Unicoi County Prevention Coalition Inc

UNICOI COUNTY PREVENTION COALITION ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE UC PREVENTION COALITION HAS INCREASED OUR MEMBERSHIP TO 40 MEMBERS AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMBINING OUR UC HEALTH COUNCIL AND UC COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD WITH OUR COALITION MEETINGS. OUR YOUTH COALITION IS EXPANDING AND WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE 30 NEW MEMBERS BY END OF 2022. THE COALITION HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 2,000 INDIVIDUAL MEDICATION LOCKBOXES IN THE COMMUNITY IN 2021 AND HAS COLLECTED OVER 100 LBS. OF EXPIRED, UNWANTED AND UNUSED MEDICATIONS FROM OUR 2 PERMANENT PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK LOCATIONS IN UNICOI COUNTY. WE HAVE SECURED A 3RD LOCK BOX FOR THE TOWN OF UNICOI. WE ARE PROVIDING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST DRUGS AND VIOLENCE CURRICULUM WHICH OUR SROS TEACH. WE HAVE FOCUS GROUPS EVERY NINE WEEKS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS IN REACHING THE AT-RISK YOUTH POPULATION AND THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. THESE FOCUS GROUPS EDUCATE YOUTH ON VAPING, MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, AND OTHER DRUGS. WE HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING PROGRAM CALLED H.O.P.E (HELPING OTHERS PERSEVERE AND EMPOWER) WHICH PAIRS AT RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH STRONG, RELIABLE, AND SMART PEERS FROM THE UNICOI COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS ALREADY MADE AN IMPACT WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW EVERY YEAR. OUR PSA DANGERS OF DRUGS CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS INCREASED IN STUDENT PARTICIPATION. IN 2020 WE RECEIVED 105 ENTRIES. THE WINNERS OF THE BILLBOARD ART CONTEST HAVE THEIR ARTWORK DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THE RADIO AD WINNER ADS ON THE DANGERS OF UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE AIRED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE ALL YOUTH ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, VAPING, MARIJUANA, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, AND OTHER DRUGS. IN 2020, WE REACHED OVER 7,354 PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BY DISTRIBUTING REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDES AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP CITIZENS OF UNICOI COUNTY FIND RESOURCES.