From The Stanly News and Press

“Stanly County has received a major financial boost in its battle to combat the opioid epidemic.

The Center for Prevention Services in Charlotte was recently awarded a five-year, $1.25 million Partnership for Success Grant to serve Stanly. The grant, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, began this month and will run through Sept. 30, 2024.

CPS provides primary prevention education services to Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly, Union and Davidson counties.

The grant will provide approximately $260,000 per year to fund new efforts in Stanly aimed at reducing substance abuse.

CPS will administer a Youth Drug Survey to students in the sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth grades next spring. The survey will be voluntary, the information the students share will be anonymous and schools can opt out if they choose.

The data will help better inform service providers about the substance abuse issues in the schools and the magnitude of the issues. The survey has been administered to Mecklenburg County students for 30 years.

The survey includes questions about how often students use alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes (including e-cigarettes) and prescription drugs.

CPS grant manager Neetu Verma said CPS has received approval from Stanly County Schools for administering the survey next year. Parents will also receive a permission form they can sign if they do not want their children participating in the survey.

The survey will be administered to the students every other year.

Teachers and counselors from middle and high schools will be given the opportunity to be trained in the Botvin LifeSkills Training program.

It is an evidence-based prevention program backed by more than 30 scientific studies that has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug use. Studies show the program also helps reduce violence and school drop-out and helps with student academic performance.

The program has been used with youth in all 50 states and 39 other countries.

At least two teachers from middle and high schools will be trained in the program by Botvin trainers. The program curriculum for middle school students will be different than the curriculum for high school students.

The tentative plan is for middle school teachers to be trained next year and high school teachers the year after.

The Youth Drug Survey will provide CPS and school officials with baseline data which will then better inform the lifeskills training program, Verma said.”

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