Hudson County SPF-PFS - Project Name: Hudson County Coalition SPF-PFS 2026 Partners in Prevention and our partners are pleased to implement the SPF-PFS grant ($425,000/year) through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA. The grant will help prevent substance use and its related problems and expand and strengthen a capacity to implement evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention strategies using the Strategic Prevention Framework in Hudson County, New Jersey. Our population of focus (Hudson County youth ages 14-20) makes up over 50,000 residents of our total population of 735,033. Our strategies/interventions include developing and implementing a comprehensive action plan using the Strategic Prevention Framework to increase prevention capacity and reduce underage drinking, tobacco (e-cigarette/vaping) use, and cannabis/marijuana/intoxicating hemp product (Delta-8) use among youth ages 14-20. Prevention interventions will provide services, programs, and practices for this population. The goals for our project (condensed for space) are as follows: Goal 1: Prevent and reduce the initiation and progression of underage and disordered drinking, tobacco use (specifically e-cigarettes/vaping), marijuana use (including intoxicating hemp products - Delta-8) use among high school and underage college students (ages 14-20) in Hudson County, New Jersey. Goal 2: Expand and strengthen the capacity of the coalition to implement evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention strategies in order to address underage and disordered drinking, tobacco use, and cannabis/marijuana use among high school and underage college students in Hudson County, New Jersey. The following are our measurable objectives (consolidated for space), which align with all of SAMHSA priorities. By September 29, 2031, (unless otherwise specified for Year 1 objectives): Objective 1A: Reduce youth access to alcohol among high school students and underage college students by 5% and increase in retail vendor compliance by 10%. Objective 1B: Reduce youth access to tobacco among high school students and underage college students by 5%, and increase in retail vendor compliance by 10%. Objective 1C: Increase youth perception of risk among high school students and underage college students by 10% regarding tobacco products (specifically vaping products). Objective 1D: Maintain current youth access rates to cannabis/ marijuana among high school students and underage college students. Objective 1E: Increase youth perception of risk/harm of cannabis/marijuana among high school students and underage college students by 5%. Objective 1F: Establish baseline data on youth access and perception of risk/harm related to intoxicating hemp products (e.g., Delta-8) and reduce youth access by 5%. (Year 1 objective) Objective 2A: Complete a comprehensive needs assessment and action plan to address alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana/intoxicating hemp products for youth ages 14-20. (Year 1 objective) Objective 2B: Enhance enforcement and compliance efforts for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis/marijuana/intoxicating hemp product (Delta-8) sales to underage individuals by training at least 50% of local retail vendors and increasing compliance rates by 10%. Objective 2C: Increase media reach/impressions to 1.5 million annually to address alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana/cannabis/intoxicating hemp product use among youth ages 14-20. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve over 50,000 youth ages 14-20 annually, and throughout the lifetime of the program we expect to serve approximately 85,000 unduplicated youth ages 14-20 in Hudson County, New Jersey.
