Caldwell County Hosts Event as Part of Communities Talk: Town Hall Meeting To Prevent Underage Drinking

LENOIR, NC (October 26, 2016)…RHA Prevention Resource Centers in partnership with Caldwell County Health Department, Caldwell County Schools, Caldwell Friends, Dept. of Juvenile Justice, Hudson First Baptist Church and Lenoir Police Dept. will host Communities Talk: Town Hall Meeting to Prevent Underage Drinking. The event will take place at 5:30pm on November 1, 2016 at Hudson First Baptist Church in the Life Center. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about the impact of underage drinking, and how to prevent substance misuse among our youth.

The town hall consists of a panel of speakers from the Caldwell Community including, but not limited, to Law Enforcement, Faith, Parents, Youth and more! Together, speakers and participants will discuss different options to prevent underage drinking.

Underage drinking is a major public health concern in our community and throughout the United States. According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 9 million—or one in four, 12- to 20-year-olds—reported alcohol use during the past month. Of these, about 5 million were binge drinkers, meaning that they consumed five or more drinks on at least one occasion. Underage drinkers are at risk for negative consequences, including lowered academic performance, increased involvement with law enforcement, greater risk of violence and sexual assault, and death. Illegal use of alcohol can result in severe, even deadly, harm to themselves and others.

According to national data, parents’ voices do count when it comes to underage drinking. This approach, along with other environmental strategies, has proven to reduce the incidence of underage drinking. This event will help community members and parents understand the reasoning for why young people want to consume alcohol as well as provide tips and talking points for how to talk to youth on the topic underage drinking.

The Communities Talk: Town Hall Meeting to Prevent Underage Drinking was created with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in collaboration with the federal government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. To learn more about this national initiative, go to https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhallmeetings, and join the online conversation, #CommunitiesTalk. For more information regarding the town hall, visit RHA Prevention Resource Center Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rhapreventionresroucecenter or contact Lindsay Stockman, CSAPC at lcarver@rhanet.org.