News : U.S. to spent $625K on 5-year County substance abuse prevention program

Drug Free Communities coordinator Keiaffa Green met with area drug prevention leaders Thursday.

Keiaffa Green passed a basket full of unusual and apparently unrelated items around the table, asking each person to take an item.

A small sombrero. A camera. Those funny nose glasses. A tube of sun screen. A toy school bus. Play-Doh. A WD-40 pen. A deck of cards. A flashlight.

Then she asked each participant to share what that item represents in the efforts to combat substance abuse in Benton County.

Green recently began working full-time as the Benton County Drug Free Communities (DFC) coordinator from an office at Tilford Elementary. She had introduced herself to the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board at its last meeting. On Thursday, she introduced herself to others involved in the efforts to keep the youth of Benton County from using tobacco and alcohol, and abusing prescription drugs.

The participants included VSHS Assistant Principal Ryan Davis, Greg Walston of the Benton County ISU Extension Service, and several representatives from the organizations that help families deal with substance abuse. Several members of the Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC), including director Meredith Slaymaker, also participated in the meeting.

Green organized the meeting to give the people leading the fight against substance abuse to meet each other, and share their goals.

Five year, $625,000 grant program

Benton County is one of 76 awardees -- and the only one in Iowa -- to receive the DFC grant. The county will receive $125,000 each year for five years, with the option of applying for further funding after that. The grant will pay salaries, fund training and help advertise and promote specific efforts aimed at under age drinking, tobacco use, and prescription drug misuse. The Benton County Above the Influence Coalition has been a partnership between ASAC and county schools and other organizations for two years. The Coalition will be involved in the efforts; specific committees will be assigned to each particular area

. Green and Slaymaker say that while the Coalition met all of the requirements for the federal DFC grant program, they do not know why Benton County is the only in Iowa to receive the funding.

While Green's office is in Vinton, she will also be working with all of the areas of, and schools in, Benton County.

Future events

The Great American Smoke Out takes place Nov. 17, the same night as the annual Lighted Holiday Veterans Parade. Green plans to participate in that event. She and others plan to work with the schools and other organizations on "survivor kits" to give to those who would like to quit smoking. The prescription drug take-back program is planned for Oct. 29 and Nov. 12. Vinton's two pharmacies are participating in this effort to prevent misuse of prescription drugs.

Troubling trend in abuse

Green said she is still compiling data on drug abuse in Benton County. "Generally, Iowa is about average for drug abuse problems in the U.S., and Benton County is slightly above the Iowa average," said Green. The most recent complete data is based on a 2008 survey. A more recent survey did not include all of Benton County, said Green. See the 143-page 2008 survey HERE.

Davis said that a VS fifth grade student told him that the adults in his apartment complex have already begun offering him cigarettes.

Object lessons
After passing out the items, Green asked each person to share how the item they had chosen relates to the community's effort to fight drug abuse. Vinton Unlimited Director Nathan Hesson had chosen Play-Doh. He said it's a reminder of the need to start teaching about drug abuse at a very young age. Walston had chosen the funny glasses; he said they are a reminder that the community can't just laugh off the problem. Davis chose the school bus, telling the group that the schools have an important role in the effort. Slaymaker chose the WD-40 pen; she said that it is up to the people in the room to make the "squeaking" that lets the community know where the problem is, so area residents can work toward a solution. Heidi Schminke of Benton County Empowerment had chosen the sombrero; she said it's a reminder that drug problems aren't just in Mexico. Another person chose a camera, representing the need to show the community the problems and the solution. Green chose the flashlight, telling the people around the table that it's up to them to shine the light and show the way.

Rebuilding and redesigning

The ASAC staff is excited about returning to their office on West 4th Street. Their buildings roof was destroyed in the July 11 storm. They will begin moving back shortly and should be fully moved by the end of the month. Green is also in the midst of redesigning the Above the Coalition Web site.

Green has been working with ASAC in its Cedar Rapids office for the past few years before taking the Benton County assignment. She said she learned from her father the importance of prevention, and has always been involved in the prevention aspect of drug abuse programs.

For more information, contact Green at kgreen@asac.us.