Local Schools See Lower Rates of Teen Drinking Thanks to a New Community Education Campaign
An Update from Mission Hospital via the Wellness & Prevention Center
Alcohol is everywhere: it’s on billboards, in magazines and movies, and in many homes. Seeing alcohol all around us may lead many parents and teens to mistakenly believe that drinking is an inevitable rite of passage for high school students. But the fact is, most teens don’t drink – a fact proven by the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), administered by schools to more than 82,000 teens in 9th and 11th grades. According to the 2017–2018 anonymous student survey, 82 percent of South Orange County high school students surveyed did not drink alcohol in the past 30 days.
Mission Hospital and social change agency Civilian launched two education campaigns during the 2017–2018. One year into the campaigns, data analysis found that the schools included in the campaigns showed higher reductions in alcohol use – reductions of up to 43 percent – compared to other schools in Orange County and across the state. While teen drinking has declined nationally and statewide, the schools included in the campaign showed significantly more marked change. Collaboration and support from community stakeholders such as the Capistrano and Laguna Beach Unified School Districts, the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Wellness & Prevention Center, Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, and the Orange County Department of Education contributed to the success of the campaign.
The teen-focused campaign and website, Strength in Numbers, provides peer-focused alcohol and drug-use statistics, health impact information and links for local resources. The campaign engages teens through targeted online advertising, school club/ambassador programs, on-campus partnerships and social sharing campaigns.
The parent-focused campaign and website, Raising Healthy Teens, provides adults with educational tools, drug and alcohol-related conversation starters and strategies to help teens develop self-esteem and connect with meaningful activities, both proven to further reduce the likelihood of alcohol and other drug use.
In addition, online discussions indicate that teens are avoiding drugs and alcohol because:
- They don’t like the way it tastes or makes them feel.
- They don’t want to get drunk, lose control, and/or do something they may regret.
- It is not good for their health, brain, body, teeth, breath, etc.
- Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco are a waste of money and/or calories.
- They don’t want drinking or smoking to affect grades, college or career prospects.
The most common activities teens are choosing instead of drinking include:
- Doing their homework and studying hard so they can do well in school.
- Getting involved in social causes, church activities, or helping their neighbors because they care and want to make a difference.
- Expressing themselves through art, writing, dancing, acting, or filmmaking.
- Playing sports.
- Exercising, eating healthy foods, and taking care of their bodies.
Mission Hospital is currently working to expand the highly successful campaigns to reach more students and parents, further reduce alcohol consumption and make a similar impact on marijuana, e-cigarette, tobacco and other drug use.
The end of October marks the annual Red Ribbon Week observance reminding parents to talk to their kids about substance use. Research indicates teens who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use them. For parents that may not know how to have that conversation, there are resources available on Raising Healthy Teens as well as an upcoming three-part dinner series called Date Night designed for parents and teens ages 12-17. The events will take place in San Clemente weekly, starting February 19, and San Juan Capistrano beginning on February 4. Location details and registration details can be found here.
Resources:
RaisingHealthyTeens.org
StrengthinNumbersOC.org
Date Night Registration www.raisinghealthyteens.org/events/