Gallatin County Champions Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking - ABSTRACT Gallatin County Champions will serve 8,720 citizens in the county with a focus on 1,100 youth ages 12-18. The county’s population is 90% White; 2% Black; 3% Some Other Race; and 4% Two or more races (US Census, 2023). School data reveals similar demographics: 88% white, 3% Black, 6% Hispanic/Latino; and 3% Two or more races (Kentucky School Report Card, 2024). Gallatin County youth exceeded regional, state, and national 30-day use rates for alcohol in every grade surveyed. By grade 12, nearly 8 students in every class of 20 (38%) had used alcohol within 30 days prior to the survey. This rate is 32% higher than their peers in the nation (26%), 40% higher than their peers in the region (23%), and 44% higher than their peers in the state (21%). Youth in Gallatin County also far exceeded their peers in reports of drunkenness, with nearly double the state rate: by grade 12, nearly 6 in every class of 20 (29%) reported that they had been drunk or very high from alcohol within the 30 days prior to the survey. This rate is aligned with student reports of binge drinking, which is reported for only the two weeks prior to the survey: By grade 8, the rate of binge drinking (8%) is 75% higher than those of their peers in the region (2%) or state (2%), and the 12th grade rate (24%) is approximately double that of their peers (region, 14%, state, 12%). The Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Northern Kentucky board Community Survey (December 2024) included Gallatin County. This survey showed that 96% of youth find alcohol “sort of easy” (42%) or “very easy” (54%) to access, and 80% of respondents noted that ease of access contributes to initial substance use among young people. The survey also showed that 94% of respondents believe that alcohol is the most common among misused substances in the region. The goal of the project is to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12 to 20 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. Objectives include: by September 29, 2029, reduce 30-day alcohol use among 8,10, and12 graders from 16.7% to 14% as measured by the biennial student survey; by September 29, 2029, increase perception of risk of alcohol use among 8,10, and12 graders from 63% to 68% as measured by the biennial student survey; by September 29, 2029, decrease access to alcohol, as evidenced by youth in grades 8,10 and 12 who say it is easy/sort of easy to get alcohol from 47.4% to 42% as measured by the biennial student survey; by September 29, 2029, increase peer disapproval of alcohol use from 68% to 71% as measured by the biennial student survey; by September 29, 2029, to engage at least eight additional community sector members or federal/state alcohol prevention organizations, an average of two per year, in coalition activities. Over the lifetime of the project, Gallatin County Champions plans to serve all 8,720 members of the community.
