Arizona Youth Partnership's collaboration with the Copper Corridor Coalition to prevent substance use in the Copper Corridor of Arizona. - Seasoned rural-serving prevention non-profit Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) is partnering with the Copper Corridor Coalition, to address the consistently high rates of underage drinking, marijuana and prescription (including illicit opioids) drug use/misuse across the Copper Corridor (Superior, Kearny, Hayden, Winkelman, Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle) in Arizona. The coalition works to identify specific needs in the community and provide evidence-based education to youth in an effort to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. The coalition has established and strengthened community collaboration and has become a focal point for the community where members, youth, and parents know they can rely on programs, activities, initiatives, and support to prevent and reduce youth substance use and misuse.
The population of the Copper Corridor is roughly 15,600 with 27% of the residents being under the age of 18. The median household income is $43,689 with 21% of the residents living below the poverty level. (2020 US Census) Families in the Copper Corridor are deeply rooted with several generations living in the same vicinity. This creates opportunities for large family get-to-gathers and cultural ceremonies or parties. These events provide opportunity for large amounts of alcohol, binge drinking, marijuana use and other drug use and risky behaviors by youth under the age of 18. Local conditions that drive youth substance use include; fluctuations in industry/employment, environmental events, lack of services, drug availability and favorable attitudes towards drug use. Drug seizures have drastically increased between 2018 and 2019; Marijuana 140 %, Meth increased 123%, and Fentanyl increased by 23% (Az Criminal Justice Commission Edge Report 2019).
Over the next five years, The Copper Corridor Coalition will use individual and environmental strategies to prevent youth substance use and create community level change. This will be completed by:
• Providing Information through educational presentations and meetings
• Enhancing skills with evidence-based curriculums, specific marketing strategies, and other trainings for the coalition members and the community.
• Providing support by creating opportunities to participate in activities that reduce risk and enhance protection such as Summer Leadership Conferences, Teen Maze, Grad Night events, and drug take back events.
• Enhancing access/reducing barriers by improving systems and increasing the ease to use those systems such as providing a comprehensive up-to-date resource map.
• Changing consequences with a diversion program that allows students to stay in school and receive services.
• Physical design by removing single use alcohol bottles from easy access low bins in stores.
• Modifying policies by working with local businesses to update and implement drug free workplace policies.
