Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Opioid misuse is a problem with potentially life-threatening consequences. Opioid misuse has increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in rural areas. The aim of this project is to build on previously-funded efforts to address opioid misuse in rural Georgia through both statewide outreach and targeted efforts in six rural Georgia counties (Chattooga, Elbert, Mitchell, Tattnall, Telfair, and Washington), using a two-pronged strategy: (1) building community capacity to address opioid misuse by creating community-based Extension hubs for opioid-related information, education, and support; and (2) disseminating and scaling up specific projects to address opioid misuse in rural communities statewide. The project address these objectives through community-based Extension hubs for education and targeted support services (including telehealth where appropriate), based on in-depth feedback from community members; teen Mental Health First Aid training for youth ages 15-18 in 2 pilot communities; Removing the Shame and Stigma of Addiction training for community members; statewide dissemination of youth education through a 4-H Journeys magazine and lessons; statewide dissemination of Youth Mental Health First Aid training, with a focus on rural communities; and a social messaging campaign to address opioid misuse prevention. The project is grounded in the social-environmental model (SEM), which provides a structure for understanding and addressing the complex, interconnected, bidirectional factors that affect opioid misuse in rural communities.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The aim of this project is to build on previously-funded efforts to address opioid misuse in rural Georgia through both statewide outreach and targeted efforts in six rural communities, using a two-pronged strategy: (1) building community capacity to address opioid misuse by creating community-based Extension hubs for opioid-related information, education, and support; and (2) disseminating and scaling up specific projects to address opioid misuse in rural communities statewide.Specific goals are as follows:To increase knowledge and awareness of techniques and strategies to prevent opioid misuseTo increase knowledge about mental health and substance use challenges in youth, and to increase the ability to support these youthTo increase individuals' confidence to address opioid misuse, including confidence in the ability to initiate conversations about opioid misuseTo increase knowledge of the impact stigma has on addiction and to identify strategies to reduce substance use related stigma within rural communitiesTo increase knowledge of how to respond to opioid misuse, include awareness of opioid misuse treatment optionsTo increase use of community-based Extension offices as hubs for opioid-related information and training in rural Georgia communitiesTo strengthen Extension partnerships with community organizations in order to increase substance use prevention efforts and access to treatment resourcesTo familiarize youth with issues related to opioid misuse and to equip these youth with skills needed to resist this misuse.
Project Methods
The project will use multiple delivery methods as follows:Community-based Extension hubs:The project will expand the community-based Extension hubs in the six rural target counties, based onfeedback from community members about specific strategies appropriate for each community.Each community-based Extension hub will offer a variety of services, based on community feedback from focus groups. Examples of services may include may include distribution of print information on opioids; teaching Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) in face-to-face and virtual formats; space for YMHFA and other training; space for support group meetings, individual counseling appointments, telehealth, and tele-mental health appointments; and other education and services to increase community awareness of opioid misuse and help individuals and families access community-based support. Decisions about services offered will be made in each county by a community advisory group (either a newly-formed group or an existing collaboration) made up of Extension professionals and community partners and informed by community needs assessment results. To ensure that hubs are culturally responsive, community teams will make targeted efforts to ensure inclusion of minority communities in the advisory groups.Removing the Stigma of Shame and Addiction course: We will address stigma related to opioid misuse, both within Extension and among community members, by offering two versions of the "Removing the Shame and Stigma of Addiction" course (RSSA), created by Overdose Lifeline: a face-to-face version and a self-paced online version.teen Mental Health First Aid: We will address the need educate teens about mental health and substance use challenges by piloting teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) in two target counties. tMHFA teaches teens in grades 10-12 (ages 15-18) how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. The tMHFA course uses a cohort model, where trained instructors offer the course to all teens within a specific school, 4-H program, or other site (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 2023).Journeys magazine and lessons: We will expand use of the Georgia 4-H Journeys magazine for middle school youth entitled 4-H Journeys in Health and Safety: The Opioid Crisis. The magazine includes age-appropriate information on opioids and prevention of opioid misuse, information on individuals with opioid-related careers (including a pharmacy professor and a counselor), and resources for more information. The magazine can be distributed alone or used with a series of four lesson plans and is appropriate for school and after-school settings. We will distribute the Journeys magazine, lesson plans, and evaluation tools to all interested 4-H programs in Georgia, with a focus on rural counties. We will continue to evaluate effectiveness of the resources, and we will provide ongoing training for 4-H staff on using the magazine and lesson plans effectively.Youth-led special projects: We will expand the opportunity for youth-led special projects to include rural counties statewide.We will distribute guidelines and examples of youth-led special projects related to opioids to help youth and 4-H leaders create meaningful projects. Projects will be designed and led by the participating youth in the context of local 4-H programs, with adult support and assistance. Examples of projects include educating the public at local fairs and community events and distributing medication lockboxes to promote safe storage of opioid prescriptions.We will also investigate the feasibility of creating an award or recognition for outstanding youth-led special projects related to opioids within Georgia 4-H programming.Extension websites: We will expand the public-facing opioid website (https://site.extension.uga.edu/preventopioidmisuse/)to include videos, graphics, and other resources. We will review, update, and promote the use of both websites throughout UGA Extension statewide, with an emphasis on rural counties. We will also revise site organization and content based on feedback we receive from usability testing that is currently in process.We will distribute regular reminders to encourage Extension professionals share the site with community partners. We will also promote use of theinternally focused website for Extension personnel (https://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/opioids-resources-toolkit-for-rural-georgia) with a comprehensive listing of information about opioid misuse, treatment, and prevention in youth and adults.Social messaging: We will expand the previously-developed social media campaignon topics related to opioid misuse. to include additional messages about opioid misuse, with a focus on issues specific to rural counties. Messages will address key issues and misinformation identified in statewide and local needs assessment reports (e.g., the misconception that naloxone is addictive, Bowie, 2020), as well as key messages about reducing the stigma around opioid misuse. Social messaging will be field tested for cultural relevance. Messages will be distributed to Extension agents, who will be encouraged to share them in outlets most appropriate to their community (ex. social media, radio, billboards, local newsletters, partner organizations, and other outlets). Social messaging content developed for the project will be posted on the Extension website for ease of distribution to Extension and community partners.Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training: We will continue and expand YMHFA certification for Extension employees, Extension volunteers, and rural community members who work with youth (e.g., teachers, school administrators, first responders, faith group leaders) in rural counties statewide. We will focus on providing YMHFA for youth-serving professionals in rural communities across Georgia, using a combination of face-to-face and virtual sessions to ensure statewide reach. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course, taught by Extension and other professionals in many states, that teaches adults to recognize and respond to substance misuse and other mental health crises in youth ages 12-18. We will work through existing UGA Extension channels and community advisory groups to provide and advertise these trainings in rural communities statewide.