1. Lisa Laake and Andrea Clement-Johnson Larimer County Department of Health & Environment

2. Why it is important –  Although tobacco and alcohol use rates have declined for youth, marijuana (MJ) use has been on the increase since 2007  Fewer teens smoke cigarettes than smoke marijuana  Young people are showing less disapproval of marijuana use and decreased perception that is it dangerous. This timing coincides with medical and recreational legalization efforts

3. Why it is important –MJ use data for 9 th -12 th graders in CO  23.9% of 9 th graders had tried MJ at least once; 48.1% of 12 th graders had tried MJ at least once  8.1% tried before the age of 13  19.7% used MJ in the past 30 days  54.9% say it would be easy to get  10.9% drove when using MJ  19.7% rode with someone else who had been using MJ

5. Effects of MJ on young people  Difficulty concentrating, learning new things, poor academic performance  Memory loss and reduction in I.Q.  Interferes with making sound decisions  Increased risk of chronic depression and psychosis  Addiction  Motor vehicle crashes/accidents  Heart/lung complications  Engagement in other risk-taking behaviors  Prenatal and breastfeeding exposure results in long- term effects on children

6. Lessons learned from tobacco  Education/prevention programs should be comprehensive, sustainable and integrated into a community-wide approach  The evidence concludes that media campaigns, comprehensive community programs (where youth live, work, play) and state tobacco control programs (policy, advocacy, mobilization, etc.) prevent the initiation of tobacco use and reduce its prevalence among youth

7. Lessons learned from tobacco  MJ, like tobacco and alcohol, is not difficult for young people to get; with medical & recreational use, it is highly likely it will be even easier for young people to access  Close attention to flavored products that appeal to youth (e.g. flavored hookah, e-juice, Snus); edible marijuana (which will be available in Fort Collins) candies and treats may also be particularly appealing and confusing to young people

8. Investment in health & life outcomes  Prevention and cessation efforts are proven to reduce tobacco and substance use and lower associated healthcare costs, providing a strong return on investment (ROI)  Substance use prevention programs for youth are generally cost effective, because the programs are relatively inexpensive to implement  Though difficult to gauge the overall economic impact of substance abuse prevention, multiple studies suggest that $1 spent in prevention can result in roughly $10 in long-term benefits

9. Investment in health & life outcomes

10. Youth Engagement & Mobilization  Peer-based programs are widely accepted as a best practice when working with youth.  They are designed to encourage attitudes, knowledge, behaviors and outcomes that the community considers desirable, to discourage attitudes, behaviors and outcomes that a community considers undesirable, or to accomplish some of each of these.

11. Youth Engagement & Mobilization  According to the National Institutes of Health, youth-led, focused preventions programs have been identified as highly effective in engaging youth in tobacco research and prevention  Some key factors for success when working with youth include: Youth serving as leaders and advisors Social or financial rewards for youth who participate Ensuring the prevention information/outputs are culturally appropriate The inclusion of age and gender-relevant media, and Coordination with and linkages to ongoing programs and partners

12. What we’re currently doing  Established a youth coalition to design a campaign for the prevention of youth initiation of marijuana  Providing links and education to reputable information about the health and safety issues related to marijuana for youth, schools and community members, and organizations, and  Reviewing coalition progress with other relevant stakeholders and agencies and identify future needs and activities as well as a means for identifying sustainable funding for a long-term project

13. What we intend to accomplish  Develop a speaker’s bureau where students and adult mentors can share evidence-based education and information about MJ and youth in Larimer County communities  Design a peer mentor program for high school aged students to offer to middle school students, reaching youth before initiation or regular use of MJ  Develop a media campaign on youth MJ prevention in all Larimer County communities

14. What we intend to accomplish  Establish and promote that substance abuse among young people is not what the majority of young people are doing harmless to health without other consequences (legal, school-based reputation, parental, etc.)  Establish a coordinated prevention group, working across the county, made up of agencies working with youth or invested in youth health and success  Reduce or prevent MJ use among youth in Larimer County

15. Other Benefits of Our Project  Responds to requests from leaders and concerned citizens in our communities  Increases youth leadership development opportunities for Larimer County teens now and into adulthood  Utilizes community partnerships to leverage resources for better and more comprehensive outcomes  Ensures consistent, truthful messaging about MJ and teens

16. Community Partners  Poudre School District  Thompson School District  Team Fort Collins  The Center for Family Outreach  Boys & Girls Club  Alliance for Suicide Prevention  KBC Communications  Estes Valley Rec. & Parks District  Larimer County Sheriff’s Office  TFLC TobacNO coalitions

17. Thank you!  Questions?