Alleghany Highlands Community Services, Alleghany Highlands Healthy Youth Coalition and community partners are partnering together to celebrate Prevention Week May 10-16.
Throughout Prevention Week, the AHCSB and AHHYC would like to highlight prevention efforts throughout the Alleghany Highlands.
This year they have focused their prevention efforts on underage drinking, e-cigarettes, marijuana, opioids and suicide.
They have also implemented multiple media campaigns including: “Talk. They Hear You”, “Life is Hard. It’s Harder on Drugs”, “I’m No Fuul”, and “Seize the Awkward.”
All of the media campaigns have urged community members to develop healthy coping skills and create a conversation around mental health and drug use.
They have incorporated youth in their prevention efforts this year by taking three students to Texas for a conference where they learned valuable skills to be leaders in the community and help to prevent drug use.
The students came back with great ideas and helped form clubs within the schools, participate in outreach events, and educate their peers on the dangers of e-cigarettes.
Events held this past year have been huge successes, including a speaker from Chicago, Ill., a band, and a blow up Mega Brain to help spread the awareness of the dangers of opioids.
Local youth participated in Project Sticker Shock to bring awareness about the dangers of purchasing alcohol for minors.
In addition, a community conversation was held where community members were able to ask questions to local leaders about the opioid crisis.
Also over a 100 medication locking devices, medication disposal bags, and gun locks have been given out for free. Permanent medication drop boxes at the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office and Covington City Police Department have collected 286.8 pounds of unused, expired or unwanted medication.
This week the AHCSB and AHHYC would like to celebrate their accomplishments and thank the community for being a part of the change in the Alleghany Highlands.
For more information about the Alleghany Highlands Healthy Youth Coalition, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information, call Chelsea Dunaway at 965-2100 ext. 118.
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The Alleghany Highlands Community Services Board and the Alleghany High-lands Healthy Youth Coalition are partnering to celebrate National Prevention Week next week, May 10-16. (Photo Courtesy Alleghany Highlands Healthy Youth Coalition)
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