Reducing the Initiation of substance use Via Education, Resiliency, and Support (RIVERS) - Overdose deaths continue to rise across the nation, and Arkansas is no exception to this trend. Comprehensive strategies to address substance use should include efforts to prevent people from ever initiating use, especially during youth. Many of the neurological pathways involved in reward processing are still developing during adolescence, and research shows that exposure to substances during this period has lifelong implications for addiction. Adolescent populations in rural areas, such as Izard County, may be particularly vulnerable to these risks, due to the collective impact of multiple social determinants of health. Rural populations experience greater health disparities than residents of other areas, (especially disparities related to tobacco use), and often face additional barriers to wellbeing. To protect the health of our residents, the Izard County Hometown Health & Prevention Coalition has made it our mission to address youth substance use in our area. Data suggest that nicotine and alcohol are by far the most likely substances to be used by youth in Izard County, so these are the substances our application will address. To prevent nicotine use and alcohol use among youth in Izard County, the coalition has created a model program called RIVERS, which stands for Reducing the Initiation of substance use Via Education, Resiliency, and Support. This program will address the underlying causes of youth substance use through activities that build emotional resilience, change social norms, empower families, and increase collaboration between community partners.
