JEFFERSON CITY – Lincoln county leaders recently met with state officials in Jefferson City to discuss the importance of funding substance use prevention efforts.

Drug and Alcohol Reduction Team (DART) Director Marilyn Carter and Board Members Heather Graham-Thompson, Mike Roth and Dustin Gibbs met with Sen. Travis Fitzwater and Representatives Doyle Justus and Chad Perkins. 2024 Silex graduate Braden Havlik, an assistant to Perkins, also attended the meetings.

As part of Prevention Day activities at the capitol, DART members also discussed substance abuse issues such as alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and opiods, that affect youth in the community.

Carter reported alcohol is the most prevalent substance used by Missouri youth. According to a 2024 Missouri Student Survey, nearly 40 percent said it is easy to obtain alcohol. That number is even higher in Lincoln County at 42.6 percent. Additionally, 8.3 percent of Lincoln County students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days.

That same student survey also reported marijuana is a very prevalent substance used by Missouri youth.

In a news release, Carter reported there are few federal or national resources for public education campaigns since marijuana is federally illegal. Many states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use have started and funded their own public education campaigns to combat teen use of the drug.

Missouri is also 12th in the nation for youth e-cigarette use. Missouri is one of eight states whose tobacco law currently doesn’t align with the federal minimum age purchasing requirements. Missouri’s minimum age is 18 compared to the federal requirement of 21.

“Substance use prevention is a critical public health issue that needs to be addressed on the state level,” Carter said. “Evidence-based prevention strategies can have long-term, cost saving benefits for both personal and public health, particularly when they are implemented during childhood and adolescence.”

DART’s mission is to educate Lincoln County citizens about substance misuse trends that negatively impact the youth as well as reduce substance abuse in the community.

For further information, contact Carter at marilyn@dartlincolncounty.org.