OHIO – Mary Makley Wolff, the coalition director for a Drug-Free Clermont County is reminding parents that alcohol and marijuana abuse can adversely affect brain development, which continues until age 25.

Community leaders formed the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County in 1995 with the mission of providing education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol to those 18 and younger. The coalition focuses on alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and prescription drugs.

Wolff points out that the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County mainly works on Primary Prevention and environmental strategies “way up stream to change the environment,” hopefully preventing the nightmare of addiction later in life. Research shows that the earlier the use of any substance in developing brains, the higher the chance of addiction.

Coalition members devote their prevention energies to youth 18 and under. They track data regarding non-use in the past 30 days, perception of parental disapproval, perception of peer disapproval and perception of risk.

“The data allows us to see where we’re making headway and how we stack up nationally,” Wolff says.

In 2011, the coalition received funding to expand its efforts from the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction services and, in 2015, the coalition obtained a federally funded Drug Free Communities Grant (DFC). This allows the coalition members to work with 12 sectors such as youth, parents, businesses, schools, law enforcement, government and civic organizations. The focus is on local conditions in the local community with local solutions as the most effective way to provide prevention of substance use among youth in Clermont County.

Current activities include the implementation of Botvin LifeSkills Training, an evidence-based health curriculum for middle schoolers with a high school refresher, a parent version for incarcerated moms and dads.

Read original article: Don’t discount your teen’s use of alcohol or marijuana