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\u201cAlcohol is the number one drug of abuse among youth and young adults, and we\u2019ve been addressing this challenge for a long time\u201d affirms Mary Haag, President & CEO, PreventionFIRST!, formerly the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
The coalition\u2019s qualitative and quantitative data indicates that across the region \u2013 which covers 10 counties in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky \u2013 alcohol has the highest prevalence, the lowest perception of harm, and the lowest peer and parental disapproval rates. Usage also starts early, at 13 years of age.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration\u2019s (SAMHSA\u2019s) Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act funding allowed us to take a comprehensive approach to tackle the problem of underage drinking. In addition to engaging youth through a social norms campaign, a Red Ribbon Week Youth-led Summit, a Youth Leadership Institute, and Youth Volunteer of the Year Awards, we placed the spotlight on adult alcohol consumption and how this influenced underage drinking. More specifically, we targeted and continue to work with church and community festivals, educating their planners about how to minimize alcohol\u2019s potential impact on festival goers,\u201d shares Haag.<\/p>\n
More recently, as a sub-recipient of Ohio\u2019s Strategic Prevention Framework \u2013 State Incentive Grant, also from SAMHSA \u2013 the coalition targeted 18-25 year olds and high-risk drinking.<\/p>\n
The coalition partners with the Ohio Department of Public Safety\u2019s Ohio Investigative Unit, which provides seller-server training to retail operations and events, including festivals. Festival planners have adopted simple accommodations as a result of the training such as checking identification, ensuring that alcohol is served in roped off areas away from children\u2019s activities, and creating \u201cfamily-friendly days\u201d when alcohol is not being served. This training has raised awareness among planners et <\/em>participants about the hazards associated with high-risk drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cHosting festivals is a wonderful, family-friendly strategy to make money for a parish, church or other community program. While this is true, serving alcohol peut<\/em> create real challenges in regards to problematic drinking,\u201d concludes Haag.<\/p>\n \u00a0The coalition has also created a toolkit that provides guidance on how to effectively collaborate with festival planners on creating events that are healthy for everyone.<\/p>\n Additionally, PreventionFIRST! has used local grant funds to integrate the practice of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) into the region\u2019s school systems. While SBIRT is typically implemented in hospitals, community health centers, emergency departments, and workplace wellness programs, PreventionFIRST! piloted SBIRT as part of grades 6-9 scoliosis screenings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working with school nurses in three of our schools right now to ensure that students are screened for potential alcohol problems,\u201d says Haag. \u201cThe results have led to students talking with their parents about underage drinking, and we\u2019re providing critical resources. Our long-term goal is to promote policy change at the state level \u2013 that tous <\/em>schools use SBIRT as part of routine screenings for middle and high school students,\u201d concludes Haag.<\/p>\n The results of these and other efforts have been exceptional. PreventionFIRST! has been tracking alcohol abuse since 2000 and has successfully reduced use among 7-12e<\/sup> graders by 46 percent (source: 2016 PreventionFIRST! Student Drug Use Survey). As in most communities, alcohol use is socially acceptable, and parents in the Cincinnati region had favorable attitudes towards underage drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important to keep the pressure on,\u201d Haag adds. She offers this advice to coalitions as they struggle with multiple challenges, including underage drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though our issues are not solely on alcohol, we never lose sight of underage drinking and its potential impact on our communities\u2019 youth. About 80 percent of heroin abuse in our area originates from opioid abuse, and 80 percent of opioid abuse is preceded by marijuana and alcohol abuse. Misuse of one substance impacts abuse of another, and in some cases, it starts with alcohol \u2013 never forget that,\u201d says Haag.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n