The Chenango Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Drug Free Communities grant will focus on the City of Norwich, NY and specifically the Norwich School District, which, is home to four public and two private schools, with approximately 1,743 students. The estimated population of Norwich is 6,718 residents, a 2.2% decrease since the 2010 census. Of the families in Norwich, 52.3% report having children ages 6-17. The demographics of the City of Norwich is 96.48% White, 1.39% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population. The median age was 39 years. The median income for a household in the city was $28,485, and the median income for a family was $39,808. The number of individuals to be served annually will be 550 with 2,750 throughout the lifetime of the project.
The goals of the coalition are to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing strategies to involve representatives from all areas of the community to work together to reduce alcohol, prescription drug and marijuana use among youth and promoting factors that minimize the risk of substance use in adulthood.
Chenango Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition works to promote positive, healthy, and addiction-free youth development and intends to establish and strengthen network collaboration to influence policy and legislation. In addition, promote community education, change organization practices, and culture as well as strengthen youth knowledge and individual skills by addressing the factors that increase the risk of substance use and promoting the protective factors that minimize the risk of substance use.
Our strategy is to reduce problem behaviors by changing the context in which the behaviors occur. Based on the seven strategies for effective community change, the Chenango Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will provide information related to data on youth substance use, preventing substance use and the consequences of substance use. We will enhance skills by training youth, parents, and community members about substance use. We aim to improve systems so alcohol and drugs are not so readily available; as well as change consequences to decrease problem behavior. We have been successful in providing opportunities for returning unused prescription drugs and our parks are tobacco-free, we intend to continue to change the environment to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors. Lastly, we will advocate for change in local and federal laws in regards to underage drinking, marijuana and prescription drug use.
