Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
Source: Daily Independent, The (KY)
Copyright: 2002 The Daily Independent, Inc
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573

Words Of Praise

YOUTH ALCOHOL INITIATIVE HAVING IMPACT

That the Youth Alcohol Initiative has secured a $100,000 federal grant to 
continue past its original funding period is a tribute to the success of 
the program operated through the Boyd-Greenup County Champions for the 
Drug-Free Kentucky.

The program has  proved effective in reducing drug, alcohol and tobacco use 
among middle school students in the two counties. The grant will enable it 
to "continue and expand" for up to another five years.

The local program is one of 157 nationwide to be awarded funding through 
the federal Drug-Free Communities Support program. It currently is in the 
fourth and final year of funding through the Kentucky Incentives for 
Prevention project. That grant is no longer renewable.

The program, which operates in the Ashland, Fairview, Boyd County, 
Raceland-Worthington and Greenup County school districts, targets students 
in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. It provides a curriculum that 
gives students extensive information about drugs, tobacco and alcohol use 
and is aimed at prevention.

Through extensive surveys of all students, the program has determined that 
past 30-day smoking by eighth-graders in the two counties has decreased 
by  8 percent in the past three years, while past 30-day alcohol use has 
declined by 9 percent and marijuana use has dropped by 1 percent.

The program also found improved compliance by both restaurants and liquor 
retailers in checking the identification of young-looking customers 
attempting to purchase alcohol.

The program has not eliminated drug, alcohol and tobacco use among young 
teens in the two counties, but is helping to reduce their use. It is hoped 
the levels of use will continue to decline as the program continues and expands.
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MAP posted-by: Beth