H O P E Inc

CARSA AS A DRUG FREE COMMUNITY - THE COMMUNITY ACTION FOR REDUCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE (CARSA) PROJECT IS A COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVE AIMED AT REDUCING ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE AMONG YOUTH IN SENECA COUNTY, OHIO. THIS RURAL COUNTY FACES UNIQUE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF POVERTY, INCREASED SUBSTANCE ACCESS VIA LOCAL RETAILERS AND HIGHWAYS, AND LOW PERCEPTIONS OF HARM AMONG YOUTH, ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO RISING SUBSTANCE USE. DATA FROM THE 2025 OHIO HEALTHY YOUTH ENVIRONMENTS SURVEY (OHYES!) REVEALS CONCERNING TRENDS: 8.18% OF YOUTH REPORTED ALCOHOL USE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS, WITH OVER HALF OF THOSE ENGAGING IN BINGE DRINKING, AND 5.1% REPORTED MARIJUANA USE—MOST OF WHOM USED MORE THAN ONCE DURING THAT PERIOD. COUPLED WITH LOW PARENTAL AND PEER DISAPPROVAL AND INADEQUATE RISK PERCEPTION, THESE PATTERNS EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION. CARSA, OPERATING UNDER HOPE IN FOSTORIA, WILL ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THROUGH A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TARGETING PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE. THE COALITION WILL UTILIZE THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE TO ENGAGE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND LOCAL AGENCIES IN IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED ACTIVITIES. THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SUMMITS AND COALITIONS, RETAILER TRAINING, ENVIRONMENTAL SCANS, AND POLICY ADVOCACY. SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON INCREASING PERCEPTIONS OF HARM, REDUCING ACCESS TO SUBSTANCES, AND ENHANCING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AMONG YOUTH. THE PROJECT’S DUAL GOALS ARE TO (1) STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND COALITION CAPACITY, AND (2) REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE. OUTCOMES ARE PROJECTED TO INCLUDE A MEASURABLE INCREASE IN YOUTH AND COALITION ENGAGEMENT, ENHANCED TRAINING FOR STAKEHOLDERS, REDUCTIONS IN 30-DAY YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE RATES, IMPROVED RISK PERCEPTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN RETAIL PRACTICES. BY ADDRESSING BOTH INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS AND BROADER COMMUNITY CONDITIONS, CARSA AIMS TO FOSTER A HEALTHIER, SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR SENECA COUNTY YOUTH.