Programs and Data

Putting on AIRS Asthma Program

Breaking the Silence Breast Health Awareness Campaign

Community Accessible Foodservice Education

African American Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Reduction Program

Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention

Healthy Kids Are Happy Kids

Immunization Action Program

Ledyard Safe Teens Coalition

Lyme Disease Prevention

More Active People

NLC Health Study

SMILES

Latino Women's Healthy Heart Program

GASP-The Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

Our mission: To build a healthy, safe and drug free community by advocating for programs, policy changes, and practices that increase protective factors and decrease risk factor.

Our goals:

• To increase the number of Groton youth participating in programs that build protective factors from using a combination of science-based and other effective programs.

• To intervene to reduce and prevent substance abuse of all drugs among Groton youth.

The GASP Coalition was formed in July, 1999 to address substance abuse in our community among our youth population (12-18 years of age). The coalition represents a collaboration of several dedicated, local agencies, parents, teens and other interested community members:

Boys & Girls Club Child & Family Agency Ella T. Grasso Technical School Groton City & Town Police Departments Groton Human Services Groton Parks & Rec. Department Groton Public Library Groton Public Schools LEARN Ledge Light Health District

Mystic Arts Center Parents Sacred Heart Catholic Church SECT Regional Action Council School Based Health Center St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Students Women's Center of SECT Women's Services of Groton-The Connection

Members of the GASP Coalition strive to make all youth feel safe by living in a drug free community. This is accomplished by providing a variety of programs for youth to participate in and by taking a look at our community dynamics and making efforts to implement positive policy changes. GASP Programs and Policy Change Initiatives include:

STARS Smart Moves* Art for All Strengthening Families* Groton Maritime Academy	Tobacco Vending Machine Ordinance Parents Who Host Lose the Most Life Skills Social Host Ordinance Violence Is Preventable*
* Scientific research has provided evidence of effectiveness for the above listed prevention programs.

In its fourth year, the Youth Against Drugs Committee works to prevent substance abuse by implementing prevention education campaigns. Initiatives include: Pizza box messages, Sticker Shock Campaign, and Public Service Announcements, which can be viewed on channel 19. The Youth Against Drugs Committee meets monthly and is welcome to youth ages 12-18. For more information contact GASP Coalition Coordinator, Michelle Hamilton.

View the Parents Who Host Lose the Most Public Service Announcement here: Play Me!

(requires Windows Media Player)

 

The GASP Coalition administers a youth survey every two years to measure the prevalence of substance abuse in our community. The 2006 reveals that alcohol is still the drug of choice and that inhalant and misuse of prescription drugs has increased.  Much progress has been made at reducing tobacco use and strengthening the coalition. Read the full survey results here:

2006 Groton Youth Survey Report

 

The GASP Coalition is funded by the United States
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.