Crawford County commissioners on Dec. 9 considered recent applications for drug use prevention program funding.

The Chairperson of the Crawford County Opioid Fund Disbursement Board William Harlan received an emailed application from Rob Viehman of Prevention Consultants of Missouri requesting funding for a drug prevention project.

The Prevention Coalition is a relatively new group in Crawford County with representation of at least 30 community members from a variety of entities, such as schools, law enforcement, churches, public officials, parents and youth organizations.

“The Prevention Coalition website, to be developed, will allow for greater communication with the community, and include local information; prevention resources; and links to additional information for schools, parents and youth,” Viehman said.

Local youth trading cards will be created to promote positive peer influence. These trading cards will feature local student athletes, information about them and their reasons for choosing to be alcohol, vape and drug free.

Additional posters and banners with prevention messages will be displayed in pivotal locations in each middle school and high school in the county as one of three blitz campaigns.

“These strategies will be implemented in support of the Teens Teach Prevention,” said Viehman.

Teams of high school students are helping teach prevention to the middle schools in Cuba and Steelville. In addition, an evidence-based curriculum will be taught in the Cuba, Steelville and Bourbon schools by Prevention Consultants of Missouri to reduce the use of addictive substances in youth.

“Then it says Provision Prevention Consultants is requesting $2,090 for printing of trading cards, banners, and the creation of a website and related costs,” read Black.

Black made the motion, Pfeiffer seconded. The motion was approved with a 3-0 vote.