State police town hall meeting raises awareness of underage drinking
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[April 06, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD
-- Next week, town hall meetings will take place nationwide
to support the goals of the "Surgeon
General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking."
On April 12, Illinois State Police District 9, in conjunction with
the Sangamon County Coalition Against Underage Drinking, will
participate in a town hall meeting at the Dove Conference Center at
the Prairie Heart Institute in Springfield. The meeting will be from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free parking will be available in the parking
garage across the street.
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Law enforcement, prevention programs and health departments will
come together to allow the community an opportunity to discuss and
learn how underage drinking affects individuals, families and the
community. There will be representation from the Illinois State
Police, Springfield Police Department, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence Association, Illinois Church Action on Alcohol &
Addiction Problems, Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery,
National Guard, Operation Teen Safe Driving, Prevention First, SIU
School of Medicine, University of Illinois Springfield, and YMCA.
Information and resources will be available to the public, including
discussion panels by teens and law enforcement, as well as exhibits
from local and statewide prevention groups. A personal testimony of
experience with alcohol addiction will also be shared.
Underage drinking is a major public health problem. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most
commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States.
Approximately 5,000 people under age 21 die each year as a result of
underage drinking, according to the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism.
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Parents, youth, educators, prevention specialists, business leaders,
law enforcement, public health officials and concerned citizens are
encouraged to attend the town hall meeting. A strong collaborative
effort can prevent the terrible and often tragic consequences of
underage drinking.
[Text from file received from Illinois
State Police District 9]
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