The PROMISE Initiative
The United States, including Mississippi, is in the midst of a prescription opioid epidemic. Approximately 130 people die every day from an opioid overdose. The PROMISE Initiative, PReventing Opioid Misuse In the SouthEast, is fighting the opioid epidemic using a multi-phased approach to preventing prescription opioid misuse in rural Mississippi.
PROMISE Initiative activities include these:
- Community engagement forums assessing the region’s perceived needs and readiness for education about opioid misuse.
- Extension education, agent-led and peer-to-peer, increasing residents’ knowledge about proper opioid use.
- Media campaign encouraging proper opioid use.
- Placement of prescription drug take-back boxes throughout the state.
- Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid training.
To promote proper use and disposal of prescription opioids in Mississippi, information was gathered from community members, both in-person and through surveys, to develop and implement a social marketing campaign. The community-based research is also being incorporated into Mississippi State University Extension Service educational materials that encourage proper use and disposal of prescription opioids.
This project is supported by the FY17 USDA NIFA Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2017-46100-27225 and the FY18 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rural Opioids Technical Assistance Grants (ROTA) # TI-18-022.
Publications
News
LOUISVILLE, Miss. -- Jim McAdory wears many hats. On any given day, the Mississippi State University Extension Service agent fields calls from local cattle farmers, teaches kids about the importance of daily nutrition, and tests soil to diagnose front yard and garden harvest problems -- all before lunch.
Based in Winston County, McAdory recently gained an additional role: Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Colby Hardin managed his depression since he was diagnosed at 18. With medication, he kept it under control throughout college, while working at Mississippi State University's dairy farm.
To some people, farming is an idyllic way of life, but producers face some unique stressors that can impact their well-being. In fact, a national poll by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2019 confirmed that about two in five farmers and farm workers reported experiencing increased stress levels and more mental health challenges since 2014.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service PROMISE Initiative has two upcoming sessions in a webinar series that addresses farm stress, mental health and social structural issues affecting farmers and ranchers. The webinars will be held May 18 and June 15 at noon CST. They are part of the ongoing “R is for Rural and Resilient” series that began in November 2020.
Planting season is underway and with it comes the transportation of heavy equipment along Mississippi’s roadways.
Drivers can help support local agricultural producers and their $7.4 billion contribution to the state’s economy by staying alert while sharing the road with planters, tillers and tractor-mounted sprayer
Success Stories
In this "What's New in Extension," Extension agents implement better safety standards, train to deliver Mental Health First Aid, and receive national recognition. Also, new irrigation and specialists join the Extension family.
