Teen Ambassadors provide friendship to elementary-aged children, helping to empower them to make positive life choices about alcohol and other drugs. This program will use high school volunteers, in an after-school setting, to deliver substance free messages and offer homework help to elementary students at one of three elementary schools in Chesterfield County. Select "Read More" for additional information about the program and an application form.
On May 8, over 50 professionals gathered to work on concrete action plans to reduce medication abuse in Chesterfield County. Five workgroups will be implementing a variety of strategies. Results will be reported at Phase IV of the summit in October.
The medication take back held April 28 was a great success. Nearly 200 people brought 390 pounds of expired or unneeded medications to the event. Visit our Facebook page for pictures from the event. Missed the take back? Click here to learn how to dispose of your medications at home. Or wait until the next take back on July 14. For additional information about prescription and over the counter medication abuse, select "read more."
Data being gathered for SAFE's state grant to reduce alcohol-related crashes among 15-24 year old drivers is yielding some interesting information. Check out this power point presentation provided at the April meeting of the Underage Drinking Task Force to see what we're finding and the types of information we will continue to gather. Data included in the presentation refers to Chesterfield County unless specified otherwise.
Did you know that your air conditioning unit may be an attractive target for adolescents who are looking for a high? Protect your unit from unauthorized access by asking your HVAC company to install locking caps on refrigerant access valves. Click here for a list of companies that will install locking caps free during maintenance or service calls. Some of the companies will install them free even if no other service is provided.
Three hundred persons, mostly parents, attended a drug awareness seminar at Winfree Memorial Baptist Church on March 18 to learn more about designer drugs, particularly 25i, and other substances being used by young people. Wayne Frith, executive director of SAFE, spoke about how adults in the community can work together to make changes that will prevent use and protect our young people. Click here for a press release about 25i from the Chesterfield police.Click here to read about other designer drugs from Richard Grosse, a local substance abuse counselor who works with adolescents.
SAFE's 2009 survey showed a 18.3% reduction in past 30 day use of alcohol among eighth graders compared to 2007, a significant decrease. SAFE is hopeful that results from its recent survey of youths conducted in Chesterfield County Public Schools will show a continued downward trend.
Michelle Anderson, an active member of SAFE, told her story at Journey Christian Church and has courageously agreed to share her story with a wider audience. Many teens in a recent focus group answered the question "What would it take for your friends NOT to drink alcohol?" with "serious injury or death of someone they love." Watch the video of Michelle's story here. She hopes others will learn from her experience and be spared the heartbreak she brought on herself and others.