WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW!

HEALTHY, RESILIENT & THRIVING COMMUNITIES

Gallia County Healing, Outreach, Prevention And Education (HOPE)

BECOME A PART OF

OUR COALITION!

MONDAY

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

WE MEET THE SECOND MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

MEETING LOCATION

OSU Extension Office, 100 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis, OH 45631

ZOOM

MEETING ID:

825 1036 2222

PASSCODE: HOPE25

MISSION

Our mission is to educate, empower, and unite our community in order to decrease alcohol and substance use, while encouraging help-seeking behaviors to lessen the effects of addiction in Gallia County.

We strive to promote prevention, deliver education, and cultivate connections by providing valuable resources and opportunities to all in the community

We strive to have representation across the 12 sectors of prevention:

  • Youth

  • Parents, Grandparents & Caregivers

  • Law enforcement

  • Schools

  • Businesses

  • Media

  • Youth-serving organizations

  • Religious and fraternal organizations

  • Civic and volunteer groups

  • Healthcare professionals

  • State, local, and tribal agencies with expertise in substance abuse

  • Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse

What high-risk behaviors does the coalition aim to address?

  • Alcohol

  • Vaping, Marijuana, Other Substances

  • Human Trafficking

  • Prescription Medication Misuse

  • Youth Gambling

What kinds of activities does the coalition engage in?

  • Informational table at community events

  • Prescription Drug Take Back Days

  • Prevention Day at the Fair

  • Overdose Awareness Day

  • Support Harm Reduction Strategies

  • Hidden in Plain Sight presentations

  • “Talk. They Hear You” Campaign

COMMITTEES

ANTI-HUMAN

TRAFFICKING

DATA

EVENTS

FUNDRAISING

THE DATA

The Average Age of Substance Use Onset:

  • Alcohol: 13 years

  • Marijuana: 13 years

16% of students report having consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.

  • Among these students, 41% have had alcohol on multiple occasions.

  • 55% have participated in binge

    drinking at least once.

31% of students indicate they have ever used an e-vape product.

  • Of these, 17% have vaped on more than one occasion in the last 30 days.

9% of students have used marijuana in the past 30 days.

  • 13% of these used vapes as their method of consumption.

How are they getting substances and where are they using them?

  • Students report that parents or others purchase alcohol for them.

  • Vapes are often borrowed from peers, or students provide money to others to buy them.

  • Common occasions for use include weekends.

  • Settings include home or a friend’s residence.

Concerns related to screen time

  • 77% of students reported that parents never or rarely limit the times of day or length of time when they can use

    electronic devices for non school related purposes.

    • 16% of teenagers in Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs have gambled money or personal items in the past year.

    • 24% of youth in these areas admit to being dishonest about the amount they gamble.

Data collected from the 2022-2023 OHYES! Survey

OUR WHY

HOW DO WE DO IT?

We follow SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework:

Assessment: collect data to define problems, resources & readiness

Example: community readiness assessment, community health improvement plans, OHYES! & focus groups

Capacity: build coalition membership, organizational structure and leadership so we can address the needs

Example: membership drives, trainings & bylaws

Planning: develop comprehensive strategies to address the problems identified in the assessment

Example: developing prevention strategies based on data and needs assessment, referring to resources available and writing a plan of action with steps and deadlines

Implementation: do the work to implement strategies, programs, and policies

Example: “Hidden in Plain Sight” parent/community education sessions, “Talk. They hear you.” campaign promotion, distributing Deterra Drug Deactivation bags, partnering for Drug Take Back events, Prevention Day at the Fair

Evaluation: measure the impact of strategies, programs and policies

Example: Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey administered to 8th, 10th and 12th graders

Throughout this whole process we strive to be culturally competent and build sustainability

"Talk. They Hear You."®

Underage Drinking Campaign

The "Talk. They Hear You." campaign by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helps parents and caregivers start meaningful conversations with their children about the risks of alcohol and drug use. Open, early, and ongoing communication plays a key role in preventing youth substance misuse.

How the Campaign Helps Families

  • Conversation Guides – Practical tips for discussing underage drinking and drug use.

  • Interactive Tools – A mobile app and online resources to help parents prepare for these talks.

  • Fact-Based Prevention – Evidence-based strategies to empower children to make healthy choices.

Start the Conversation Today!

Talking to your child may be easier than you think. By setting clear expectations and listening actively, you can make a lasting impact.

Listen to our featured episode in the What Parents Are Saying podcast to hear real experiences and expert insights.

Learn more and access resources at: SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.”

SPF-PFS Initiative in Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs Counties

The Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) initiative aims to prevent underage drinking and strengthen substance misuse prevention efforts. It is a collaboration between the Gallia, Jackson, Meigs Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board, local coalitions, Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Key Developments and Activities:

  1. Expansion of SPF-PFS in 2021

  • Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs counties joined the initiative through ADAMH funding.

  • A Prevention Data Committee was formed to assess youth substance use trends.

  1. Community-Based Research and Strategic Planning

  • Conducted the Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey (OHYES!).

  • Completed a Community Risk Assessment for underage drinking.

  • Applied Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) to strengthen partnerships.

  • Developed a strategic prevention plan to guide future actions.

  1. Building Coalition Capacity

  • Funding and resources provided for coalition training and operational structures.

  • Technical assistance ensured best practices.

  1. Future Goals & Sustainability

  • Securing long-term funding and expanding outreach.

  • Enhancing community engagement and strategy adaptability.

This data-driven, evidence-informed initiative empowers communities to proactively address youth substance misuse.


For more details, visit the SPF-PFS SEO website.

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