Prevention is a proactive process which empowers individuals and systems to meet the challenges of life events by creating and reinforcing healthy behavior and lifestyles.

Prevention advocates for policies, norms and procedures which are designed to shape our culture and community toward a healthier lifestyle. Prevention involves planning, organizing, and implementing best practices or evidence-based information and curriculums throughout the county. Services are designed to identify and reduce factors that place an individual or a community at risk of experiencing problems, while at the same time, strengthening other identifiable factors that can help protect individuals and communities from developing such problems.

Prevention services are designed to help citizens of all ages reduce the risk for use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and related problems.

Prime for Life

Prime For Life is a risk reduction program designed to lower the possibility of any type of drug and alcohol issue and increase the want to protect what is most valuable in a young driver’s life. The program is offered to youth drivers under FBHS’ new Community Prevention Enhancement grant in partnership with Fairfield County School District, Richard Winn Academy, Midlands Stem Institute, and the Fairfield Opioid Response Team. Youth participate in one, 4.5-hour session with a certified instructor and upon completing the course, the students receive a certificate of completion, a $30 gift card and free school parking pass for the year.

Keepin’ It Real

Keepin’ It Real (Refuse, Explain, Avoid, Leave): is an evidence based curriculum that teaches refusal skills, while also helping students realize the risk of drugs and avoid risky drug related situations by building decision-making and communication skills. The goal of the program is to help students learn drug resistance strategies, refuse offers, enhance decision making skills, and established anti-drug attitudes and belief. Students will learn HOW to say “no” to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs without losing friendships. Special emphasis is placed on resistance strategies represented in the acronym REAL: Refuse offers to use substances, Explain why you do not want to use substances, Avoid situations in which substances are used, and Leave situations in which substances are used. Keepin’ It Real is implemented to 4th & 5th, 7th-12th graders for (10) sessions in Fairfield County Schools for 30-45 minutes per class. Keepin’ It Real is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental health Service Administration and listed as one of many programs in the South Carolina Toolkit for Evidence-Based Prevention Programs and Strategies was created in 2001, a joint product of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) which also evaluates the program.

Tobacco Education Program

Tobacco Education Program a 4 hour tobacco education program designed specifically for students who violate local laws or school district policy which prohibits smoking by youth under age 18. Volunteer participation or mandated upon Court conviction. SC Act No. 231, R224, S384 (August 2006)