NEWS/EVENTS
TOOELE COUNTY UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION MEDIA CAMPAIGN
All the kids in Tooele County are not drinking, and the county’s MostDont.org plans to change the perception that they are.
Tooele, UT – May 25, 2009. Tooele County recognizes that underage drinking has become a growing problem throughout Utah and that underage drinking hurts everyone. With the awareness that it is a community problem that requires a community solution, and it all starts with perceptions about underage drinking, Tooele County kicks off its underage drinking prevention campaign, MostDont.org, on Wednesday, May 27.
If you ask teenagers in Tooele schools how many kids drink, the students will tell you “a lot.” They’ll tell you that most teenagers, especially in high school, have at least tried alcohol. But the fact is they’re wrong! Research shows that seven out of 10 teenagers in Tooele County have never tried alcohol. Teenagers in Tooele think they are under incredible peer pressure to drink. But in reality, that pressure doesn’t exist. This campaign is expecting the seven-out-of-ten statistic to improve in the near future.
The campaign’s objective is to let teens know the truth about who is and who isn’t drinking. It’s designed to let kids know that they’re normal if they don’t drink. Additionally, for those who are drinking, it informs them of the potential harmful effects of their decision. Underage drinking can impair brain development, making it harder for kids to learn and make good decisions. It skyrockets a person’s risk of addiction. A 13-year-old who begins drinking has almost a 50% chance of becoming an alcoholic, versus just a 7% chance for a 21-year-old. And it contributes to drug use, violence, truancy, suicide and more.
Unlike other campaigns, MostDont.org is aimed directly at teens and pre-teens. It will be run in schools with the collaboration of school administrators, teachers and counselors. Community businesses and local leaders are invited to join the effort to help change this perceived social norm.
WHEN
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at 10 a.m.
WHERE
Legends Hall at Miller Motorsports Park
2901 N. Sheep Lane
Tooele, Utah
435-277-7223
Directions
Take I-80 westbound in the direction of Reno, 20.8 miles. Take exit 99 to merge onto UT-138/UT-36 toward Tooele, 3.6 miles. Take slight right at UT-138, 5.2 miles to Sheep Lane. Turn left at Sheep Lane and travel 2.3 miles to Miller Motorsports Park.
WHO
More than 500 Tooele leaders, parents, teachers and community members have been invited to attend and support Tooele’s new prevention campaign. Speakers for the event are:
1. Patrick Dunlavy, Mayor of Tooele City
2. Terry Linares, Superintendent of Tooele County School District
3. Frank Park, Tooele County Sheriff
4. Michael Trujillo, 2009-10 Student Body President of Tooele High School
WHY
Underage drinking is a serious problem and Tooele has a serious solution. A young teen is five times more likely than an adult to become addicted to alcohol, and of the 16 million alcoholics in the US, one in four is a teenager.
The fact is, underage drinking is a problem in Utah’s schools and is starting earlier than ever. Elementary kids are drinking alcohol, and they’re not just experimenting. New research is showing that sixth graders in Utah are binge drinking – drinking with the sole purpose of getting drunk.