Youth & Families

We provide approximately 4-5 programs a month to area schools and occasionally partner with schools outside of our district upon request. Our goal is to provide up-to-date information, evidence-based education and coping skills for our area youth. We also work with many agencies across London, Laurel County and across the state to provide cohesive and collaborative programs, events and presentations.

Family Matters Project

This collaborative community program is for elementary-aged children (K-5th grades) and their families within Knox and Laurel Counties. It encourages them to become stronger by implementing protective accountability factors and drug prevention strategies into their daily lives through eating dinner as a family and telling stories.

Participating families are requested to fill out a pre/post survey and they’ll receive a log to keep track of their suggested activities. Throughout the time frame of the project, families may receive prizes for completing activities.

Stay posted for the next project announcement and downloadable registration form!

Red Ribbon Week

Every October 23rd-31st, we join agencies nationwide in a mission to help keep kids drug-free. We provide activities, assemblies, and classroom speakers for Laurel County elementary, middle, and high schools.

Plant The Promise

We provide students with 100 red tulip bulbs to plant around their school. The message for students is that each person has a potential and a purpose to grow into something more than they are today. And like the tulip bulb, they are not always in control of external factors that happen to them. But they can still persevere and focus on achieving their goals. Students then look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor in April when the tulips are anticipated to bloom. Students will then revisit the goals they set for themselves this fall while participating in this extended learning opportunity.

Alcohol Awareness

April is alcohol awareness month so we provide programming within schools related to that topic. Often times, we team up with area law enforcement to walk students through the dangers of driving under the influence. Law enforcement officers place “Fatal Vision” goggles on students and give field sobriety tests to illustrate how vision and coordination impairment can be dangerous - even fatal.

Pre-Prom Mock Crash with Laurel County Schools

The harsh reality of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is brought to life annually for local high school students within a week before their spring prom events. Laurel Co. ASAP partners with the Laurel County Board of Education, London City Police, London Fire Department, Laurel County Rescue Squad, Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and PHI Air Medical, the Laurel County Public Advocacy, Laurel County Attorney's Office and Laurel District Court Judge John Chappell - among many other volunteers.

Recognize the Signs and Know the Dangers

Knowing these signs can help to identify whether a loved one may be using drugs and risking harmful consequences to their job, school, health, and/or family life.

  • • Difficulties at school, disinterest in school-related activities, and declining grades

    • Poor work performance, being chronically late to work, appearing tired and disinterested in work duties, and receiving poor performance reviews

    • Changes in physical appearance, such as wearing inappropriate or dirty clothing and a lack of interest in grooming

    • Altered behavior, such as an increased desire for privacy

    • Drastic changes in relationships

    • A noticeable lack of energy when performing daily activities

    • Spending more money than usual or requesting to borrow money

    • Issues with financial management, such as not paying bills on time

    • Changes in appetite, such as a decreased appetite and associated weight loss

    • Bloodshot eyes, poor skin tone, and appearing tired or run down

    • Defensiveness when asked about substance use

  • While overall moodiness can simply be part of the adolescence years, drug use is generally signified by more drastic changes in mood or behaviors in this age group. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), signs of drug use include acting withdrawn, tired, depressed, or hostile.

    Parents should take note when a child starts associating with a different group of peers, as changes in peer groups may be linked with substance use. An adolescent using drugs might also miss classes, skip school, or change their eating or sleeping habits. Parents can also listen for their kids using slang terms for certain drugs of abuse.

    If drug use is suspected, prompt intervention is vital.

  • • Cocaine: Highly addictive, cocaine is involved in nearly one in five overdose deaths; its health effects include asthma, bowel decay, and increased risk of HIV.

    • Methamphetamine (Meth): Meth causes devastating health effects, and sometimes death, even on the first try. Meth speeds up the body’s systems to dangerous levels. Chronic users experience anxiety, confusion, insomnia, paranoia, aggression, and more.

    • Prescription and illicit opioids: Highly addictive, the substances are the top cause of overdose deaths; health effects include confusion, nausea, constipation, coma, and brain damage.

    • Marijuana: Even though it is legal in many states, studies link marijuana use to various negative outcomes.