RAD Members the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the LA County Office of Education and Friday Night Live invite you to attend a special Town Hall forum on Underage Drinking Monday May 19th (3-5pm). 

The event will feature special guest speakers Council Member Jorge Marquez, who spearheaded the passing of the Social Host Ordinance in the City of Covina in fall 2013, and Nick Nevarez, a 22 year old student, former alcoholic, drunk driving accident survivor and public health advocate. 

A MADD crash car will be on display. Food and drink will be available for attendees..

• WHAT: National Underage Drinking Prevention Day 
  
• WHEN: Monday, May 19th, 2014 (3:00pm-5:00pm)
  
• WHERE: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) 4626 N Grand Avenue Covina, CA 91724
• WHY: To better inform and educate the community about the risks of alcohol use 
• RSVP: White_Edward@lacoe.edu

Day One, Pasadena Public Health Department, and Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena Host Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting 

On Tuesday April 29th over 70 community members convened on the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena to attend a "House Party." Although pop music, red cups, ping pong balls and drinking paraphernalia found at underage drinking parties was present, alcohol was not. 

The event covered a wide range of topics: Youth advocates simulated for the community the popular, but dangerous, ways that underage teens consume alcohol at house parties. Panelist and Director of the Pasadena Public Health Department, Dr. Eric Walsh, stressed to the community that consuming alcohol during your teens (an important developmental stage for the brain) is known to be detrimental to overall health and decision-making. 

Courageous youth speakers on the panel like Nick Nevarez and Emily Sandoval informed community attendees about the social pressures that motivate teens to drink alcohol, and about the destructive and near deadly consequences that drinking in their teens had in their personal life. Officers from the Pasadena Police Department answered questions about how the department handles underage drinking incidents and DUI's, for which the department practices zero tolerance and costs offenders upwards of $10,000. 

Kathy Watson, a Substance Abuse Intervention Specialist for the Pasadena Unified School District spoke on how Pasadena schools can provide counseling and support to teens struggling with substance abuse, but acknowledged that strong parent support and involvement is key to helping teens overcome the pressures to drink.

Underage alcohol use can have both short and long-term health consequences to minors. Youth and young adults' brains still in development are more susceptible to harm. Alcohol use contributes to poor decision-making, injuries, violence, sexual assault and risky behaviors such as unprotected sex. Unfortunately, the vast majority of underage drinking in the United States is also binge drinking; according to the CDC, 90% of the alcohol consumed by minors is done during binges (5 or more drinks for males, 4 or more for females). 

"Secondhand Effects" of alcohol use - drinking behaviors that harm others:

• Violence (verbal, physical)
  
• Sexual Assault
  
• Unintended pregnancies; STDs
  
• Trouble with police or other authorities (e.g., DUI)
  
• Accidents, injury
  
• Memory loss
  
• Poor academic performance