Documenting Our Success
The Coalition's bi-annual Student Drug Use Survey results drive Coalition strategy and demonstrate that the Coalition's initiatives are working. Local adolescent substance abuse rates are at the lowest levels in 20 years. Youth use continues to decrease because the Coalition identifies and works to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors, through several efforts, including:
The anti-drug media campaign contributes to as much as a 19% reduction in use among students who have seen or heard anti-drug commercials. As a result, the Coalition works with all area media to disseminate anti-drug messages.
There is up to a 52% reduction among youth whose parents regularly talk with them about drugs, and establish and enforce clear and consistent rules. The Coalition's Strong Voices, Smart Choices campaign created the Parents Guide to Talking With Kids About Drugs. This booklet, a how-to guide for parents to hold age-appropriate conversations with their preschool through high school-aged children, has been distributed to more than 250,000 parents throughout the tri-state region.
We see up to a 49% reduction in use among youth playing school sports. The Coalition organizes an annual Coaches, Kids and Chemicals clinic to provide tools to school athletic personnel and youth athlete leaders to create a prevention program within their athletic program.
Students actively engaged in the faith community are 54% less likely to use drugs and alcohol. The Coalition partners with community organizations in the Reviving the Human Spirit collaborative to increase capacity of the faith community in executing successful drug and alcohol prevention programs.
Communities experience greater drug-use reduction, by as much as 41%, in neighborhoods where anti-drug coalitions exist than in those that do not have anti-drug coalitions. The Coalition has helped increased Greater Cincinnati's number of neighborhood Coalitions from seven in 1999 to 31 in 2006.
To learn how The Coalition works with local communities, please click here.
