Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Project Title: Alcohol, Marijuana and Prescription Drug Coalition The Alcohol, Marijuana and Prescription Drug (AMPD) Coalition proposes to implement a Drug-Free Community project in the City of Richmond, California. Richmond is comprised of a predominantly low-income and minority population and has high rates of violence, twice the U.S. rate, ranking it more dangerous than nine out of 10 U.S. communities. Prescription drug and marijuana use among Richmond youth has been a significantly increasing problem. At the same time, only about half of all youth perceive moderate or great harm from smoking marijuana occasionally. Given that teens developing brains are particularly vulnerable to marijuana, it is imperative that the community understands the risks to their brain development, cognition, and function. The AMPD Coalition has identified prescription drugs and marijuana as the two primary substances it will be addressing in this proposed project. The primary goals of the Coalition's 12-Month Action Plan are to (1)increase community collaboration; (2) reduce the availability of prescription drugs for youth; and (3) reduce underage marijuana use. Proposed Year 1 objectives are as follows: (A) by September 29, 2019, increase Alcohol, Marijuana and Prescription Drug Coalition membership by 20% (4 new members), add a 6-8 member youth arm to the Coalition, and by August 15, 2019, conduct 9 outreach presentations (in home language when possible); (B) provide prescription drug awareness and disposal information to a minimum of 500 school and community members; (C) reach 1,000 individuals with information on marijuana and the developing brain and high-potency THC; and (D) conduct an assessment reaching 125 community members and 200 individuals with information on marijuana and the developing brain and high-potency THC. Strategies to increase community collaboration are to increase the collaborative and community control process through Coalition organizational development; increase Coalition membership by 20%; and build the capacity of Coalition members and Youth Coalition members. Strategies to reduce youth prescription drug use are as follows: assess use and increase awareness in Richmond schools; increase community education and awareness around safe storage and disposal; and increase levels of proper disposal. Strategies to reduce youth marijuana use are to promote youth peer advocacy and prevention; develop a youth-driven social media campaign on health risks of marijuana the the developing brain; monitor and assess the impact of new local marijuana regulations; design tools and collect current perception of harm data; conduct public awareness campaign; and conduct outreach and community education on the need to decrease youth marijuana use. The target population for the proposed project--the City of Richmond, California--has 103,701 residents. An estimated 7,582 students, grades 6-12 will be served by Coalition activities.
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