The Coalition for Urban Youth and Family Development to reduce opioid and prescription drug misuse. - The Coalition for Urban Youth and Family Development (CUYFD), established in 2015, serves Detroit’s west-side neighborhoods in Wayne County, Michigan, through comprehensive community-based substance misuse prevention efforts. Through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Local Drug Crises Grant Program, CUYFD will implement evidence-based, community-level prevention strategies to reduce youth opioid and prescription drug misuse among youth ages 12–18 residing in ZIP Codes 48235 and 48238. Detroit continues to experience a significant opioid crisis. In 2023, an estimated 432 Detroit residents died from drug overdoses, with opioids involved in the majority of fatalities. Wayne County also continues to experience opioid prescribing rates above the state average, increasing the availability of prescription medications within homes. According to the 2023 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) Survey, 5% of high school students reported using a prescription medication not prescribed to them in the past 30 days, while perception of risk associated with prescription drug misuse declined from 70% in 2022 to 65% in 2023. These data demonstrate the need for coordinated prevention efforts that address youth access, perceptions of harm, and community awareness regarding opioid and prescription drug misuse. CUYFD will utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and the Seven Strategies for Community Change to guide implementation. Activities will focus on increasing awareness of opioid misuse, counterfeit pills, and fentanyl risks; promoting safe medication storage and disposal; engaging parents and caregivers in prevention education; strengthening youth leadership and prevention messaging; supporting responsible prescribing awareness among healthcare providers; and implementing environmental prevention strategies that reduce youth access to prescription medications. Key activities include community education campaigns, parent and caregiver trainings, youth-led prevention initiatives, prescription drug take-back efforts, medication lock box distribution, social media and public awareness campaigns, healthcare provider outreach, and collaboration with schools, law enforcement, pharmacies, healthcare organizations, and community partners. Prevention messages will emphasize the dangers of opioid misuse, the risks associated with counterfeit pills, and the importance of safe medication practices within the home. Over the five-year project period, CUYFD will work to reduce past 30-day youth prescription drug misuse from 5% to 2.5%, increase youth perception of harm associated with opioid and prescription drug misuse, increase secure medication storage practices among adults, and strengthen community awareness regarding opioid-related risks. Through a coordinated, data-driven approach, CUYFD will enhance community capacity, reduce youth access to opioids and prescription medications, and create sustainable community conditions that support healthy, substance-free youth development.
