Substance Abuse Prevention

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Project Alliance – Collaboration and Action to Reduce Substance Use and Misuse

CHCC’s Project Alliance coalition aims to increase collaboration and take action to reduce the risks related to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs for youth and community members in northern York County.

The Project Alliance board includes representatives from diverse sectors including schools, parents, law enforcement, youth, clergy, and more. In collaboration with community partners, Project Alliance leads substance misuse prevention efforts to reduce retail and social access to alcohol, increase awareness of the risks of marijuana use, and promote the safe disposal of prescription medication. Project Alliance board members have been leaders in establishing the Northern York County Prescription Drug Coalition, chairing the Maine Opiate Collaborative’s Prevention/Harm Reduction Task Force, and serving as the prevention partner for the newly-formed Saco Biddeford Opioid Outreach Initiative.

CHCC’s substance abuse prevention work is supported by funding from the Maine Substance Use Prevention Services grant and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Alcohol: Underage Drinking

What we do

CHCC addresses underage drinking through strategies to reduce retail and social access to alcohol. 

Who we reach

CHCC reduces access to and use of alcohol among youth ages 12-18 by working directly with youth, parents, retails, law enforcement and schools.

Our approach

  • Responsible Beverage Server trainings: CHCC sponsors trainings that give owners, managers and staff of establishments that serve alcohol the knowledge and skills needed to help them serve alcohol responsibly and fulfill the legal requirements of alcohol service.
  • Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: CHCC conducts “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaigns that educate parents on the laws, risks, and consequences of hosting underage drinking parties.
  • Collaboration with Law Enforcement: CHCC supports the York County Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) to conduct retail underage drinking law compliance checks and party patrols.
  • Project Sticker Shock: This program is designed to reach adults who consider purchasing alcohol for minors. Student volunteers place bright stickers warning about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors on alcohol products that appeal to underage drinkers. The project is a partnership between youth, retailers, concerned parents, community members, prevention professionals, and law enforcement with the goal of educating potential furnishers, raising public awareness about underage drinking, and deterring the provision of alcohol to minors. 
  • School Substance Use Policies: CHCC provides technical assistance to schools reviewing and revising their policies. Effective substance use policies are an essential part of creating a healthy and safe school environment for students, staff, and communities.
  • Photovoice: PhotoVoice promotes the use of photography for positive social change while capturing the conditions in the community through the eyes of our youth.  
  • Prime for Life: Prime for life is an evidenced-based prevention and intervention program. The program helps people learn to reduce their risks of alcohol and drug related problems throughout their lifetime. It is designed to change drinking and drug use behaviors by changing beliefs, attitudes, risk perceptions, motivations, and the knowledge of how to reduce risk of alcohol and drug related problems throughout their lives. 
     

Additional resources: 

Marijuana

CHCC works to reduce marijuana use among youth ages 12-18 by distributing information, providing training, and facilitating discussions on the latest research relating to the health impacts of marijuana use among youth, current laws and policies, and evidence-based lesson plans for educators. 

Who we reach 

We work directly with youth, parents, law enforcement, and school administrators.

Our approaches

  • School Substance Abuse Policies: CHCC provides technical assistance to schools reviewing and revising their policies. Effective substance abuse policies are an essential part of creating a healthy, safe school environment for students, staff, and communities. 
  • Collaboration with Law Enforcement: CHCC supports York County’s Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) committee to conduct party patrols.
  • Marijuana Summit: CHCC convenes groups of school administrators and youth for annual meetings aimed at increasing knowledge about current marijuana use trends among youth and the health and legal implications. The summits offer a chance for networking, information sharing, and framing action plans.
  • Photovoice: PhotoVoice promotes the use of photography for positive social change while capturing the conditions in the community through the eyes of our youth.
  • Prime for Life: Prime for life is an evidenced-based prevention and intervention program. The program helps people learn to reduce their risks of alcohol and drug related problems throughout their lifetime. It is designed to change drinking and drug use behaviors by changing beliefs, attitudes, risk perceptions, motivations, and the knowledge of how to reduce risk of alcohol and drug related problems throughout their lives. 

Additional Resources

Prescription Drug Abuse

What we do

CHCC works to prevent prescription drug and medicine abuse in northern York County.

Who we reach

CHCC works with law enforcement, realtors, funeral homeowners, and other specific businesses to reach the greater community.

Our approach

  • Drug Take-Back Days: In collaboration with the Northern York County Prescription Drug Coalition, CHCC sponsors and promotes semi-annual drug take-back days where community members can safely and securely dispose of expired, unused and unwanted medicines. Local events are part of the National Take-Back Initiative coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
  • MedReturn Boxes: CHCC partners with local law enforcement departments to make MedReturn boxes available, allowing community members to safely and securely drop off expired, unused or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications. Drop boxes are located in every police department lobby in northern York County. To find a drop box near you, visit MedReturnME.com.
  • Education: CHCC educates schools, community organizations, parents, and community members about the risks of prescription drug misuse and options for securing and safely disposing of medications.

Additional Resources

Contact

If you have questions, please email Cheri Sullivan at csullivan29@une.edu.