Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness is sponsoring youth involved with Friday Night Live (FNL) through Lompoc High School, to start a campaign that tackles underage drinking in the county.
FNL builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engaging young people as active leaders and as resources within their communities to create positive changes on key issues that matter to them.
Due to legislative changes and prevention efforts, there has been a 34.5% decline in the prevalence of drinking among 12- to 20-year-olds since 2004, according to reports.
Although rates are declining, 23% of high school students consumed alcohol in the last 30 days, and an additional 14% rode with a driver who had been drinking (CDC, 2022), reports said.
Youth involved with Lompoc High School FNL are on a mission to ensure that underage drinking rates continue to decline.
That all young people participate in underage drinking is a common misperception perpetuated in film, television, and social media. Due to the prevalence of such images and messages, many young people may feel isolated in their decision not to drink, the Department of Behavioral Wellness said.
The youth-led campaign will launch a multi-media initiative to counter negative stereotypes of youth’s relation to alcohol, and promote positive social norms by highlighting the stories of their peers choosing healthy behaviors and remaining alcohol-free.
Santa Barbara County data shows 84% of community youth are not drinking. In the year-long campaign, students will highlight positive behaviors by creating posters, digital graphics, and public service announcements to encourage more young people across the county to participate in healthy life decisions.
Students will blanket their campuses, neighborhoods, online platforms, and airwaves with their messages wherever young people congregate.
Youth in FNL will receive training on data collection, environmental prevention, the health risks of underage drinking, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership development in a collection of valuable lifelong skills.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of empowering our next generation to lead in the fight against underage drinking, and inspiring positive change in our community and school,” said Ashley Coelho, FNL student advisor. “Our students are truly remarkable with their passion, creativity, and dedication to this powerful and meaningful project.”
Lompoc High School FNL members will join youth in 45 chapters across California in the effort to reduce alcohol access for minors, and mitigate the damages caused to communities by underage drinking.
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more about Friday Night Live, visit oksbc.org.
For links to mental health services or for urgent or crisis needs, call the Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Access line at 1-888-868-1649. For more about the Department of Behavioral Wellness, visit https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness.