WISE Coalition and Unity Health Partner to help White County Youth
The White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication (WISE) Coalition, recently held a luncheon to highlight and celebrate the partnership of Unity Health and the WISE Coalition. WISE was founded in 2004 and works to empower youth of White County to choose healthy behaviors and lifestyles by reducing underage drinking and prescription drug misuse.
The luncheon was held at the Unity Health Specialty Care campus. Chairman and Chief Deputy Sheriff Phillip Miller welcomed the audience, President and CEO of Unity Health, Ray Montgomery spoke on the partnership with the hospital, and WISE Program Director Rachel Tims shared the message, "Striking Out Underage Drinking." WISE Coalition utilized this event to thank the White County public school districts for participating in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) survey for the past eight years by donating kick balls for students.
"Collaboration is the key to impacting our youth," Tims said. "It is essential that the White County public school districts collaborate with WISE Coalition efforts to improve the quality of life for our youth."
WISE has gathered local data showing that the average age of first alcohol use is 12.8 years old and average age of first prescription drug abuse is 13.4 years old. The coalition meets the third Wednesday of each month at noon in the Willow Conference Room at Unity Health Specialty Care campus located at 1200 S. Main St. in Searcy. For more information, contact 501.278.8575, email wisecoaltion@gmail.com or visit wisecoalition.weebly.com.