Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Brattleboro, VT Intervention Campaign Against Underage Drinking
In late 2007, the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition received funding from a grant aimed at reducing underage drinking. Over 5 years, the grant allowed the coalition to build organizations and to create prevention plans and action strategies. The exciting part is that it seems like the programs are working to decrease the rate of binge drinking. The Coalition also took aim at marijuana usage because surveys showed that 47% of high school students had smoked marijuana. The media campaign "the blunt truth about marijuana" was launched, and so far both approaches appear to be working. In 2011, the rates of underage binge drinking and marijuana usage decreased more in communities that had funding from the grant than those who did not. As a future physician, this is important to understand and realize that funding for specific grants are an integral part of intervention programs. I think that it is important to support these programs as much as possible in order to benefit the entire community, and most of all, our young students.
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Ali
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe and support the prevention programs. They are important and they work. As you mentioned in your blog, marijuana use and underage binge drinking show decrease in communities that have prevention programs and plans. Also, I agree that is important to support these programs.
Mary
That is wonderful that these programs have made a positive impact. I am always shocked when I hear about the alcohol and drug abuse happening at such a young age. It is definitely important that the young population understands the risks they are taking and the damage they are doing to their bodies. I also think communities need to have more programs that teach these kids that they can enjoy themselves without the help of drugs. I remember a program while I was in high school called "Outdoor Education." It was really fun and I wished there were other programs like it. Maybe as providers we can work with the schools and communities to create such programs or activities to work with the current intervention programs.
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