May 19, 2014: Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol Town Hall Meeting

Monday, May 19, 5:30-8 p.m. First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (3600 MacInnes St.)

The UAA Dean of Students Office, Volunteers of America and Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol invite you to participate in a discussion about underage drinking as well as other harmful behaviors associated with it.

We encourage you to come, participate and be part of a solution-focused conversation about an issue affecting all members of our community. With the summer months approaching, Anchorage needs to unite and send a clear message to our youth that underage drinking is unsafe, unhealthy and will not be tolerated. Topics of discussion include:

• How large of a problem is alcohol use by underage youth in Anchorage?
• What is FASD and what are the human, economical and community consequences for individuals affected by FASD?
• Did you know rates of FASD among children born to teens are on the rise?
• What additional community-wide strategies can we implement to help reduce underage drinking in Anchorage?

A panel of experts and professionals from the fields of mental health/addiction research and prevention, restorative justice and youth services will be present to help raise awareness and answer your questions regarding the legal, health, safety and prevention issues associated with underage drinking.

Every day, nearly 8,000 youth in the U.S. between ages 12 and 17 try alcohol for the first time. In Alaska, most youth report they start drinking at 13. Anchorage youth report that they get their alcohol from their near peers, parents and friends' parents. Become part of the solution to prevent underage drinking!

Free on-site childcare will be available for community members attending the town hall meeting. There will also be a free barbecue at 5:30 p.m. featuring hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken legs.

For more information, contact Charlie Daniels at (907) 301-2710 or Amanda Murdock at amurdock@uaa.alaska.edu.

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