Linn County implemented a comprehensive prevention program including the Too Good for Drugs and Class Action curricula to address substance abuse among youth. Data from the Communities That Care survey shows the program has been successful. Between 2008-2012, 30-day alcohol use decreased by over 14%. Binge drinking decreased by 7% and the percentage of parents who felt underage drinking was wrong increased. Students' perceptions that they could drink without getting caught by police decreased by 14%. Quotes from students and teachers indicate they found the interactive curricula engaging and applicable to real-life situations. The multi-pronged strategy has been an overall success in reducing problematic substance use among Linn County youth.

1. Linn County’s Success Story
Youth Making
Healthier Choices
May 2012

2. Linn County Strategies
 TooGood For Drugs
Curriculum
 Class Action Curriculum

3. CTC Survey Participation
Linn County
Rates Overall Before and
2008 51% After SPF-SIG
2009 77%
2010 73%
2011 86%
2012 84%

4. PROBLEM BEHAVIORS CTC DATA
On how many occasions (if any) have you had beer, wine or hard liquor during the
past 30 day? AT LEAST ONCE
45
40 38.4
35.4
35 30.74
29.94
30 27.2 26.9 25.63 24.19 23.75 23.99
25
20
15
10
5
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Kansas State Data Linn County Data
The frequency of use as measured by 30 day use reduced by over 14% in the
four years of implementation.

5.  We believe students receiving curriculum
interventions prior to 6th grade has caused
the reductions in 6th grade specific data.
 In 2008, 10% of 6th graders reported drinking
at least once.
 In 2012, only 4% of 6th graders reported
drinking alcohol at least once

6. PROBLEM BEHAVIORS CTC DATA
Think back over the last two weeks. How many times have you had five or more
alcoholic drinks in a row? AT LEAST ONCE
25 22.6
20
20
17.23
15.2 14.7 14.81 15.23
15 13.77
12.73 12.45
10
5
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Kansas State Data Linn County Data
Binge drinking – 7% change in data shows an increased understanding of risk
related to excessive drinking.

7. FAMILY CTC DATA
How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to drink beer, wine or hard
liquor regularly? WRONG
98 96.95
96.5 96.39 96.68
96.1 96.07 95.63 95.73
96
94
92.5
92
89.7
90
88
86
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Kansas State Data Linn County Data
By starting in younger grades and doing community education shows a
greater percentage of parents communicating that it is wrong for their children
to drink alcohol.

8. COMMUNITY CTC DATA
If a kid drank some beer, wine or hard liquor for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin in
your neighborhood, or the area around which you live, would he or she be caught by
the police? NO
90
80 76.5 76.8 73.78
66.9 66.6 69.49
70 65.8 65.2 63.09 62.26
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Kansas State Data Linn County Data

9.  A decrease of 14% of students who reported
they would not be caught is evidence that
curriculum, community education, and law
enforcement presence changes perception.
 Party patrols, increased consequences, Class
Action, Too Good For Drugs, and Explorer
Scouts has changed student perception of law
enforcement.

10. QUOTES FROM THE KIDS
 I like doing the role playing activities in the
curriculum.
 I enjoy the activities.
 I like playing the games.
 The students in our school thought our
posters were cool. We took the way
companies use to make us want to purchase
items and used them to advertise not using
alcohol.
 I wish we could do more of the curriculum
like everyday.

11. QUOTES FROM THE TEACHERS
 The curriculum takes a realistic approach to the
fact that students will be around drugs, alcohol,
and tobacco.
 The teaching techniques for dealing with peer
pressure is great!
 It was great to have a platform to be able to
teach students the facts about what drugs,
alcohol, and tobacco can do to them.
 It is nice to see that we are starting to teach this
information to the younger grades so we can
hope they will not use later in life.

12. QUOTES FROM THE TEACHERS
 I tried to make it enjoyable, fun but yet still
serious.
 The curriculum is very easy to teach.
Everything is ready for me without having to
prep too much for the lessons.
 We have used some of the lessons in many
activities in my classroom. Lessons are good
life lessons!

13. LINN COUNTY’S
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PROGRAM