SAFE Committee Meets

SAFE Committee Meets
Posted on 09/05/2017

Excelsior Springs SAFE (Substance Abuse-Free Environments) held our first monthly meeting of the school year on September 7th. SAFE is focused on preventing youth substance abuse in Excelsior Springs, specifically in the areas of underage drinking, nicotine, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse. Our members come from throughout the Excelsior Springs community; we are teachers, parents, pastors, police officers, social service workers, and business owners…all working together to achieve the goal of a healthier community. Our group is open to anyone who works or lives in ES and who is passionate about the cause of preventing substance abuse among youth. We received a federal grant in late 2016, and with that grant, we receive training on how to create community change by using research-based strategies. We use data from the Missouri Student Survey, and other data sources, to determine our focus. This past year, we have targeted tobacco use and underage drinking as two of our primary areas of focus.  We are currently running an anti-chewing tobacco campaign and a positive coping skills campaign. In the coming year, we will also be focusing efforts on prescription drug misuse among teens, as this is a growing concern nationwide as well as in our area. There are many things you can do to help with this cause! Please read more here: https://www.excelsiorspringssafe.com/blank-8.