Prevention News
Takin' It to The Schools 2019-2020
December 2019, VOL. 1 ISSUE #4
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
With the holidays quickly approaching means more adults will be consuming alcoholic drinks and in higher quantities. Unfortunately, many parents will provide alcohol for children around the holiday season. Parents similarly, want to be the cool parents, want to teach children to 'drink responsibly, or keep them from drinking and driving. It's up to us to let those parents know that providing alcohol for children and teens is unsafe, unhealthy, and illegal. We also need tol be mindful that this time of the year also puts more people on the roadways. Every 51 minutes 1 person dies as a result of an alcohol-impaired driver. Drunk driving accidents cost more the $ 59 billion dollars a year, and driving fatalities account for close to 31% of all vehicle-related deaths. 20% of vehicle-related deaths among children under the age of 15 involved a drunk driver, more than half of children passengers who were killed in drunk driving accidents were riding with an impaired driver. Alcohol is not the only thing we need to keep in mind, did you know that driving on prescription or over-the counter pills can also be dangers and can result into a driving under the influence charge? Just in Tuscarawas County alone
Takin' It to the Schools
4th Grade Graduation
Anthony Gatchell
Youth-Led Prevention
Our Youth-Led Prevention program has active Youth to Youth clubs in Claymont, Dover, Newcomerstown, Strasbug, Tusky Valley, and Tuscarawas Central Catholic high schools. These groups spent November volunteering and organizing great initiatives to kick off the holiday season and continue through the new year.
Volunteer Opportunities
This year, we have a new policy in Youth Advisory Board that awards members with Leader Points for volunteer hours given to the Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition (ADC). By accumulating Leader Points, members earn privileges in our program.
In November, students volunteered at two successful events hosted by the ADC. The first was Hope Rising at held Quaker Cinema on Tuesday, November 12th. This event was designed to de-stigmatize addiction and encourage our community to offer support to those affected by substance abuse disorder. Hope Rising included speakers, a video, and panel of prevention professionals, law enforcement, a judge, a person in recovery, and faith leaders. Our students attended this event and distributed bulletins to attendees.
The Anti-Drug Coalition's most recent event was What Parents Need to Know About Vaping, held at Kent State University at Tuscarawas on Tuesday, November 19th. At this event, parents were invited to learn about the impacts of the e-cigarette epidemic from an area physician, law enforcement, health educators, and prevention specialists. Our own Youth to Youth member Logan Kazelman, a senior at Dover High School, also spoke and participated in panel discussion. Logan's presentation on vaping helped local parents understand the youth perspective and how to identify e-cigarette devices.
Looking Forward
Following the New Year, our Youth to Youth clubs will be busy with mentoring initiatives and planning for the Nordonia Winter Retreat, an annual Youth-Led Prevention camp organized by Nordonia Youth to Youth and held at Hiram House Camp in Chagrin Falls. Until then, Tuscarawas County Youth to Youth wishes you a happy holiday season!
ABOUT US
Tuscarawas County Youth to Youth is a youth-led prevention (YLP) program serving high schools throughout Tuscarawas County. YLP is a comprehensive, research-based approach to preventing youth substance use. In this model, youth are given an active role in the entire prevention process, from planning and decision-making to implementing and evaluating. The goal of YLP is youth empowerment, a system of prevention that is youth led and adult guided.
From our Prevention family to yours: We want to wish you a Very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year.
Website: www.ohioguidestone.org
Location: 1433 5th Street Northwest, New Philadelphia, OH, USA
Phone: 330-440-7320