The Scott County Positive Social Norms Campaign began in 2014. While educating young people on the realities of prescription drug abuse is important, research has shown that traditional fear-based anti-drug messaging is not particularly effective. Scott County’s social media campaign is prevention-oriented and focuses on providing a voice to those who feel voiceless, in addition to educating, empowering, and inspiring individuals toward lives of positive choices and positive impact on the world around them.
We hold a “What’s Your Side Effect?” Youth Speak Out Event each year where youth age 6-12th grades are asked to write an essay sharing about what they or someone they know is doing to have a positive impact on their friends, school, or community. Each person who participates receives a “What’s Your Side Effect?” T-shirt and a $25 gift card.
The “What’s Your Side Effect?” Film Festival Contest is held each year for all 5-12th grade students in the county, in addition to a Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking. This contest provides a platform for Scott County 5th-12th grade filmmakers to RAZZLE, DAZZLE, and leave audiences in AWE with their youth-oriented stories about themselves or someone they know who is having a positive impact and making a difference in others’ lives by serving as a positive role model for their friends, school, or community.
Visit www.whatsyoursideeffect.org for more information.