WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE UNDERAGE DRINKING ENDS, AND LIVES DON’T.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Did You Know? • Teen alcohol use kills about 4,700 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined. • Adolescent drinkers perform worse in school, are more likely to fall behind and have an increased risk of social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence. • A GfK Roper report showed that 74 percent of kids (ages 8-17) said their parents are the leading influence on their decisions about drinking. October Activation October, is a time of year when schools around the country encourage young people to pledge to live a drug-free life just in time for homecoming and the holidays. MADD knows that in order to prevent youth from drinking alcohol—the drug most commonly used by youth—we must not only educate teens on the dangers of underage drinking, but also equip parents to talk about alcohol with their kids. By engaging youth, parents and the community to collectively enforce 21 as the minimum drinking age and zero tolerance for underage drinking, MADD is working to reduce the deaths and injuries that are a result of this teen epidemic. What Can My School Do? Schools can partner with MADD during October to influence teen drinking behavior, by providing teens with fun and impactful ways to take a stand against underage drinking and by providing parents with the tools to talk with their teens about alcohol. The following MADD programs and activities are available for schools to utilize or promote during October Activation: October Activation Toolkits : Join with schools across the country as students collectively use their power to say no to underage drinking by promoting and using the October Activation Toolkits. These toolkits are designed for Educators, Student Leaders, Community Leaders, and School Resource Officers and are available for download at madd.org/powerofyouth. High School Presentations : Invite a MADD speaker to come into your school to present educational information about the dangers of underage drinking and give helpful tips for teens. This engaging presentation addresses factors that can lead teens to drink underage, the health risks, and tips on how to avoid peer pressure. Power of You(th) ® : MADD offers “ The 411 on Teen Drinking” , a teen booklet that has been reviewed and approved by teens, to provide teens with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking. This tool is designed to offer teens tools to resist peer pressure, and empower them to take the next step and influence their peers to make the right choices. There is a discussion guide at the end for classroom
MADD Power of You(th) : Activation Toolkit STUDENT LEADER
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