The use of illegal drugs and prescription drugs is one of the biggest issues facing many communities across the nation, and the Sherburne County Substance Use Prevention Coalition  (SUP) is working to empower people to take action.

 

The coalition originated in 2009 during a Safe Schools meeting.

 

“Substance use and abuse came up frequently during meeting conversations,” says SUP Coordinator Alicia Maxwell. “We knew  we needed a coordinated effort.”

 

The coalition, which  is comprised of county staff, school leaders, parents, students, law enforcement, media, healthcare, local businesses and religious leaders, came together in 20102. Soon after, it applied for and  received a five-year Drug-

 

Free Communities grant in 2014. That funding is being used to address underage alcohol use,  recreational marijuana use and prescription drug misuse.

 

“We focus our efforts on adolescents 12 to 18,” says Maxwell. “We also do a lot of communication with parents and other caring adults because they have to be educated about the problems.”

 

Education and awareness are critical components of SUP’s strategy. Programs like the Be Real campaign help enlighten teens about the reality of drug and alcohol use.

 

“There is a huge misperception between what students believe and what is really occurring. They tend to believe more students are using alcohol and drugs than what is actually happening,” says Maxwell. “Be Real addresses that. Not everybody is using and it’s okay to admit that. You’re not in the minority by saying that.”

 

 Another campaign is Talk Early, Talk Often, which encourages parents and other adults to be proactive about discussing drug and alcohol issues with their kids.

 

“Don’t wait until they’re into experimentation or addiction before you start the conversation,” says Maxwell.

 

That campaign was launched last February with billboards, posters to businesses, news releases every other month and videos on social media to help parents learn the skills about how to have a conversation with their child.

 “It helps parents get past the awkwardness of bringing up the issues of drug and alcohol use,” says Maxwell. “The more you have the conversation, the less awkward it becomes.”

 

SUP works with schools, where it can have the most immediate impact. It currently has active student groups in Big Lake, Becker, Spectrum, Elk River and Rogers school systems, and is working with Zimmerman to create a sixth group.

 

In past summers, SUP has sent some students to out-of-state leadership training sessions coordinated by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) where they went through four days of rigorous training and learn about substance use and what they can do to address the issue.

 

Maxwell says training is expensive, so SUP has been limited to the number of students they could send.

 

But this year, a special one-day session has been set for local students. It takes place on Presidents Day (Feb. 19) at River City Extreme in Monticello. 

 

About 50-60 students will take part in the six-hour session and learn what it takes to become “change agents” in their community.     

 

Maxwell says it has been shown students with leadership skills can often have a bigger impact on their peers than adults. And the training session will help promote better communication as well as address activities that make a difference in the community.

 

“We hope to continue this every year,” says Maxwell. “And it could potentially be open to more students.”

 

To learn more about SUP, check online at www.sherburnesupcoalition.org.