All of us want to see our children grow up healthy, full of vigor and vitality, pursuing their dreams and achieving productive contributions for their community and society. None of us wants to see our children become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The way we maximize the odds of them becoming productive citizens as opposed to citizens with behavioral problems needing a solution is through environmental approaches.

Environmental substance abuse prevention consists of those evidence-based practices used to change the "context" in which substance use and abuse occur. Environmental strategies incorporate prevention efforts aimed at changing or influencing community conditions, standards, institutions, structures, systems and policies. These approaches potentially reach entire populations and reduce collective risk. They create lasting changes in community norms and systems, producing widespread behavior change and, in time, reducing problems for entire communities.

Below are several examples of environmental prevention strategies related to underage drinking that CDFGC and others around the region are pursuing:

• Our Coalition advocates for policy that restricts youth access to alcohol and drugs
• Our Coalition advocates for strong enforcement of underage drinking laws
• CDFGC is implementing “The Parents Who Host…” public awareness campaign to increase parent knowledge regarding the dangers of underage drinking and parental responsibility for security of alcohol in the home
• CDFGC is arranging Responsible Beverage Service training for on-premise and off-premise alcohol sales retailers to help in preventing access to alcohol by teens
• Sobriety checkpoints for motorists and other forms of High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) will be arranged during special times like prom and graduation season
• Compliance checks for alcohol retailers and festivals that sell alcohol will be arranged locally to reduce alcohol sales to minors
• The Coalition uses Social Marketing and Social Norming campaigns like “3 of 4” and “Too Cute” are used to educate the public on underage drinking issues
• Alcohol outlet density can be defined through environmental scans and problem areas and stores and their sales hours can be regulated through passage of ordinances

How can you use environmental prevention strategies?  It's easy.  First, just take a look around and make a list of those things you think are contributing to teen substance use behavior.  Then, take a moment to assess and reflect on the consequences of this behavior.  With this in mind, contact your local coalition and get involved in providing the solution to a community problem.