Local coalition may be formed to prioritize substance abuse prevention

Substance abuse prevention is the focus of a newly formed coalition in Kimball County.

Five representatives from Kimball County, Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority and Kimball Public Schools met last month to discuss youth substance abuse prevention, according to Faith Mills, Youth Network and Prevention System Coordinator at the Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority.

Marshall Lewis is also part of the conversation of beginning a coalition group for this area. “I don’t really know that much about it, but I have been willing to listen,” he stated.

The group considered ways Kimball County communities can provide a safe environment for youth to learn, grow and thrive. The group hopes to meet again next month in May, to review local and statewide data and community members are encouraged to attend.

Mills added that substance abuse prevention efforts in the Nebraska Panhandle are supported in whole or part, by federal or state funds received from Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority, the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services Division of Behavioral Health, and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in addition to the Tobacco Free Nebraska Program as a result of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

“Region I has some money to get this going,” Kimball County Commissioner Daria Andersen-Faden said. “It looks like we can get something together and go forward.”

The Panhandle Prevention Coalition (PPC) is a part of the Panhandle Partnership for Health and Human Services and is comprised of local community coalitions and a regional coalition.

The PPC is a grassroots movement that encourages change in policies with education through social media and hopes to change trends in our local societies, when it comes to behaviors and substance abuse. The goals are to help reduce underage drinking, binge drinking, drinking and driving, tobacco prevention and prescription drug abuse in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Partnering with the coalition towards these goals are parents, local law enforcement, health care workers, community leaders, elected officials, educators and citizens.

The local grassroots organization would like to help address the underage/binge drinking in our community, as well as drinking and driving, tobacco use, and prescription drug abuse.

The group will also help to strengthen policies on the issues of drugs and alcohol in our community schools and the enforcement of the laws by our local law officers.

In 2010, the State of Nebraska passed into law the “Use and Lose” legislation. In the before mentioned year, Nebraska’s underage drinking costs, including medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering, totaled more than an estimated $423 million, which translates to a cost of $2,309 per year for each youth in Nebraska.

In 2011, more than two-thirds of Nebraska’s 11th and 12th graders and nearly half of 9th graders reported that they drank alcohol at least once in their lifetime. About 19% of the state’s 9th graders and 14.5% of 11th and 12th graders reported their first drink of alcohol occurred before age 13.

RBST or “Responsible Beverage Server Training” classes, that are presented by Tami Otto of the Nebraska State Patrol. These classes are offered to interested individuals who serve or sell alcohol, become prepared to deal with intoxicated consumers, or underage youth who are trying to obtain alcohol illegally.

Responsible Beverage Server Training is utilized throughout the nation, and is required by municipal ordinance in many communities, to help curb the sale of alcohol to minors and intoxicated individuals. The three-hour course helps establishment owners, managers, servers and sellers understand state and local alcohol policies and the potential consequences, such as criminal or civil liability, for failing to comply with such policies. More importantly, the class presenter teaches the necessary skills to comply with these policies.

These classes are at no cost to the community and can be viewed at the Kimball Health Services building via teleconference. The next class is offered on July 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and again on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Interested individuals can register online at http://www.panhandlepartnership.com/training-academy.html.

“I look forward to moving forward on forming this coalition,” stated Brenda McDonald, Prevention Specialist for Region 1.