The 2018 Caring Communities Youth Survey (CCYS) data reveals that Sabine Parish students reported the following for lifetime alcohol use: 6th grade 22.6%, 8th grade 48.8%, 10th grade 55.2% and 12th grade 53.8 %. For drinking in the past 30 days, 6th grade reported 9.2%, 8th grade 21.5%, 10th grade 37% and 12th 18%. Binge drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks at one sitting. Sabine 6th graders reported binge drinking at 5.4%, 8th graders 16.1 %, 10th graders 26.1% and Seniors at 18.4%.

 

The Sabine Prevention Alliance (SPA) a community led coalition is working toward increasing awareness of our underage drinking problem through increasing awareness of students, parents, teachers, church groups and citizens serving youth. One of the SPA’s evidence-based strategies is the SAMHSA Communities Talk town hall meeting. This month SPA will sponsor its second round of annual town hall meetings in Many to include Florien and Negreet and in Zwolle to include Ebarb Converse and Pleasant Hill. The purpose of the Communities Talk is to bring together the various community sectors to discuss the Caring Communities Youth Survey Data and to develop strategies that we can employ to prevent and reduce our underage drinking problem.

SAMHSA’s initiative, Communities Talk Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking began in 2006 with the goal of bringing together stakeholders ranging from parents to law enforcement and educators to elected officials–anyone with an interest in preventing underage alcohol use and high-risk drinking among youth and young adults. Last year’s meetings were well attended, and this year SPA is again partnering with the towns of Many and Zwolle. An addition to this year will include the Sabine Parish Student Drama Club and the Choctaw Apache Rising Sun Youth group who will provide a youth let introduction to our topics of discussion.

 

A panel of community sector leaders will discuss the top four risk factors identified by our children and youth in the 2018 CCYS data, will listen to input from local citizens and will help develop strategies that we, as a community can implement to reduce and prevent this problem. The panel is composed of representatives from the school system, local and parish law enforcement, business, human service agencies, faith-based organizations, parents and youth. Last year’s meetings produced the following recommendations:

 

1. Talk with your kids, they will listen. Before going to hang out with friends, before the camping trip, before the sleepover, before the game, before the prom, do not preach, threaten, coax, nag…………. just talk with them and they will listen.

2. Be clear with your expectations and walk what you talk.

3. Volunteer to support and help with positive activities for our children and youth provided by our schools, churches, organizations, tribes and towns in Sabine Parish.

4. Talk with law enforcement, DA and Courts about having clear and consistent consequences for underage drinking and adults who enable.

5. Volunteer to help with projects such as the Communities Talk town hall meetings and other youth focused activities.

6. Learn more about the Sabine Prevention Alliance to see how you can make a difference.

What’s In this for You?

 

If you are interested in learning more about what is going on with our children and youth, the risk factors they face and the protective factors that help keep them safe, sober, and successful, invite a friend or two to attend one of the Communities Talk Town Hall Meetings scheduled for Thursday, October 21st at the First United Methodist Church in Many and/or the Zwolle Festival Grounds Multipurpose Building in Zwolle on October 28th. Both meetings begin at 6:00 and will last about an hour.

 

This message was brought to you by the Sabine Prevention Alliance in partnership with Northwest La. Human Services District and LA Office of Behavioral Health, the towns of Many and Zwolle. The SPA is our local volunteer coalition dedicated to preventing and reducing underage drinking and other high-risk behaviors in our Parish. Come join us! SPAWagley@gmail.com, 318-315-0081, sabineprevents.com Facebook/ Sabine Prevention Alliance and Instagram