NCDP's reducing youth use of alcohol and marijuana in Southern Navajo County increases coalition engagement, expands schools and community-based education while outreach raises awareness countywide. - Reducing Youth Use of Alcohol and Marijuana in Southern Navajo County is a multi-strategy project of the Nexus Coalition for Drug Prevention (NCDP). Utilizing DFC funding, the coalition will serve an area of over 5,000 square miles of rural, remote Navajo County, located in northeastern Arizona. The overall county population is 43% American Indian, 42% White, 11% Latino with the remainder a mix of other race or ethnicity. The target service area has a population of 16,173, with 37% of youth under the age of 18 living in poverty and 76% of children qualifying for free or reduced lunches. Activities proposed in this application include increasing coalition engagement in the community; expanded school and community based education that will positively influence 3,700 un-duplicated youth 12-18 years of age; and outreach activities that will raise awareness with 75,000 residents county-wide. Targeted training's, workshops, and presentations will increase skills with school staff, parents, community and coalition members on the emergent trends and dangers of underage drinking and marijuana use. The project expands initial DFC funded activities and supports all seven strategies to achieve community change. NCDP grassroots efforts will strengthen communities and our youth to resist alcohol and drug use.
