Substance Use Prevention Coalition Convenes Final Meeting of 2024

[December 15, 2024] 

The Substance Use Prevention Coalition (SUPC) met at Lincoln Memorial Hospital for partner organization updates. Grace Irvin, Prevention Coordinator with Chestnut Health Systems, conducted the meeting.

Prevention Updates

Youth Prevention Education has concluded this semester at New Holland-Middletown and Illini Central Middle School. Lincoln Junior High School and Midwest Central are scheduled for the spring semester. Prevention Specialists will be distributing materials this week to county schools as part of the alcohol and vaping prevention campaign. Youth Survey results are completed and open to the public. In the spring, Prevention Specialists will sit down with school principals to go over individual school results.

The Ralier Reach Out text campaign continues with mental health, exercise, and other wellness topics. Over 130 students out of about 200 freshmen are signed up for the text messages.

Harm Reduction Updates

The Logan County Health Department just ordered 3,000 doses of naloxone for free distribution in the community. Free xylazine and fentanyl test strips are also available. The One Box is a new educational tool, which may become available at a county bar. The Health Department has free STI testing and treatment, as well as free condom distribution.

Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) provides resource bags to those leaving the county jail. ROSC hopes to have conversations with fire departments about leaving similar resources after emergency calls. ROSC has implemented a campaign to reframe recovery and reduce recovery stigma. ROSCs are partnering statewide for a ten-question survey. This area’s ROSC meets the third Thursday of every month, alternating between Lincoln and Mason City. The Recovery in Action subcommittee meets the second Tuesday of every month. They are looking for creative ideas to educate the community.

The Deflection Program is a statewide initiative helping to reach people before they are impacted with a record that will follow them through life. The next meeting will be held at Hope on Fifth. The Lincoln Chief of Police is supportive of this initiative. Organizers are reaching out to faith communities as well.

Molly McCain, Community Health Coordinator for LMH, has begun the Community Health Implementation Plan. She has placed mental health wellness kits in local libraries to help with resources and mental health literacy. The TrailBlazers community walking program will continue at the YMCA this winter for free from 10 p.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Lincoln Park District will be hosting a wellness fair on March 1, 2025 and is inviting community organizations to set up vendor booths to offer resources on emotional, physical, financial, and social well-being.

The 988 crisis line and the Mobile Crisis Team are available 24 hours a day.

Logan and Mason County schools have received backpack care kits from Chestnut Health Systems with school supplies, blankets, and other comfort supplies to support youth who are impacted by family substance use. They are also providing school libraries with books and workbooks regarding family substance use.

Hope on Fifth continues to seek creative ways to develop and secure funding. Trillium is in the building now. The conversation with the Salvation Army is ongoing. The commercial kitchen is under development for culinary training. Hope on Fifth has its first full-time resident. There is a wish list of needs for those looking to make donations at this time of year.

The SUPC January meeting will include discussion of the Logan County environmental scan that was completed this summer. It focused on alcohol availability and marketing, specifically geared toward teenagers. The January SUPC meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2025 at Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

[Stephanie Hall]