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Nathan Hale hosts event to celebrate dramatic drop in alcohol drinking rates among Northeast Seattle students
Nathan Hale students Ella and Bailey, standing, members of RADD (Raiders Against Destructive Decisions) speak at the 'Celebrate Healthy Youth' event.
'Celebrate Healthy Youth' panel share underage drinking prevention strategies
Families, students, staff, and community members came together Oct. 10 to celebrate a dramatic drop in alcohol drinking rates among Northeast Seattle students. In 2006, drinking rates among Northeast Seattle youth were higher than the state average.
Since then, rates of underage drinking have decreased significantly to below the state average. This change in student behavior was the focus of a celebratory event at Nathan Hale hosted by Prevention WINS, a community coalition formed to combat youth substance abuse in Northeast Seattle.
A panel of community members shared what they’ve done to prevent underage drinking, the challenges and barriers they continue to face, and how their activities can be replicated in other communities. The panel consisted of parents, school administrators, police, media and students.
Members of Nathan Hale’s student group RADD (Raiders Against Destructive Decisions) were masters of ceremonies for the event and spoke about how students have the power to create change in their school and community.
Ella Tudor, an 11th-grader at Nathan Hale, said, “You can have at teacher tell you a bajillion times not to do something, but if your friend tells you, it really makes a difference.”
For more information about the prevention activities happening in Northeast Seattle, visit www.PreventionWorksInSeattle.org
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