Increasing awareness of the risks of use
Youth want knowledge and skills to make healthy choices about alcohol and other drugs, and to help peers do the same.
Though there is a lot of effort and good information aimed at helping youth make the right choices, more needs to be done. Based on the research, youth need opportunities to learn more about the risks and learn and practice the skills needed to make healthy choices.
Good News!!
A) Most students
understand there are risks for drug use, especially with tobacco.*
B) Youth want a larger role in solving the problem, helping peers
make the right choices.**
Cause for Action!!
C) Students
don’t always know exactly how to take the most effective action—“Students
don’t know what they don’t know.”**
D) It is not just about drugs: students want to know how to build better
relationships, increase their confidence and build self-esteem (which can
increase their ability to SAY NO to drugs).**
* Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey '09
** Student Opinion Leader interviews '09
Current Actions By The Coalition
Reducing Access: Working With Law Enforcement; Schools and Communties; Retailers; Parents
Increeasing Awareness of the Risks of Use: Working With Youth; Schools and Communities; Parents
Increasing Consequences, Awareness of Consequences: Law Enforcement; Schools and Communties; Parents
Increasing Skills to Make Healthy Choices: Youth
Increasing Community Assets: Under development
Our local service area includes: Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Richmond, Vienna, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winthrop.
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