AWARENESS — Jefferson County’s adult drug court, the Phoenix Program, kicked of its fifth-annual Red Ribbon Week drug awareness initiative. Those in attendance included, from left, Hope Bonomo, treatment liaison for the Phoenix Program; Kevin Schrader, drug court officer; Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle G. Miller, drug court judge; Laura Trifonoff, program director; and Kurt Kelley, drug court officer. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Jefferson County’s adult drug court, the Phoenix Program, kicked off its fifth-annual Red Ribbon Week Oct. 19.

The event, along with a community walk, took place at Jim Wood Park.

The Phoenix Program receives the cooperation of several area departments and programs to support and lead families and the community in nurturing the full potential of young people to lead a healthy and drug-free life.

Events have been designed which help steer young people away from drugs and increase people’s awareness in seeing the problems they cause.

The Phoenix Program receives cooperation from the United Prevention Partnership and Drug Free Communities Support Program, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Steubenville Police Department, Jefferson County Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Health Department, various local treatment providers and county agencies.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released data which showed that between 2021-22, approximately 3 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 20 began using alcohol, 2 million had begun using marijuana and 2 million youths started vaping.

Phoenix Program Director Laura Trifonoff explained the program has an opportunity every day to assist adults with a substance use disorder.

“The Red Ribbon Week Kick-Off and Community Walk gives us the opportunity to start drug prevention with our youth and provide their parents with resources,” Trifonoff continued. “It allows us to establish partnerships in our community with local law enforcement and treatment agencies so families know they have support. It truly takes a village.”