Alcohol Tobacco & Other Drugs

In September of 2022, the Bourbon County Health Department in collaboration with the Paris-Bourbon Health and Human Service committee to complete a survey assessing the opinions of residents on the health status and health outcomes of Bourbon County. Residents were asked to rank the top five greatest health problems for Bourbon County. Among the 631 respondents, 77.1% (487 out of 631) of residents indicated that drug abuse was a major health problem.

A further review of local alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and opioid drug use data compared to regional or state data, when available, found Bourbon County had worse reported youth binge drinking, alcohol related motor vehicle deaths, tobacco-nicotine use, and drug overdose deaths.

To tackle this health issue in Bourbon County, the Paris-Bourbon Health and Human Service Committee has formed an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) workgroup. This group aims to develop preventive programs and initiatives that will help decrease drug use initiation, link residents to treatment options, raise public awareness and education on ATOD health matters, and implement community programs focused on addressing the following ATOD health outcomes in Bourbon County.

SELECTED INTERVENTIONS

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Dashboard – Coming Soon

We will be offering a dashboard for residents that will highlights the current trends in substance use and the climate or availability of various substances throughout Bourbon County. The information presented will include an overview of historical regulations related to access, as well as trends in substance use among both youth and adults (where data is accessible). Furthermore, our dashboard will include suggestions and best practices for communities, which are proven to reduce accidental deaths, lower usage rates, and improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for residents.

Parental Campaigns

The "Talk. They Hear You." National Media Campaign for Underage Drinking Prevention equips parents and caregivers to proactively engage in discussions with children about alcohol and drug use. With increasing rates of alcohol consumption among youth, evolving state regulations on marijuana, and the persistent opioid crisis, the campaign aims to help parents influence their children's substance choices, recognizing their significant impact on preventing early experimentation.

This campaign offers a variety of resources, including conversation starters, useful tips, and a mobile app designed to tackle underage drinking and drug use. The mobile app encompasses all these tools and additional features like practice simulations, videos, fact sheets, brochures, infographics, and guides to assist you. For instructions on downloading the app, click here. To request materials, see the training and presentation section of this page.

Talk About Vaping - You’re the Best Person

Parents and guardians can play a key role in preventing their kids from using e-cigarettes or other tobacco products. Thousands of kids start vaping every day, thus it's important for adults to have access to resources that support proactive and continuous discussions about the risks associated with trying e-cigarettes.

The latest "You're the Best Person" public service announcements emphasize that parents are the most effective individuals to discuss the risks of e-cigarette use with their children. This campaign encourages parents and guardians to visit TalkAboutVaping.org for tools to help them start the important conversation about vaping with their kids.

School Curriculums & Interventions

Too Good for Drugs puts Social and Emotional Learning to work through fun and interactive lessons, building the self-confidence that young people need to make healthy choices and achieve success. Too Good for Drugs promotes positive, pro-social attitudes and behaviors, while fostering healthy relationships, resistance to substance abuse and conflict, and resistance to negative peer pressure and influence. Too Good mitigates risk factors and promotes resiliency through the development of skills such as Goal Setting, Decision Making, Effective Communication, and more! Contact your Regional Prevention Center for more information.

As reported by the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, around 1.63 million students in the United States are currently using e-cigarettes. Given the increasing rates of youth usage, our workgroup is dedicated to strengthening early prevention strategies aimed at educating and empowering young individuals to avoid starting nicotine and tobacco use. One of our key initiatives is to introduce the CATCH MY BREATH curriculum in educational environments.

CATCH MY BREATH is a complimentary, evidence-based program aimed at preventing youth vaping, with documented success in decreasing the chances of students vaping. It aligns with national and state education standards and can be taught by anyone working with youth in grades 5-12, including educators, government agencies, public health professionals, and community volunteers. The program is straightforward to implement, featuring four scripted lessons per grade level, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes. To find out more or to arrange a training session, please refer to the training and presentation section on this page.

Arrive Alive Tour

UNITE's Arrive Alive Tour uses a simulator, videos, and resources to raise awareness about drinking and driving dangers. Participants use a virtual reality headset in a disabled vehicle to safely simulate impaired driving. Afterward, they receive a mock citation detailing the consequences of their experience. The program also includes a survey to evaluate participants' knowledge of drinking and driving before and after the simulation.

The HHS Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs workgroup, helped bring the Arrive Alive Tour in School Calendar year 2023-2024 at both Bourbon County High School and Paris High School. Below are the findings on the student surveys.

· Bourbon County High School March 2024 Visit

· Paris High School August 2023 Visit

Community

Naloxone Distribution & Training

In collaboration with our community partner, the Bourbon County Health Department, this workgroup aims to assist the new Recovery Coach in promoting Narcan distribution. Pop-up stands will be offered throughout the county at different businesses, aimed not only at distributing Narcan but also at raising awareness about the overdose epidemic currently impacting America. This outreach initiative will engage community members in discussions on how we can support individuals in recovery and will highlight the services provided by the Bourbon County Health Department through their Recovery Coach. Substance abuse affects numerous lives, and by providing training opportunities on Narcan, we aim to educate and support those who are impacted by this issue.

Public Polling – Coming Soon

Our team will be carrying out a public opinion poll in this year to gather your insights and feedback on the dangers of secondhand smoke and aerosol. We will also explore your views on whether communities should implement regulations to safeguard all visitors and workers from exposure to air pollutants in public spaces. We would appreciate your thoughts and insights and encourage you to stay tuned for an upcoming announcement.

Request for Training, Presentation & Technical Assistance

Our community work group offers several trainings, presentations, promotional materials, and technical assistance for the community. Some of these services include:

· Naloxone Training

· Catch My Breath Train the Trainer (Schools Only)

· Catch My Breath Community Presentation

· PAVe Community Presentation

· Smoke Free Policy – Technical Assistance

· Too Good For Drugs (Schools Only)

· Material Distribution and more

If your business, school, or civic group is interested in our interventions, please complete our brief survey.