EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Swanton Area Community Coalition (SACC) seeks to bring all sectors of the community to work towards reduction and prevention of substance abuse in Swanton.
Through our programming the ultimate objective is to decrease 30 day substance use. We strive to promote reduction and abstinence in drug and alcohol use within the public, both adults and youth alike.
SACC’s Essential Components:
Prescription Drug Programming
Students Encouraging Educated Decisions (SEED)
Prescription Drug Disposal & Community Education
Through our programming the ultimate objective is to decrease 30 day substance use. We strive to promote reduction and abstinence in drug and alcohol use within the public, both adults and youth alike.
SACC’s Essential Components:
Prescription Drug Programming
Students Encouraging Educated Decisions (SEED)
Prescription Drug Disposal & Community Education
Sacc's Essential Components:
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAMMING
Through research, it is known that prescription drugs are precursors to heroin and opioid use; SACC will be directly addressing this emerging trend. Prescription drugs, heroin and opiates effect every sector and generation. Community resources will be offered to adults and youth.
SACC has identified that more professional development, information, training and support is needed in Swanton, including the SPD and Senior citizens. Awareness on the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, heroin, and opiates will be discussed. Additional support such as providing medication pill boxes that state, “properly dispose of used and unwanted medications,” and distribution of literature will be provided.
STUDENTS ENCOURAGING EDUCATED DECISIONS (SEED)
The goal for the SEED programs is to have meetings focus on prescription drugs, heroin, and opiate misuse and abuse. Curriculum topics include decision making, identification of opiate use and how to intervene with a friend you suspect of using opiates.
Since Swanton youth can gain access to prescription drugs through medications available at home and/or through friends, it is important that SACC educates the students on the outcomes of prescription drugs, heroin and opiate misuse and abuse. SACC has two different SEED programs: the Middle School and High School.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION/OUTREACH
The primary location where youth obtain prescription drugs is at home; as a result parents play a key role in preventing prescription drug abuse. When asked how two local facilities dispose of medications, they report flushing excess down the toilet. To decrease the accessibility of prescription drugs SACC will host prescription Drug Take Back Days throughout the year highlighting and promoting the use of a permanent drop box and use of the portable prescription drop box. By having the prescription drugs disposed of properly and the increased public awareness of the harmful effects, these efforts will ultimately decrease in substance abuse rates and overdoses among
History of SACC
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The Swanton Area Community Coalition, Inc. (SACC) is a volunteer community group working together to create a strong caring community, empowered to build excellence in our youth in both character and action by promoting substance free community events and activities to bring the community together as a whole.
SACC was formed in response to student survey results in 2004 indicating significant use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants by young people in our community. Determining a need to respond to these issues in a comprehensive manner, members of the community developed SACC. Through its first strategic planning session, the priorities of alcohol and inhalants were set. Over the last several years, school and community policy has changed and programming has increased. For example, substances that can be inhaled are no longer part of students supply lists, inhalants are confiscated and kids are referred. |
The district has developed a relationship to provide access to assistance for substance using students and has dedicated funds to increase the level and scope of programming. The community has changed its alcohol serving practices at open air festivals and developed a parent campaign and there is now an alcohol party report line.
SACC is engaged in ongoing strategic planning and implementation and it has developed a system of response to community substance use issues. These changes in policy and programming have contributed to a 6% reduction in 30 day use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana among students in grades 5-12.
Prior to the 2008 award of the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant, the coalition operated on a cash budget of less than $10,000, with a total budget with in-kind donations of over $100,000. Additional resources have been dedicated to the coalition through the volunteer leadership of shared projects such as movie nights, school based prevention programming and peer prevention groups as well as commitment from the business community in advocating for appropriate business practices and commitment from the local school board in changing policies. Free training has been provided by coalition members including the school district, The Community Partnership, chamber of commerce and local government.
According to the 2008 Lucas County Youth Survey 43.2% of 11th graders reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days. The survey results showed a decrease across the board in substance abuse in Swanton, Ohio. While SACC’s efforts have shown success in the past five years, there is still work to be done. It is important to recognize that the number of students in our community abusing alcohol represent THE MINORITY.
SACC is engaged in ongoing strategic planning and implementation and it has developed a system of response to community substance use issues. These changes in policy and programming have contributed to a 6% reduction in 30 day use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana among students in grades 5-12.
Prior to the 2008 award of the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant, the coalition operated on a cash budget of less than $10,000, with a total budget with in-kind donations of over $100,000. Additional resources have been dedicated to the coalition through the volunteer leadership of shared projects such as movie nights, school based prevention programming and peer prevention groups as well as commitment from the business community in advocating for appropriate business practices and commitment from the local school board in changing policies. Free training has been provided by coalition members including the school district, The Community Partnership, chamber of commerce and local government.
According to the 2008 Lucas County Youth Survey 43.2% of 11th graders reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days. The survey results showed a decrease across the board in substance abuse in Swanton, Ohio. While SACC’s efforts have shown success in the past five years, there is still work to be done. It is important to recognize that the number of students in our community abusing alcohol represent THE MINORITY.
What are some of sacc's past programming?
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