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One Voice for Volusia has
wrestled with numerous issues facing the community and
proactively responded by tackling tough issues head-on. As a
result, the coalition has successfully positioned itself as the
leading source of reference and facilitator for making positive
community change based on research-based, evidence-driven data.
This status has evolved over time by implementing “multiple
strategies over multiple sectors”.
One Voice for Volusia has
worked since its inception to address the prevention of
underage drinking. Through the work of many projects
over the years, efforts continue to prevent alcohol use by
youth.
Highlights of its activities and
efforts to specifically address underage drinking are as
follows:
Current Efforts
Engaging
Youth Initiative,
click
here for more information
Deltona Prevention Project,
click
here for more information
Past Efforts
Community Trials
Initiative in Daytona Beach
The Florida Office
of Drug Control, the Pacific Institute of Research and
Evaluation, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Programs approved a plan developed by One Voice for Volusia and
its Daytona Beach-centered Task Force in October, 2004 involving
enforcement activities to include routine compliance checks and
DWI/DUI safety checks; the creation of a visible media campaign
targeting parents and other adults; and, the improvement and/or
adoption of a new policy related to underage drinking. The
project was part of a national research initiative evaluated by
Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Daytona Beach was
selected as one of seven communities in Florida to participate
in a 30-month period, ending December 30, 2006.
Be
Wiser
Underage Drinking Table Tents Placed in Area Hotels During
Spring Break 2004
More than 1,500 Be
Wiser underage drinking table tent cards were placed in a few of
the more popular beachside hotels during the Spring Break 2004
(March 8-28, 2004) in order to enhance awareness among youth
regarding the legal consequences to underage drinking and
related behaviors/actions.
Community Position
Papers
In
an effort to connect to city and county government officials,
One Voice for Volusia released quarterly position papers in
2003-04 addressing issues related to underage drinking. The
papers were released electronically and approximately 125 hard
copies of each position paper were mailed to community leaders
and government officials. The papers featured issues/titles
including “Young Adults Driving Under the Influence”, “The
Sobering Truth”, “Teens in Nightclubs”, and “Universities and
Alcohol” to name a few.
 The Sobering Truth
Click here for information that includes more statistics on underage drinking. (28KB)
Write Now,
One Voice for
Volusia Letter to the Editor Campaign
One Voice for Volusia
kicked off its Write Now Campaign in December 2003 in order to
present timely data and information as well as to enhance
awareness of priority community issues identified by One Voice
for Volusia and its community partners. Driven by the objectives
of the Underage Drinking Reduction Project, One Voice staff
coordinated the release of newsworthy issues surrounding
underage drinking in Volusia by forwarding email notices to all
members of the Write Now Campaign committee. Staff provides
general key points for committee members to include in the
Letter to the Editor, if needed, as well as assistance in
ensuring that key components of a successfully published letter
are included. The Campaign resulted in enhanced awareness of
issues among coalition members as well as an increase in media
attention regarding underage drinking. Three out of the seven
submitted letters (43 percent) addressing underage drinking were
published as a result of this Campaign.
It’s all in the numbers. . .
- The average age of an adolescent’s first drink is 12 and nearly 20% of 12-20 year-olds are considered binge drinkers. (Binge drinking is considered having four to five drinks in a row.)
- 12% of middle school students and 22% of high school students in Volusia County reported being drunk or high in school.
- 22% of middle school students and 47% of high school students in Volusia County reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days.
- Alcohol alters the developmental process of the brain until the age of 20 years old.
- Thirty (30)% of 15-20 year old drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2000 had been drinking. Twenty-one (21)% were legally intoxicated.
- Nine out of ten 15-24-year-olds say that people their age drink or use drugs before having sex.
One Voice Resources:
Several copies of the following videos pertaining to underage drinking are available in the One Voice for Volusia lending library:
- The Truth About Drinking
- Dying High: Teens in ER
- Should Your Child Be Doing That (Segment from the Oprah Winfrey Show)
In addition to this resource, a One Voice staff member is available to facilitate trainings and workshops on request. Underage drinking videos, pre-post tests, open discussion, and an underage drinking fact sheet are incorporated into the training. For more information please contact the office at (386) 947-8301 or email us at
office@onevoiceforvolusia.org
From the Law Enforcement Perspective:
 Underage Drinking Survey Results,
click here to review the results of a recent survey of law enforcement agencies in Volusia County.
Links:
A Plus Driver's Education
Alcohol Policies Project
Booze News (Washington Report)
Center For Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws
Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY)
Century Council
Changing Alcohol Norms (CAN): Florida’s Initiative to Lower
Youth Drinking
FACE, Truth and Clarity on Alcohol
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free
The Marin Institute
Monitoring the Future
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
University of Minnesota Alcohol Epidemiology Program |
