Project Lazarus
The Project Lazarus public health model is based on the premise that drug overdose deaths are preventable and that all communities are ultimately responsible for their own health. The model components: (1) community activation and coalition building, (2) monitoring and epidemiological surveillance, (3) prevention of overdoses through medical education and other means, (4) use of rescue medication to reverse overdoses by community members, and (5) evaluation of project components. The last four steps operate in a cyclical manner, with community advisory boards playing the central role in developing and designing each aspect of the intervention.
Talk It Up Lock It Up
In North Carolina, 35% of high school students report having at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days. The most common source of alcohol is either their own house or a friend’s house. Talk It Up! Lock It Up! is a NC Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative that encourages adults to lock up alcohol in their homes, and to talk with the youth in their care about the impact of underage drinking. SAPHE (Substance Abuse Prevention Helps Everyone) youth work with adults in their home counties to sign Safe Home Pledges and to lock up alcohol in residential homes.
Sticker Shock
SAPHE youth are working with retail outlets to raise awareness about Flavored Alcoholic Beverages (FAB). In 2006, legislation was passed that increased from 6% to 15% the amount of alcohol that beverages marketed as “malted beverages” could contain. This has led to a new brand of drink, Flavored Alcoholic Beverages, that are sold alongside beer. These drinks are full of sugar and fruit flavorings and can contain up to 5 “drinks” per non-resealable can or bottle. These drinks are targeted to youth. Almost two-thirds (64%) of 8th grade drinkers report drinking FABs; whereas fewer than a quarter (<25%) of 30 year olds drink them. In the Sticker Shock Campaign, SAPHE youth raise awareness by labeling FABs with stickers that show alcohol is in the beverages and it is illegal to sell to youth under age 21.
Alcohol Purchase Surveys
“The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends enhanced enforcement of laws prohibiting sale of alcohol to minors, on the basis of sufficient evidence of effectiveness in limiting underage alcohol purchases.” In other words, CCSAP mystery shops stores selling alcohol. It is a program that works.
Pride School Surveys
Every other year CCSAP surveys all 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in public and private schools to monitor risky behaviors and contributing factors among youth. Over the years, the Harold Bate Foundation and Carteret County Schools have contributed financially. We thank our partners and look forward to seeing the results of Academic Year 2015-2016.