Engaging youth in substance abuse prevention activities

The Prevention WINS Youth Engagement Committee met for the first time earlier today at Eckstein Middle School.  The committee agreed that its purpose is to:

1. Increase youth substance abuse prevention activities in NE Seattle;
2. Establish a youth voice in the coalition;
3. Networking and sharing among youth group students and adults.

Upcoming activities include:

• Bringing at least a dozen NE Seattle students to the annual Washington State Prevention Summit in Yakima. 
• Hosting a community-wide family event to promote positive youth development.

The Youth Engagement Committee will meet the first Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m.  The next meeting will take place on May 3, 8 a.m., at Nathan Hale High School.  Meetings are open to anyone interested in working with adolescents to prevent youth substance abuse.

Outreach to retailers

The Prevention WINS Retail Outreach Workgroup met for the first time yesterday, April 4. 

The workgroup decided to send letters to the 80 stores that sell alcohol in northeast Seattle about the high underage drinking rates in our community and asking them to place window clings (pictured at left) on their beer refrigerators.  Since most teenagers in our community report getting alcohol "at a party" or from older friends and siblings, the window clings remind people of possible legal consequences associated with buying alcohol for minors.

The window clings are part of the Let's Draw the Line campaign developed by RUaD -- the Washington State Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. 

The next Retail Outreach Workgroup meeting will take place May 9, 10 a.m., at Seattle Children's.  More workgroup members are needed . . . anyone interested in reducing youth access to alcohol in northeast Seattle is invited to participate.