Prevention Services-ROCMND Area Prevention Resource Center (RPC) works in communities to help prevent underage drinking, tobacco, and other drug abuse and misuse. The RPC works closely with community coalitions in eight counties which include, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, and Washington Counties. ROCMND RPC works to make communities safe for kids to grow up and not undergo the pressures or the negative effects of drug use. ROCMND RPC also provides resources to communities, parents, teachers, and others.
Education
ROCMND RPC provides education and awareness to the community through presentations like Parents360 and Youth360, from The Partnership at DrugFree.org. These presentations are about one hour in duration and discuss how parents can talk to their kids about drugs and alcohol as well as gives youth information about drugs from a youth perspective. ROCMND RPC also provides resources such as pamphlets, videos, and other information to the community, schools, and parents.
Compliance Checks
We organize Alcohol Compliance Checks and Tobacco Reward Reminder Visits which are strategies that has been proven to work to decrease underage access to alcohol and tobacco. This involves collaborating with local and state authorities by taking minors into retailers that sell alcohol and tobacco to make sure they follow the law. We arrange the checks; however the local or state authorities enforce the laws.
Policy Change
ROCMND RPC works with our communities to realize the importance of passing local ordinances. An example is a social host ordinance, that hold adults accountable for providing a place for youth to drink alcohol. Social Host ordinance have been passed in a number of our communities in Northeast Oklahoma. This effort was in hopes to stop adults from allowing youth to have parties in their homes or on their property. A friend's home is the number one place for youth to consume alcohol according to the OPNA from 2008.
Responsible Beverage Service and Sales Training:
ROCMND RPC is participating in a statewide pilot project that trains retailer owners and their staff on not selling to minors as well as not selling to intoxicated patrons. This training includes what Oklahoma state identification cards look like, the sign and symptoms of an intoxicated person and the laws and regulations around alcohol and low point beer sales in Oklahoma. We partner with the Alcohol Beverage Laws Enforcement Agency (ABLE) and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. For more information on upcoming trainings, contact our office.
