At Sumter Behavioral Health, alcohol and other drug prevention is at the top of our priorities list. We know that, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50% of the children who start drinking as early as age 15 will struggle with alcohol misuse as adults. We believe that, by getting to children earlier and educating them on the dangers that come along with substance use, they’ll be less likely to participate in things like alcohol and other drugs. We hope is that this will drastically lower the number of people using illicit substances in Sumter County.
A substance-free community is something we dream of and diligently work toward. Because of this, we’ve created prevention programs that serve our entire county. These programs are meant to not only teach and educate children, but to bring awareness to the growing crisis of substance use. We work with schools, employers, health fairs, local exhibits, and the local police department to improve and implement these programs.
Why Are Prevention Programs so Important?
Binge drinking or drug use is never beneficial health-wise, even in adults. When teenagers or adolescents drink or use drugs, however, it’s worse. It becomes more dangerous because a young brain that hasn’t developed yet is more prone to things like learning and memory loss. The decision-making part of the brain is also highly susceptible to influence at a young age, and this can impact a teen’s memories or actions more than that part of an adult’s brain. According to the CDC, 29% of young people under the age of 21 are either currently binge drinking or participating in some form of alcohol use. That means that we’re in a crisis. As adolescent personalities are being formed and important life decisions are being made, alcohol could be driving those decisions and personalities.
We know that parents and family substance use plays a large role in whether or not adolescents will turn to drinking or drugs. We can assist the parents, the uncles, or the grandparents with their drug and alcohol use – but only if they seek help. If they don’t seek help or they don’t see how unhealthy it is, their children won’t see it, either. Tobacco is another component of our prevention programs because like alcohol and illicit drugs, tobacco is extremely harmful to our children. When they see their parents smoking, they don’t see the dangers of it. This is why education in the schools and our community is so important: we have the opportunity to reach out to them when no one else has.
We also know that underage drinking and drug use can lead to things like:
- Low grades
- High truancy rates
- More physical fighting
- Legal problems
- Illness associated with their drug of choice
- Unplanned pregnancies
- Lasting brain damage
- Increased risk of suicide
- Mental Illness
- Hormonal imbalance
…and the list goes on. To us, these are senseless and avoidable consequences. We believe that when young bodies and minds are healthy, successful and loving adults are born. Prevention programs are important because they can change and save endless lives.
We also think it’s important to target groups of children who may not have the life skills needed to avoid things like alcohol or other drugs. A lot of times, these children grow up in homes with alcoholic/drug-addicted parents, and they aren’t yet sure of how to take care of themselves to set realistic and attainable goals. We believe that when young children start setting these goals and looking forward to their futures, they’re less likely to participate in substance use.
It isn’t just children that need preventative care. We reach out to adults as well. Substance use can begin at any time. The overuse of substances like alcohol or other drugs affects adults as much as children – just in different ways. Adults, for example, are more prone to liver and kidney diseases, blackouts, violence, sexual assaults, and more. Parents who use often find it difficult to care for their children or attend a normal job. We work on educating and providing programs not just for our precious youth, but for our entire community.er your text here...
What Prevention Programs Do You Currently Offer?
We currently participate in five forms of prevention and outreach, and we’re always looking for more opportunities to help.
PREP: A Merchant Education Program
PREP is a short course that helps in reducing underage access to alcohol and tobacco products in our community. It also works to lower liability risks for businesses and their employees. The goal is typically to help managers, people who serve alcohol, and people who sell tobacco the education they need to comply with state and community policies regarding the sales of alcohol and tobacco. We also talk about what the potential consequences are when these policies are not followed. There are so many servers and sellers who are simply unaware of the consequences of selling to minors, or if they are aware, they don’t know what kind of damage it does. Here are some things we teach in the PREP course:
- How to properly check identification
- Their legal responsibility to never sell alcohol or tobacco products to minors
- The key state alcohol sales laws in South Carolina
- The effect alcohol and tobacco use has on underage youth
- How to refuse to sell alcohol to minors or people who are intoxicated
Alcohol Education Program: For Minors Who are First-Time Offenders of an Alcohol-Related Crime (AEP)
An AEP program is typically for minors between the ages of 17-20 who are already offenders or first-time offenders of an alcohol-related crime. To participate in this program, these individuals need to have been charged through the Magistrate/Municipal Court (from the traditional justice system.) We offer these offenders the education they need to move forward in life without another alcohol-related offense. This program is state-legislated and overseen by the Circuit Solicitor. If the minor can complete the requirements for this program, they can then apply for an expungement – to get the crime off of their record. This is a great form of prevention. If we can stop or even lessen alcohol use in the beginning, the chances of it continuing into adulthood are reduced. These are the AEP requirements:
- 8 hours of educational counseling (we provide this at Sumter Behavioral)
- Attendance of the SC National Safety Council “Alive at 25” program
- 15 hours of community service
- Completion of additional requirements assigned by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office
- Completion of the entire program within 60 days
Tobacco Education
Tobacco is one of the easiest things to access as a minor. Our Prevention Staff creates curricula for schools that includes education on the dangers of tobacco use. We also offer Life Skills as a part of the curricula – teaching children about healthy eating habits, financial health, and how to set goals for their futures.
The curricula typically consist of 10-13 sessions of fun, engaging, and interactive activities that are designed to get children thinking about their futures. We also cover how to avoid risky behaviors that will affect the quality of their lives. We offer this either during the school day or after school. Our hope is that this will deter them from using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs in the future.
Who Is in Charge of These Prevention Programs and Outreach?
At Sumter Behavioral health, we have a wonderful, engaging, compassionate Prevention Team. Our team is passionate about alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention in all forms. Our team provides marketing, education, and presentations revolving around prevention. They also attend health fairs and stay up-to-date on all of the latest information regarding living a healthy lifestyle.
Our prevention staff includes an AET officer – he’s a member of the Alcohol Enforcement Team. He helps our county by conducting safety and compliance checks with local law enforcement. He’s passionate and engaged on the laws regarding alcohol, drug, and tobacco use in our community and in our state.
Sumter Behavioral is filled with people who believe in the power of prevention. We’ve seen it work in our community firsthand, and we will continue to be vigilant in our schools and with our merchants. Education is power, and educating our community is the first step. By educating our youth about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, we believe they’re less likely to engage in those behaviors. By educating our servers, managers, and sellers about the dangers (and consequences) of selling alcohol and tobacco to minors, they will be less likely to participate in those types of sales. We dream of a community unencumbered by the violence, illness, and illegal activity caused by alcohol and other drugs.
If you’d like more information, or if you have any questions, please contact us at (803) 905-5100.
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If you or your loved one is seeking services for a behavioral health or substance use disorder, please contact us at (803) 905-5100.