Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer April 2025: Alcohol Awareness Month
New Episode
Volunteer Month Prom Promise
Ben reflects on his experience with being a volunteer and MADD Teen Influencer for the past four years.
Talk to your parents about making a prom promise together so that you have a safe and sober night to remember.
Check out the latest episode of our Healthy Teen Talks podcast, available on YouTube.
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by Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer MADD Teen Influencer: Empowering Voices of Tomorrow
Prior to the start of my freshman year in high school and in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I knew I wanted to become more involved with and make a difference in my community. I found this community in MADD. As a MADD Teen Influencer for four years now, I have had the honor of working with peers that are equally passionate about becoming leaders within the MADD
community. A MADD Teen Influencer’s purpose is to provide MADD with a youth perspective by using our voices to educate the public by reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, working collectively to help MADD end drunk driving. Within our group, I join dozens of other teenagers in an ongoing collaborative effort with MADD’s Southern California office, local governments, and school districts to prevent further deaths in my community. During MADD’s Summer Teen Institute of California, I teach concrete skills related to traffic safety and self-
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2025
advocacy. I’ve helped host this free, intensive five-week program that teaches participants to rise above peer pressure, focus on traffic safety, and use social media mindfully. I have published articles about the negative effects of celebratory drinking and the impact of alcohol on the teenage brain in local newspapers and as a lead writer for the monthly MADD newsletter — hoping to reach teens and parents alike.
Just last year, MADD invited me to compose and deliver a speech as part of its yearly press conference on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. This annual December event commemorates the lives lost to impaired driving during the holiday months. I stood alongside the Los Angeles Police Department chief of police, prominent lawmakers — and a father whose teenage child was killed by a drunk driver. As I listened
intently to each person’s speech, I acknowledged their very personal, emotional motivations for dedicating themselves to this crusade to crack down on impaired driving. When it was my turn at the podium, I spoke about the devastating impact drunk driving has on teenagers. I advised parents in the audience to start conversations about drug and alcohol abuse early. It is my hope that at least one parent decided to have that very important talk with their teenage son or daughter about the proliferation of drug and alcohol abuse and dangers of impaired driving. At the end of the conference, City Hall and various bridges in Los Angeles were lit up in red for the remainder of the month to commemorate those lives lost, while also serving as a reminder to not drive impaired. Watching the building in front of me cast a brilliant red motivated me further to share MADD’s mission. I developed a deep desire to continue to devote my time and support to my community. Recently, I had the honor of volunteering as the keynote speaker at our annual MADD Teen Influencer Summit, an educational event for youth, parents, and community members. Each impassioned speech I deliver may save a life that could have ended too soon.
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2025
The honest conversations I've had with my peers, while sometimes difficult, have shaped my future path in many ways. I have chosen never to drink alcohol, not only because of my family's struggles with alcohol, but because of the destruction that comes with it. I have learned that community building doesn’t happen overnight, but I’m determined to keep at it. While this is my last year as a Teen Influencer, at college and beyond I will continue to raise awareness about drunk driving and other pervasive issues that threaten the well-being of our communities— treating each as a link for a broader network of support and change.
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. MADD Teen Influencers may respond to your question on the next episode of Healthy Teen Talks! TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
by MADD Programs Team Make A Prom Promise: Have A Substance-Free Night! 2
Going to prom? Make a promise to yourself and your family that you will have a safe and substance-free night! Not only is it illegal for those under 21, but it’s dangerous to drive under the influence. Have an amazing night to remember for all the right reasons!
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2025
by Teen Influencer Social Media Committee Minor Decoy Part 2 3 Check out the latest episode of our Healthy Teen Talks podcast, available on YouTube! Sofia talks to her brother Dylan about his experience with this program from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and we interview Agent Daniel Sumida about his time on the job. Healthy Teen Talks, Episode 9:
Check us out on YouTube and be sure to like, share, and subscribe to our Healthy Teen Talks podcast!
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
@MADDCalifornia
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