Who we are: The Syracuse Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (YSAP) is a community partnership aimed at reducing youth substance use in the City of Syracuse. The coalition is comprised of community members from 12 different sectors: youth, parents, businesses, media, schools, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, religious/fraternal organizations, civic/volunteer groups, healthcare professionals, governmental agencies, and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse. What we do: YSAP uses a multifaceted approach to address substance abuse. The strategies used by coalition members include:
Provide information: Conducted a community forum on bath salts, billboard campaigns, town hall meetings, and educational podcasts for youth. Enhance skills: Sponsored training for prevention providers and community members, held annual Central New York prevention conference. Provide Support: Offer opportunities to engage in activities that reduce risk factors and/or enhance protective factors, such as Teen Institute, Teen Talk, and bath salts education and training in schools. Enhance Access/Reduce Barriers to Supports: Assembled the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome team and conducted a media campaign to inform pregnant women of available services; spearheaded Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) initiative. Change Behavioral Consequences: Conducted Honor the Code initiative in area schools, billboard campaign to address social norms surrounding alcohol and ma*****na in an effort to increase the incentives to change culture. Change Physical Design: Provide unused/expired prescription drug drop-off events. Modify or Change Policies and Regulations: Law enforcement changes to make ticketing and arrests for ma*****na quicker and easier, working with zoning re-design team. When and Where: YSAP holds planning meetings for activities that are conducted throughout the City of Syracuse. To view our calendar of meetings and events, please visit http://bit.ly/1yJ0exK. How You Can Get Involved: YSAP is looking for concerned community members from all sectors to join us to plan and participate in our coalition activities. We need people like you who are committed to effecting positive change in Syracuse. To join the coalition email list, please send your contact information to [email protected] . Let us know what you’re interested in helping with! Once we band together in our efforts to reduce substance abuse, we move much closer to accomplishing our goals.
