This Place Workshop Center for Human Development Emily Justice

This Place Film

Short Term Problems Car crashes, homicide, and suicide School related problems Lower attendance Poor grades Social related problems Fighting Lower involvement in youth activities Unplanned, Unwanted, and Unprotected Sexual Activity

Long Term Problems Young people who start drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to have alcohol-related problems Approximately 50% of young people who start drinking alcohol at age 14 or younger will also use illicit drugs in their lifetime

Local Alcohol Use Data California Healthy Kids Survey Surveys Interviews Observation Police data

Perceived Difficulty in Obtaining Alcohol 35% of Contra Costa County 7th graders report that it is fairly easy or very easy to obtain alcohol 65% of Contra Costa County 9th graders report that it is fairly easy or very easy to obtain alcohol 79% of Contra Costa County 11th graders report that it is fairly easy or very easy to obtain alcohol

Access to Alcohol 40% of the Nation’s current underaged drinkers who drank in the past 30 days were provided free alcohol by adults 21 or older 1 in 16 underage drinkers was given alcohol by their parents in the past month

Prevention Strategies Individual Seeks to change behavior of an individual Often education efforts Activity-based Examples: Prevention Curriculum Every 15 Minutes Environmental Seeks to change norms of a community Often policy change efforts Action-based Examples: Special Event Policies Social Host Ordinances

Not always policy… Community norms Media Accessibility

Special Event Assessments

Purpose of an Event Assessment Identifying… Risk of underage access to alcohol Are they checking IDs? Are they requiring wristbands? Are there designated drinking areas? Sales to intoxicated/drunk guests Posted alcohol policies

Event Information Title: Oktoberfest Location: Todos Santos Plaza, Concord Sponsor: Todos Santos Plaza Business Association Date & Hours: Saturday, October 18, 2008; 11 am – 6 pm Hours of Assessment: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Attendance: Children, Youth, and Adults

Assessment completed by… Omar, Candy, Carmen, Freddy, Johanna, and Nicole

Posted Policies

Enforcing the 21 Minimum Drinking Age

Social Host Ordinances Hold the host accountable for parties that involve underage drinking The purpose is to address and prevent underage drinking parties that are a threat to the health and safety of youth in our community Work to reinforce and support parents’ reasonable expectation that their child will be safe when they go to another adult’s home

Ensuring Policies are Effective Based on research Address the root of the problem Build a team of supporters Community education Enforcement Celebrate success

Questions?

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