The federally funded Drug Free Communities grant is awarded to community-based coalitions to strengthen the community’s infrastructure and create and sustain a reduction in youth substance use. SALT seeks to do this by employing our partners to educate the public while addressing subjects like perceptions of harm, social norms, and stigma.

SALT follows an evidence-based model, guided by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America to affect both the risk and protective factors identified by data collected in our schools and our community at large. We seek to increase the perception of harm and knowledge of the dangers of underage non-medical marijuana and alcohol use by youth through regular visits to schools and the production and distribution of factual materials. By addressing stigma and listening with non-judgmental ears, we hope to enhance conversations that lead to good health and a stable community.

Along with education, our focus is to give youth an alternative to underage substance use by empowering youth through the increase of pro-social activities. Using creative arts, physical activity, and promoting healthy youth development, we hope to enhance protective factors by regularly monitoring and addressing risk factors in Sullivan County.

Social norms are unwritten and informal rules or expectations within a society or a particular group that dictate how individuals are expected to behave in various social situations. These norms are a form of social regulation that guide and shape the behavior, attitudes, and interactions of people in a community, culture, or society. Social norms can cover a wide range of behaviors, including manners, etiquette, values, customs, and moral standards, and they vary across different cultures, communities, and contexts. Social norms often dictate what is considered “normal” or “acceptable” behavior in a given context, influencing individuals’ choices and actions.

In our 2022 survey of Sullivan County adults and youth, only 5% of adults surveyed felt as though young people disapproved of youth recreational cannabis use (not to be confused with prescribed medical use). When we surveyed youth on the subject, more than half disapproved of youth recreational cannabis use. This discrepancy between adults’ perception of young people’s disapproval of recreational cannabis use and the actual views of young people highlights the gap between perception and reality. Social norms are often based on collective perceptions and beliefs within a community, but these perceptions may not always align with the actual behaviors or attitudes of individuals within that community.

This proves the importance of conducting accurate and representative surveys to understand the true beliefs and attitudes of a specific population, especially when making decisions or developing programs that are influenced by social norms. It also emphasizes the need for open inter-generational dialogue to bridge the gap between perceived norms and actual behaviors or attitudes. This is crucial for developing effective strategies, policies, and programs that align with the realities of a given community, ultimately promoting healthier and more informed decision-making among its members.