Initiatives
Take a Community-Wide Approach
To create long lasting sustainable change, CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) suggests utilizing the “7 Strategies for Community Change.” When communities use this approach, the interventions are more well-rounded and complete. This is also a way to create plans of action on how to reach long-term goals.
Support & Promote Proven Strategies to Reduce Substance Misuse
We follow nationally recognized evidence based prevention strategies to address alcohol and other drug misuse. One resource list of these strategies is the What Works for Health report released by UW-Population Health & UW-School of Medicine and Public Health. One recent policy change in the community is the passage of a Social Host Ordinance, meant to reduce underage drinking by limiting youth access to alcohol in the home.
Address the issue of binge drinking
One initiative has been the partnership between Northcentral Technical College (NTC), the Marathon County Tavern League, and local law enforcement to enhance the Responsible Beverage Server (RBS) training course offered at NTC. The curriculum content has been updated and the training now includes guest speakers who illustrate what a serving of alcohol is and how alcohol affects the brain. Each class ends with a guest from Law Enforcement who explains how to check customer identification, how to identify a fake ID, liability of over serving or serving an underage person, and the importance of working with law enforcement.
Our goal is to increase the number of servers and sellers of alcohol to become licensed. The first step in becoming licensed is to take the Responsible Beverage Server (RBS) training course. The Marathon County AOD Partnership Council has made scholarships for the RBS training course are available to servers of alcohol through the Drug Free Communities grant.
Increasing community awareness on the dangers of binge drinking helps to build a foundation for change. Educational presentations that cover alcohol serving size, how alcohol affects the brain, and alcohol poisoning have been provided to worksites, schools, community groups, parent groups, and others throughout Marathon County.
Promote proper disposal of medications
In cooperation with the Marathon County Solid Waste Department and other community partners, we are educating and promoting the five permanent medication drop-off locations in Marathon County, as well as the Get the Meds Out medication mail back program. Prescription and over the counter drugs are a hazard to the environment and water system if they are not disposed of properly. The increasing rate of prescription drug misuse in Marathon County is alarming. Properly disposing of outdated and unused medication is an important preventative action in addressing this problem.
Mobilize our community to change the culture concerning alcohol and other drugs
Take a look at some of the community photos we have collected, and you’ll see the need for community change regarding alcohol and other drugs. In Wisconsin, municipal governments have primary responsibility for alcohol licensure and control. The Marathon County AOD Partnership Council members work to educate, support and work with local municipality leaders to create a safer and healthier culture. This process of relationship building is ongoing, multifaceted and often very exciting!
