Wendover - DFC project - wendover drug-free communities project abstract summary: nestled within the expansive high desert, the wendover community, home to roughly 6,000 residents, stands as a…

Wendover - DFC project - wendover drug-free communities project abstract summary: nestled within the expansive high desert, the wendover community, home to roughly 6,000 residents, stands as a testament to resilience in an isolated and challenging environment. Straddling the utah/nevada border, wendover is a tale of two cities: wendover, utah, with its modest local enterprises, and west wendover, nevada, a hub of legalized gambling, alcohol, and marijuana. The latter's vibrant casino industry attracts upwards of 30,000 visitors from utah's urban centers during peak weekends and events, fueling the local economy. Yet, this dynamic setting presents significant challenges, particularly for the youth. The normalization of substance use, coupled with the prevalence of shift work among parents, leads to reduced supervision and increased risk of substance misuse among adolescents. In a proactive response, the wendover prevention group, established in 2015, has embraced the communities that care framework to address these issues head-on. Bolstered by grant support and strong community collaborations, the coalition has advanced the implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies, concentrating on alcohol, marijuana, and vaping. Ongoing efforts are guided by insights from the 2023 student health and risk prevention (SHARP) survey. The SHARP survey has illuminated critical risk factors within the community, including low commitment to school, favorable perceptions of drug use, and weak community and family attachments. Protective factors such as prosocial involvement and family attachment are low and need strengthening. The coalition is dedicated to mitigating these risks through strategic interventions aimed at reducing and preventing substance misuse and fostering the positive development of wendover's youth. Long-term outcomes summary: 1. Sustained collaboration and cooperation among community partners to effectively address the root causes of youth substance use. 2. Achievement of long-term risk and protective factor goals, contributing to a healthier community environment. 3. Continued decrease in past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use among 6TH through 12TH graders, reflecting positive trends in substance use behaviors. 4. Substantial reductions in negative behaviors among youth, promoting a safer and more supportive educational environment. 5. Overall improvement in community well-being, marked by healthier youth behaviors and stronger community bonds.