ONDCP Blog

First-Ever National ‘Above The Influence’ Day

Yesterday, ONDCP’s “Above the Influence” Campaign engaged youth from across the country to celebrate its first-ever National “Above the Influence” Day.  The keystone event of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, National “Above the Influence” Day turned the spotlight on teens in a national discussion centered on how America’s young people stay “above” negative influences.

More than 200 teens and community organizations across the Nation participated in National “Above the Influence” Day by taking part in various youth-focused activities derived from the campaign, such as “Tag It,” “Be It” and “Express It.”  In addition, approximately 85 communities conducted teen panel discussions on the importance of staying “above the influence”, during which teens shared the positive and negative influences they face, including the pressures to use alcohol and drugs.

Washington, D.C.-area youth participate in an influence-inspired discussion in celebration of National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at the Newseum on October 18, moderated by Carla Brooks, Prevention Services Coordinator, Covenant House Washington.

In Washington, DC, I joined area youth in a panel discussion on how they stay “above it” in their own unique ways.  Teens from various community organizations engaged in song, dance, and poetry performances  related to their participation in the campaign’s “Express It” activity earlier this year. 

Similar activities occurred simultaneously in three featured communities – Aberdeen, Maryland; Elkins, West Virginia; and Elko, Nevada .  Young people also joined in the ATI Facebook Challenge to share online what they did in their local communities on National “Above the Influence” Day.

Youth from Aberdeen, Md., pose with Deputy Director Marilyn Quagliotti following their event celebrating the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County on October 18.

America’s success in the 21st century depends in part on its ability to help young people make decisions that will keep them healthy and safe.  ONDCP is thrilled to celebrate and recognize teens who are rejecting the pressure of drugs, alcohol, and other risky behaviors and the power of community organizations to support our teens nationwide.

Deputy Director Ben Tucker meets with local partners and teen panelists from Harrison, Randolph and Taylor counties in Elkins, W.Va., during the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at Davis & Elkins College on October 18.

Throughout National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we will continue to join with Federal, state, and local partners to highlight the importance of prevention. Our collective efforts are the key to building healthy and safe communities across the country.

Deputy Director David Mineta  addresses community partners and area youth participating in a panel discussion on influence during the first annual National ‘Above The Influence’ Day at Elko Convention and Visitors Authority on October 18.

I hope you will get involved and join others in their prevention efforts during this month. Learn what resources and coalitions are located near you. Visit our prevention page for more information and read the President’s 2012 proclamation here.

We know that prevention works and, with your help, we can help keep Americans safe and healthy.

The Need to Address Game-Day Fan Behavior on College Campuses

Dr. Laura L. Forbes is Chair of the American College Health Association (ACHA) Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Coalition, and Dr. Tavis J. Glassman is a ACHA ATOD coalition member.

The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Coalition focuses on substance abuse prevention and treatment specific to the college student population. An issue of increasing concern for our coalition is fan behavior associated with college football games. More than a mere nuisance, the high-risk drinking and other drug use associated with game-day fan behavior is a serious public health problem and an issue that universities and surrounding communities need to address.

Scope of the Problem

• The high-risk drinking that takes place on game day is associated with a variety of negative consequences, such as drinking and driving, injury, loss of memory (e.g., blacking out), urinating in public, and vandalism. These consequences are not limited to those actually engaged in alcohol consumption, as non-drinkers also can become victims of secondary negative consequences.
• No research to date has looked at the problem from a national perspective. However, a number of site-specific observational studies have documented the health threats associated with the extreme fan behavior often associated with game day on campus. For example, a 2007 study published in the Journal of American College Health about alcohol-related fan behavior at a large university in the Southeast found that college students and other fans tend to drink more on game day than during other social occasions.
• While anecdotal evidence indicates illicit drug use plays a part in game-day fan behavior, there’s a strong need for research to explore this connection and more accurately determine its nature, scope, and impact on public health.
   

Guidelines and Recommendations

• Creating a campus coalition/task force to prepare for and manage game-day issues is a fundamental first step in engaging community and campus officials, such as those in Student Affairs, the Health Center, Counseling Center, Health Promotion Office, University Police Department, Athletics Department, Residence Life, student government, and other student organizations.
• After conducting a needs assessment that looks at issues such as campus and/or community readiness and student substance use, the coalition can begin to plan prevention initiatives that include specific educational efforts, policy implementation, and increased enforcement.

Report in Development

• The ACHA ATOD Coalition is working collaboratively with other organizations and stakeholders to develop a report that will offer recommendations to help colleges and universities address the excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences associated with game-day fan behavior.
• As with many other health issues, there is no easy solution to the challenges associated with game-day fan behavior on campus. However, by opening up a dialogue, stakeholders (including students and fans) can discuss, evaluate, and implement measures to address this issue and help make game days on campus safer for everyone.

____________________________

 [1] Champion, H., Blocker, J. N., Buettner, C. K., Martin, B. A., Parries, M., McCoy, T. P., Mitra, A., Andrews, D. W., Rhodes, S. D. (2009). High-rish versus low-risk football game weekends: Differences in problem drinking and alcohol-related consequences on college campuses in the United States. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 21(2) 249-62.

[1] Glassman T, Werch CE, Jobli E, Bian H. Alcohol-Related Fan Behavior on College Football Game Day. Journal of American College Health. 2007;56(3):255-260.

Addressing Underage Drinking at the Local Level

The Brighton Park Drug Free Community Coalition (Families Against Drugs in Area 58), based in Chicago, just completed our 7th year as a grantee in ONDCP’s Drug Free Communities Support Program. With National Substance Abuse Prevention month upon us, we recognize the importance of being unified across communities to influence a change in the cycle of substance abuse. Recently, our coalition has focused our efforts on the issue of underage drinking. Described below is one of our most recent – and most rewarding – youth events:

An alcohol-free ‘Quinceañera’
For young girls in the Latino community, turning 15 is a special occasion and one meant to symbolize their passage into womanhood. To celebrate this transition, families throw a "quinceañera" for the teen of honor. Once a proud tradition focusing on a girl's faith and values, quinceañeras today have become lavish parties with no shortage of alcohol.

Families Against Drugs in Area 58 decided to go against the norm and challenge parental attitudes, which have accepted alcohol not only socially but also culturally, by throwing a quinceañera entirely free of alcohol.

Participants in the alcohol-free quinceañera.

During the planning of the event, we encountered considerable resistance to our decision not to allow alcoholic beverages. Many adults in the community did not support the idea even though, as we pointed out, the event was geared toward celebrating the young participants while also ensuring their health, safety, and well-being.

We continued with our plans nonetheless and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the girls themselves not only accepted the idea, they were all for it. “I believe we can have fun without any alcohol present,” said one 15-year-old honoree. “Many American teens drink because of peer pressure . . . they think it’s cool. But I don’t think it’s cool.”

Cross Post: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Note: This is a cross post from the Department of Justice's blog. To see the original post, please click here.