Programs help combat underage drinking

SCHUYLER COUNTY--Twenty students from Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, and Bradford Central School Districts came together Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a 12-hour, interactive youth empowerment training program. At the training, students learned the harmful effects of underage drinking, drug and alcohol refusal skills, and how to design, implement, and evaluate a drug prevention program. Students also learned leadership, advocacy and social marketing skills to help them reduce underage drinking in Schuyler County.
During the second day of the training, students broke into groups by school and designed drug prevention programs to address underage drinking. Student programs ranged from information dissemination campaigns, to a mock arrest simulation. The youth leaders attending the training will team up with the Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) to implement the programs the students designed.
Abigail Chapman, a student at Odessa-Montour, said, "this is a good program to try to stop underage drinking." Mackenzie Cannon, also from Odessa-Montour, added, "I learned a lot about the issue of underage drinking too."
"I was so surprised to learn how early kids start drinking," remarked Kelsey Kernan, a student at Watkins Glen high school.
The training was sponsored by SCCUDD and was made possible by funding provided by the federal Drug-Free Communities grant awarded to SCCUDD.
SCCUDD was formed in response to the Schuyler County Public Health Department's Community Health Assessment showing concerning youth outcomes. Part of this assessment included a public opinion survey that showed the number one health concern of Schuyler County residents was the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The mission of SCCUDD is to prevent, reduce and delay the onset of substance use among Schuyler County youth by collaborating with community partners, promoting prevention education and substance-free activities and implementing environmental strategies.
SCCUDD's vision is a connected community where youth have education, resources, and drug-free options to help their journey to become happy, healthy adults. For more information, or to become involved with SCCUDD, visit SCCUDD online at www.schuylercounty.us/sccudd, or follow SCCUDD on Facebook and Twitter.