Health Beat: What Is Substance-Abuse Prevention and How Can You Help?

Posted

We talk a lot about how to fix the problems we have today in Lewis County, and those are good conversations to have, but what about the problems that never happen? If we can see the train coming, why not just get off the tracks? Taking action before there’s a problem is called prevention, and some of your fellow citizens are engaged in that work. Consider this an invitation to join them.

One of the most destructive forces known to society is not hurricanes or tornados or wildfires, but the ravages of addiction. Substance abuse can break families, ruin finances, and stop education in its tracks. Recognizing that it’s best to get to problems before they start, the Washington Healthcare Authority funds a program called the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI).

Across Washington State there are 82 CPWI communities that have each been granted state funding to use proven methods to prevent kids from using drugs and alcohol. These funds are controlled by a coalition of community partners, willing volunteers from schools, healthcare, law enforcement, civic groups, and others, all coming together to make positive changes for youth. We have two of these coalitions here in Lewis County, and you are welcome to join them.

In Morton, the Morton UP! coalition has been going strong for more than 5 years. Dozens of families have taken its free parenting classes. Many community education events have explained how to help kids make healthier choices. Students are receiving life skills lessons in the Morton and White Pass schools, and their Youth Prevention Teams have participated in state and national Prevention conferences.

 

Morton Up!

Just recently, Morton UP! started a new program, GAP Mentoring, in conjunction with the Morton Police Department, and started offering afterschool and summer programs as well. Morton UP! helped co-host the National Drug Take Back Day event at the Morton Police Department. More than 100 pounds of unwanted medications were collected, getting them out of medicine cabinets and out of the hands of those who might abuse them.

That isn’t all they have planned though, and the future could bring even more great things to Morton and East Lewis County. Join them every 3rd Thursday of the month, from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at Centralia College East in Morton. For more information about Morton UP!, call the coordinator Emily Killeen at 360-740-1424.



 

Centralia Prevention Coalition

The Coalition was formed and funded last year as part of a big expansion of the CPWI program. In just under a year, the Centralia Prevention Coalition has created a comprehensive strategic prevention plan, held two special events for the community, started life skills education in Centralia Middle School, funded a successful round of parenting education in partnership with Centralia College, and is working on bringing back Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide mentoring opportunities for Centralia youth.

The coalition also just recently co-hosted the National Drug Take Back Day event at the Centralia Police Department, where more than 140 pounds of unwanted medications were collected. Hear more by attending one of the monthly coalition meetings, every 2nd Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 at Centralia Middle School. The Centralia contact is Isaac Wulff who can be reached at 360-740-1434.

When we tell people what we do, “Change community conditions which leads to kids using drugs,” they will often snort and say, “Good luck with that,” as if there’s nothing to be done about it. The truth is that the majority of students make it all the way through middle and high school without ever using drugs or alcohol, so it’s not the “norm” that it may have been for previous generations. That is largely because of prevention efforts like CPWI, implementing programs that we know actually work.

Prevention works because we combine decades of quality research with caring community partners who know our towns and the youth in them better than anybody. Become a believer in prevention and join us in making Lewis County a safer, healthier place to learn and grow.