DVIDS – News – Fort Jackson hosts Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention Week

By Devita Hampton

Prevention is a community effort.

We no longer live in a culture where there are taboo topics. As a society, we can teach age-appropriate prevention.

Children of parents who regularly talk to their teens about alcohol or drugs are less likely to use drugs than those who don't. Yet only a quarter of teenagers say they have had such conversations.

Red Ribbon Week provides the community with an opportunity to have ongoing discussions about alcohol and/or drugs.

Red Ribbon was created as a call to action to honor the sacrifices of former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “KiKi” Camarena.
Camarena was kidnapped while working on one of the biggest drug trafficking cases and never seen again.

A group of parents outraged by the impact of drugs in the community formed coalitions to fight drugs and send a drug-free message. Conversely, the first Red Ribbon Week was created in 1988 by the National Family Partnership.

For more than 25 years, the Red Ribbon has been a symbol of continued drug-free commitment. This year's theme, “Life is a movie, a drug-free movie,” reminds us that you can create your own story; The end is yours.

This year's celebration began on Wednesday.

At Fort Jackson, we are fortunate to have good relationships with our educational activity schools, community colleges, and Department of Defense installation partners.

As in previous years, we continue to work with local schools and the Middle School and Teen Program. The Department of Emergency Services is also providing the McGruff figure to greet students during the Red Ribbon Week rally on Wednesday.

DODEA schools host a themed Spirit Week with a “Lights, Camera, Action” red carpet event where students dress to impress and/or look like a movie star.

School counselors work hard to teach and promote a safe, healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Our middle school and youth youth program will offer a variety of prevention activities, including strategies to combat peer pressure and create a chain of positive and negative consequences.

Three key areas that play a critical role in shaping our youth are parents/families, schools and the community.

From birth, children depend on their parents and family for care, support and guidance. Our families instill our values, teach business skills and are our first interaction with the world. These values, skills and interactions often shape our beliefs and influence our thought process in the future. With this in mind, it is important for parents and families to understand what they can do to contribute to a drug-free lifestyle.
Below are tips for youth living a drug-free lifestyle: Family, Schools and Community – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

– Make sure your teen's friends do not bring alcohol into your home or property.

– Talk to other parents about not serving alcohol at other events your child will be attending.

– Create alcohol-free options and activities in your home to help teens feel welcome.

– Bullying can have lasting effects on a child's mental health. Being bullied in person or online can lead to a number of emotional and psychological challenges. Children who are bullied may experience feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.

n Help your child navigate social media.

A safe school and classroom are important to help students learn and develop. Here are some tips for a supportive school environment:
– Ask students how they are feeling

– Teach the art of journal writing

– Allow students to take breaks as sometimes they are mentally exhausted

– Help students identify their emotions

– Teaching healthy coping strategies

– Utilize the school's social worker and counselor to assist with classroom activities or with students in need of one-on-one support

The neighborhood, local community and state government can play an important role in drug-free communities by hosting community events, passing legislation and providing resources. By using technology, community leaders can reach broad audiences and provide unique opportunities to promote the drug-free message. The community must take the village approach to ensure the foundation is solid today and in the future.
For more information, please contact ASAP at (803) 751-5007.

Alcohol and Drug Statistics: provided by the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services

– In 2020, 1,734 South Carolinians died from drug overdoses, a number that has been increasing since 2014. Of those 1,734 deaths, 1,400 were opioid-related and 1,100 were fentanyl-related.

– Lexington County ranks No. 3 and Richland County No. 4 in the state for binge drinking from 2018 to 2022.

– Richland County's population is estimated to exceed 420,000 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Richland County has an overall ranking of 27th.

Check out these resources for support:

Local:
Moncrief Behavioral Health, child and adolescent therapy, individual outpatient behavioral health for family members, (803) 751-2513
LRADAC – Youth Program, Individual Outpatient Care Plans, Integrated Therapies, Family Support, (803) 751-9300
South Carolina DAODAS – Prevention Services, (803) 896-5555

National:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, SAMHSA’s “Talk. They hear you.” Campaign mobile app designed to help parents and caregivers, educators and communities.
Military OneSource, non-medical counseling services for dependents ages 6 to 18.