West Hartford Partnerships for success 2016 - 2020 Project Overview

Partnerships for Success - Outcomes - Reducing and Preventing… Underage alcohol consumption (aged 12-20) Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs among youth (aged 12-25) Targeting shared risk factors: Social Access & Risk Perception Increasing local capacity for Coalition-based substance use prevention work

Community Coalition Grantee Organization State Evaluation Funding Agency

Coalition Membership WHPP includes stakeholders from the following organizations: Institute for Community Research West Hartford Dept. of Social Services West Hartford Public Schools The Bridge Family Center/ West Hartford Teen Center West Hartford Parent Teacher Organization West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District Hartford Dispensary West Hartford Police Department

Coalition Staffing Paid Staff are based at the Institute for Community Research Jean Schensul, Ph.D – Project supervisor Mitchell Irving, MPH – Coalition Coordinator David Reyes, BA – Senior Peer Advocate Lillian Oliveira – Peer Advocate Emily Melnick, MA – External Evaluator

Separation of Roles WHPP Coalition ICR SAPC Project planning & implementation through Sub-Committees (Youth, Parent, Seniors, Communications) Volunteer group coordinated by ICR; can include members from SAPC & partnerships with other stakeholder entities in town Separation of Roles Project Technical Assistance & Fiduciary Arm WHPP Coalition Coordinating, planning & facilitation of project process Review new & existing data for establishment of town Substance abuse prevention priorities SAPC ICR Responding to funder - Writing Project Reports Receive & review reports from stakeholder projects and Coalition members’ activities Suggest possible new directions for knowledge development of SAPC members Updating Needs Assessment, Survey Analysis Staff for coordination & evaluation

Needs Assessment - Youth Student Survey, 2017 (n=2151) Past Month Substance Use: Across all students: 26% drank alcohol at least once, 19.9% used marijuana, 7.6% used prescription drugs non-medically (more than cigarette smokers) Increased use with grade: Alcohol – 12.3% of Freshman vs. 47.4% of Seniors Rx Misuse – 5.3% Freshman vs. 10.2% Juniors, 9.5% Seniors Females report drinking slightly more, males report Rx-misuse slightly more “Other” Gender – Significantly higher past month substance use (Rx Misuse - 43%, Alcohol Use – 41%)

Needs Assessment - Youth Key Risk Factors 74% say alcohol is easy to obtain, 40% say Rx drugs are easy to obtain (family & friends) Risk perception – About 30% of students do not see high risks in alcohol use, 38% do not see high risks in Rx drug misuse Poly-Substance Use 22% of students who drank in past month also misused Rx drugs 69% of students who misused prescriptions also smoked marijuana Focus Groups on Rx Drug Misuse Self-medicating behaviors, coping with academic demands & stress, generally solo use (less use at parties), mixing with alcohol/other drugs common, pills often accessed through family members and friends

Needs Assessment - Adults Parent Survey, 2017 (n=158) Most respondents (81%) see youth alcohol use as an important issue in town, but most lack awareness of Rx drug issue 93% of respondents who reported having medications in the home kept them in an unlocked location, 92% who had alcohol in the home kept it unlocked 31% were aware of the bi-annual drug “Take Back” Day Only 13% reported disposing drugs at a “Take Back” day No permanent Rx drug drop box exists in West Hartford

Planned PFS West Hartford Programs Parents & Seniors – Interactive Small Group Sessions to raise awareness about both prescription drug & alcohol access in the family context. PSA development. Youth – Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) & Leadership Program – Youth engaging with other youth to promote and expand alternative, substance-free spaces & events in town. Prevention Messaging Community – Social Marketing Campaign to disseminate prevention messaging developed in the adult & youth projects to these populations town-wide.