIELD (CT), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ENFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KIDS FIRST OF ENFIELD PLANS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING AND REDUCING PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE AMONG THE TOWN?S YOUTH,AGE 12 ? 18. IN ETC?S 2019 SURVEY, 5.3% OF ALL 12TH GRADERS REPORTED USING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR NON-MEDICAL PURPOSES DURING THE PAST 30 DAYS. IN COMPARISON, NATIONALLY, 3.6% OF 12TH GRADERS REPORTED USING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR NON-MEDICAL PURPOSES. AMONG ALL ENFIELD STUDENTS (GRADES 6 ? 12), THE RATE WAS 3.3%. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADES 9 ? 12) HAD A RATE OF 3.5% WHILE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADES 6 ? 8) HAD A RATE OF 3.1%. FURTHERMORE, THE PAST 30 DAY RATE OF USE AMONG LATINX YOUTH IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN AMONG WHITE YOUTH. THE PURPOSE OF ESP IS TO REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG ENFIELD?S YOUTH (AGES 12 ? 18) THROUGH THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES. ESP IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE STRONG ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RISKY BEHAVIORS (E.G. TRUANCY,POOR EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH,? SUICIDAL/SELF-HARMING IDEATION/ACTS) AND THE MIS-USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. ESP WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH KEY COALITION SECTORS (E.G. HEALTH CARE, BUSINESS, SCHOOLS, AND PARENTS) TO DELIVER INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE NON-MEDICAL USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AMONG YOUTH. THE PROJECT WILL EMPLOY THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AS A MEANS OF STRUCTURING THE PROJECT?S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT?S TWO GOALS ARE:I. REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG YOUTH, AGE 12 - 18.II. CHANGE THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT REGARDING ACCEPTABILITY OF YOUTH PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSEESP?S OBJECTIVES ARE: A) REDUCE PAST 30 DAY USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY STUDENT GRADES 6-12 FROM 3.3% TO 2%, (-39% CHANGE) JUNE 30, 2022 AS MEASURED BY STUDENT SURVEY DATA; B) ENHANCE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AND COORDINATION TO SUPPORT EFFORTS ON THE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE AMONG YOUTH, WITH THE REGIONAL NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT (NCDHD) BY JUNE 30, 2022 AS MEASURED BY SIGNED CONTRACT AND MEETING MINUTES DETAILING ACTION STEPS AND OUTCOMES. DETAILS OF THIS WILL BE PROVIDED IN AN ANNUAL REPORT; C) INCREASE PERCEPTION OF HARM OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION MISUSE OF 6-12TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM 76.6% (MODERATE/GREAT RISK) TO 85% (10.9% CHANGE) BY JUNE 30, 2022 AS MEASURED BY STUDENT SURVEY; AND D) PROVIDE ACADEMIC DETAILING ON PRESCRIBING PRACTICES TO 10 LOCAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE PRESCRIBERS BY JUNE 30, 2022 AS MEASURED BY PRESCRIBER PARTICIPATION AND COMPLETION OF A POST SURVEYTO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, ESP WILL USE ALL SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE. TO ATTAIN THE PROJECT?S GOALS (REDUCE MIS-USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND CHANGE THE CULTURE), ESP WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MEDIA CAMPAIGN, WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS TO ALTER THE HEALTH CLASS CURRICULUM, EDUCATE STUDENTS AND PARENTS, COLLABORATE WITH PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS REGARDING THE PRESCRIPTION OF ADDICTIVE MEDICATIONS, AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LATINX COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HISPANIC YOUTH.