Stamford Local Prevention Council (SLPC) efforts to reduce and prevent youth misuse of alcohol and marijuana - The Stamford Local Prevention Council (SLPC) is proposing to implement project activities that will focus on reducing the use of alcohol and marijuana by Stamford youth. Recent changes in marijuana sales in Connecticut has resulted in the sales of recreational marijuana in Stamford effective January 2023. Robert Lawlor, the drug intelligence officer for the Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy team and New England HIDTA stated that the drug market in Connecticut is, “very unstable and very volatile.” (Hardaway, Monk, 2022). Stamford is a microcosm of Connecticut and based on the High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) it is evident that alcohol and marijuana are increasing issues for youth. YRBS data from 2019 (most recent due to COVID) indicates that Connecticut youth: Alcohol and Marijuana CT YRBS Had their first drink of alcohol before age 13 years (other than a few sips) 11.7 (9.7–14.0) 1,932 Currently drank alcohol (at least one drink of alcohol, on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey) 25.9 (22.9–29.2) 1,917 Currently were binge drinking (four or more drinks of alcohol in a row for female students or five or more drinks of alcohol in a row for male students) 12.9 (10.5–15.8) 1,947 Ever used marijuana (also called pot, weed, or cannabis) 35.9 (31.9–40.2) 1,920 Tried marijuana for the first time before age 13 years 3.8 (2.7–5.2) 1,920 Currently use marijuana (one or more times during the 30 days before the survey) 21.7 (18.8–25.0) 1,937 As a result, the Stamford LPC will focus on the following goals and objectives for this project: Goal #1: Strengthen the Stamford Local Prevention Council (LPC) by increasing community collaborations and engaging community organizations, community groups and individuals in coalition initiatives and activities. Objective 1: Expand the capacity of the Coalition by recruiting and retaining 6 new individual members and 5 community partners/organizations by September 2024 as measured by increases in member and sector organization rosters. Objective 2: Enhance the functioning and sustainability of the Coalition by developing twelve new LPC sector leaders by September 2024 as measured by LPC leadership committee roster and updated Coalition Involvement Agreements. Objective 3: Analyze and report results from three assessment tools of the coalition’s capacity as measured by survey implementation by September 2023. Goal #2: Reduce youth use of alcohol and marijuana by decreasing availability and increasing perception of harm. Objective 1: Reduce the percentage of Stamford 6-12th graders who report alcohol is easy to obtain by 10% from 47.5% to 42.8% by April 30, 2025 as measured by the Youth Survey. Objective 2: Increase by 10%, from 71% to 78%, the percentage of Stamford 6-12 graders who report moderate to great risk from using marijuana 1 to 2 times per week by April, 30 2025, as measured by the Youth Survey. Objective 3: Decrease the percentage of Stamford 6-12th graders who report marijuana is easy to obtain by 12% from 35.3% to 31.1% by April 30, 2025 as measured by the Youth Survey. Objective 4: Analyze and report on a minimum of 2 assessment tools to measure progress on the DFC Four Core Measures and generate comprehensive reports by September 2024.
