Increasing the Awareness of Addiction and Misuse of Legal Substances
The Brown County Chemical Health Action Team (CHAT) goal is to support educational programs, activities and policies that increase awareness of addiction and misuse of legal substances, and also address the use of illegal substances. The team also works to promote sober activities, create social activities that do not involve the use of substances, and promote a responsible drinking campaign.
CHAT is comprised of representatives from Brown County Family Services, New Ulm Medical Center, Sleepy Eye Medical Center, police departments, area schools, probation, Brown County Public Health and community members. The action team was formed in June 2020 and grew out of the desire to continue a county-wide coalition to deal with substance abuse after the Brown County Underage Substance Abuse Coalition (USAC) disbanded in the fall of 2019. Brown County Public Health and the Heart of New Ulm share coordination and facilitation of CHAT, which focuses on chemical prevention for all ages, countywide.
Did you know that studies indicate that social host ordinances are among the most effective and recommended ways to reduce underage drinking?
The Brown County Chemical Health Action Team (CHAT) goal is to support educational programs, activities and policies that increase awareness of addiction and misuse of legal substances, and also address the use of illegal substances. The team also works to promote sober activities, create social activities that do not involve the use of substances, and promote a responsible drinking campaign.
CHAT is comprised of representatives from Brown County Family Services, New Ulm Medical Center, Sleepy Eye Medical Center, police departments, area schools, probation, Brown County Public Health and community members. The action team was formed in June 2020 and grew out of the desire to continue a county-wide coalition to deal with substance abuse after the Brown County Underage Substance Abuse Coalition (USAC) disbanded in the fall of 2019. Brown County Public Health and the Heart of New Ulm share coordination and facilitation of CHAT, which focuses on chemical prevention for all ages, countywide.
CHAT Priorities and Recent Accomplishments
Social Host Ordinance Planning
Throughout 2024 the Brown County Chemical Health Action Team continued development of a proposed Social Host Ordinance for Brown County and created an informational brief to share with local leaders and community members. The Minnesota Student Survey indicates that the vast majority of alcohol consumed by youth is provided by their friends, parents, other family members, or at parties, rather than the youth buying it themselves or taking it.
Studies indicate that social host laws are among the most effective and recommended ways to reduce underage drinking. A social host ordinance makes it unlawful for individuals (social hosts) to provide a place for underage drinking to occur on a premises under the host’s control. The host is held responsible regardless of who provided the alcohol. An ordinance violation is a misdemeanor offense with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
The Chemical Health Action Team has been working on the ordinance as a participant in The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking’s (ICCPUD) 2023-2024 Policy Academy for Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse (Policy Academy). The team was one of only 14 teams selected from 100 applicants nationwide.
A social host ordinance makes it unlawful for individuals (social hosts) to provide a place for underage drinking to occur on a premises under the host’s control. The host is held responsible regardless of who provided the alcohol. An ordinance violation is a misdemeanor offense with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Local Billboards
In 2024, the team created a billboard to highlight the message that dangerous consequences can result when adults provide alcohol to youth under age 18. The billboards were installed in Springfield in October and near Essig in November.
The team previously created billboards in 2023 and 2022 to promote promote responsible locked storage of cannabis at home and responsible drinking.
Resources for the Community
Over the last several years, the team has developed a number of resources for the community, including:
- Vaping: Know the Risks - After reviewing Minnesota Student Survey data and talking with students, it was evident to the team that this is a very prevalent problem for local youth.
- Safe Drinking Strategies flyer
- Drug and Alcohol Statistics sheet
- Brown County Addiction Resources and list of local AA/NA meetings
- Winter Sober Activities flyer
- Radio spots focused on DWI prevention
Red Ribbon Week
Every year, the team promotes Red Ribbon Week during the last week of October. In 2024, the team sponsored a drawing contest open to all Brown County youth ages 18 and under. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug-use prevention campaign in the nation focused on keeping kids drug free.
Opioid Prevention and Harm Reduction
In 2023, the team participated in the Minnesota’s State Opioid Response funding meeting and started researching additional prevention and harm reduction ideas to implement locally.
Do You or Someone You Know Need Help?
Chemical Health Resources
It is never easy to overcome substance abuse and addiction on your own. However, you can get help from support groups and meetings, which could provide you with a safe environment as you recover from your addiction.
Brown County maintains a schedule of AA and NA meetings that can be found in the Brown County area on their website.
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