Submitted by True North Student Assistance & Treatment Services
Hoquiam’s Grizzly Prevention Squad (GPS) members will partner with My TOWN Coalition and local businesses this week to kick off a Bottle Tagging Campaign. This youth-led initiative hopes to bring awareness to the issue of underage substance use and asks adults to “THINK TWICE” about providing alcohol and marijuana to anyone under the age of 21.
“We know that youth don’t benefit from substance use and we really want to encourage and empower adults in this community to help them make good choices,” shares GPS advisor, Izzy Chavez. “This is a great time of year to think about the example we are setting as adults and to talk about the consequences of underage substance use.”
According to the Healthy Youth Survey, the most common way for teenagers to access either alcohol or marijuana is to have someone over 21 buy it for them or access it from their own house both with and without parental permission.
“Adults need to set a better example for kids,” said Ericka DuBore, GPS President. “When adults supply alcohol or marijuana to youth it sends a very mixed message. Underage substance use is not just a teen problem, but a community problem that involves all of us. We think it is very cool that so many local stores are allowing us to get this message out.”
Statistics show that if people start using substances after the age of 21 they are 4x’s less likely to be addicted later in life, largely due to the brain development process. Just one of many reasons we are asking everyone to “THINK TWICE”, not only this holiday season, but all year-round.
For more information, please contact Izzy Chavez at: ichavez@hoquiam.net or Wilma Weber at: wweber@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.
A special thank you to the Lion Club for sponsoring the event this year.
