[Archived] Coalition Launches Video Series to Encourage Youth to Be Alcohol Free

For Immediate Release: May 4, 2021

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) has launched a prevention campaign featuring a series of short videos created by T.C. Williams High School students that encourage youth to be alcohol free.  

The videos, which feature Alexandria youth sharing reasons why they do not drink alcohol, reinforces and raises awareness of the social norm that the majority of youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol. Teen alcohol use in Alexandria decreased 52% between 2011 and 2019. According to the 2019 Developmental Assets Profile, only 8% of 8th graders, 13% of 10th graders and 29% of 12th graders drank alcohol in the past 30 days. 

SAPCA released the first two videos on their YouTube Channel this week. Additional videos will be released over the next few weeks. The videos will also be shared on SAPCA’s Facebook and Twitter platforms. 

The campaign, which was funded through an alcohol education and prevention grant from Virginia ABC, is the second video series launched by the coalition. Earlier this year, SAPCA released a series of videos featuring high school youth sharing the reasons they do not vape. Both campaigns invite social media users to share the videos, along with their own reasons why they do not use these substances.  

SAPCA also provides tools and resources for residents to engage youth and initiate conversations regarding the dangers of alcohol and other substances, healthy decision making, avoiding risky behaviors, responding to peer pressure and more.  

The coalition reminds residents that adult drinking behavior has been shown to influence youth and encourages residents to model healthy coping mechanisms as an additional way to prevent youth substance use and abuse.  

Healthy coping practices can be as simple as creating space to exercise, video chatting with friends and family, or spending five to ten minutes using a meditation app. Residents can access a wide range of resources for coping with stress in the COVID-19 Wellness Resource Guide and easy-to-share handouts with tips for coping with fear and stress resulting from the COVID19 crisis for adults and youth. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn more about the coalition, access information on engaging youth in conversations about the health risks and legal consequences of substance use, and resources for treatment and recovery. 

For more information, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3670.