Parent PledgeParent Pledge

We invite you to join other concerned parents in creating a healthy, drug free lifestyle for youth by signing the Parent Pledge.
Sign the Parent Pledge.

Local Schools

Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Solvang School District

Los Olivos School District

Buellton Union School District

College School District

Los Alamos School District

Drug Facts

Click the links below to learn more about the drugs most commonly abused by teens.


ONDCP information about preventing and reducing prescription drug abuse – www.WhiteHouseDrugPolicy.gov/

Coalition Meetings

Click the link below to find the when the next meeting will be.

Coalition Meeting Information

Contacting the Coalition

Online FormContact Page
EmailCoalition@syvdrugfree.org CallCall Mary at 686-0295.

 

Keeping the Youth of Santa Ynez Valley Drug and Alcohol Free

A place to share news,information and resources for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention among youth.

January 22, 2012

The Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition Kicks off 2012 Activities

Filed under: Alcohol Prevention, Drug Prevention, Parenting, Parents and Teens — Tags: , , , , , , — syvphp @ 5:38 pm

As we enter the new year, The Valley Youth Coalition is once again reaffirming our mission and   goals and establishing our priorities for the coming year. There may be many of you new to our Facebook Page and Blog, therefore we wish to take this opportunity to inform you about the Coalition, its Mission and share how we actively  promote healthy teen lifestyles in our community.

By definition , a  Coalition is a “joining of forces together for a common cause.” The Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition, formerly “The SYV Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth”  is a group of  local community members joining forces for the cause of Drug and Alcohol use prevention among youth here in the Santa Ynez Valley. In the last year, we  have broadened our scope to address other teen related issues with the goal of  “promoting healthy teen lifestyles”  altogether.  Hence, we’ve changed our name to reflect the broader goal of our cause.

Our Mission Statement

“The Valley Youth Coalition will facilitate and take collective action resulting in conditions where youth can become healthy, safe, resilient and can thrive.”

Santa Ynez Valley Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth

Who We Are

The  Valley Coalition  is a collaboration of volunteer community members dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing and reducing alcohol and other substance abuse among youth and ultimately adults.  We focus on advocating for the implementation of research based best practices, policies and prevention programs.

In 2005 a  group of community volunteers came together  because we shared the same concern – how to make a change in the attitudes and behaviors of teens who are abusing drugs and to prevent young people in the Valley from ever starting to experiment with substances.  The goal is to promote a safe, healthy and supportive environment where young people can be successful as they transition through adolescence.

What We Do

In 2007, the Coalition was awarded a five-year Drug Free Communities grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, a division of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The focus of the grant was on environmental strategies designed to change the norms and conditions of the community that support underage use.

The  Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition:

  • Educates parents and the community about topics related to underage abuse of alcohol and other drugs, new drugs of abuse and new research about the dangers associated with underage use.
  • Informs parents and the community in many ways such as public forums, Social Media, transitional media, brochures and fact sheets, speakers for various groups and messages delivered by youth.
  • Provides parents with strategies to prevent substance abuse and recognize the signs of abuse occuring.
  • Promotes policies that change settings and consequences for underage substance abuse such as a Social Host Ordinance, a Sheriff’s “Party Patrol” and hotel and motel policies.
  • Provides  social support for youth such as mentoring and Youth Programs.
  • Collaborates with the local business communities and schools to ensure that barriers are in place to prevent youth access to alcohol.
  • Helps parent identify other parents who have signed a Parent Pledge that supports an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle for their youth

Membership

Membership is open to all members of the community that are dedicated to the Vision and Mission of the Valley Coalition.  Coalition Members include volunteers from many community sectors:

*Schools *Media *Youth-serving organizations *Business community *Law enforcement agencies**Civic and volunteer groups *Healthcare professionals *State, local or tribal governmental agencies** Religious or fraternal organizations *Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse** Parents *Youth

The Youth Action Advisory Council is comprised of High School youth which serve as a youth advisory board to the Coalition. On going projects provide opportunities to positively impact their peers and the community in which they live. The Youth Action Council’s involvement in a variety of teen and community activities will demonstrate the valuable role youth play in helping to prevent underage substance abuse.

The Valley Youth Coalition meets quarterly, sub-committees with focused interests meeting monthly. We welcome all community members and parents to join. Our first quarterly meeting will be held on January 24th.

2012 Initiatives

These are just a fewof the highlighted initiatives we will be undertaking this year:

  • Community Awareness Activities: Seek opportunities to raise of the Coalition’s mission and work and to be identified as the convener of youth focused groups for a prevention/intervention.
  • Community Presentations: Coalition adult and teen volunteers will be trained to participate with staff in community presentations about policy changes, such as Social Host Liability Ordinances and tobacco control policies.
  • Multi-Media Parent Education Campaign: Multi-media parent education about preventing alcohol, marijuana and prescription drug abuse using various media outlets including radio, print media, our Web site and Facebook.
  • School-Based Clubs: Drug-free clubs for 7th and 8th graders will be organized and/or support for existing clubs
  • Life Skills Classes: Botvin’s Life Skills curriculum will be taught to 7th and 8th graders at two schools.
  • Parent Education Classes. Four Active Parenting classes will be held in English & Spanish.
  • New Web Site Launch: To complement our work in Social Media , we are revamping our Website to provide a more robust and comprehensive for information and resources relating to our case.

We welcome your participation, thoughts and suggestions! For further information visit our website or contact Mary Conway, Coalition Coordinator at   mary@syvphp.org.

“Like” us on Facebook to receive news and related information

December 29, 2011

Doctor Debbie Wienstein to Chair The Valley Youth Coalition Board

Filed under: Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parents and Teens, Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — syvphp @ 12:00 pm

Debbie Weinstein, a board-certified emergency care physician, has been elected chairwoman of  our Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition for 2012.  An 11-year resident of the Santa Ynez Valley, Debbie Weinstein has worked most recently at Juvenile Hall in Santa Maria and at Los Prietos Boys’ Camp. She also has experience in the emergency departments at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital in Solvang and Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria.She has also traveled to Haiti and Honduras on humanitarian medical care missions.

Debbie  has previously served as a  Coalition member, contributing greatly to our mission. We welcome her expertise and dedication in this new role. Cindy Stevens, also a veteran Coalition member, will serve as vice-chair next year along side Debbie.

December 22, 2011

Appeal to Parents – Know What is Going on Under Your Own Roof

Filed under: Alcohol Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parents and Teens, Teen Alcohol Abuse — Tags: , , , , , , , — syvphp @ 11:48 am

After reading a recent report in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal  Sheriff’s Blotter section, I was disturbed, angry and relieved all at the same time.  The report contained yet another story of a minor consuming alcohol at a home party where adults were admittedly present.  This fact only came to light because  two minors , shortly after leaving the party were involved in an accident when their vehicle , speeding at 70 mph overturned.   As I read further some relief set in when I discovered that the young people survived the wreckage; too often this is not the case and another family is left devastated by the senseless loss of their child.    

 During this Holiday Season, as in any time of the year, we as adults must take the important responsibility for keeping alcohol out of the hands of our youth.  It is not only our responsibility, it is the law.  The Social Host Liability Ordinance was created in our County and Cities to make adults aware of the harms associated with youth access to alcohol and to provide consequences when an individual furnishes a location for youth to drink.  You need not provide the alcohol but only “knowlingly” provide the place. 

 Alcohol abuse by young people in the Santa Ynez Valley is a serious public health problem.  While some headway has been recently made in reducing this abuse, a recent survey of our high school students shows that 22% of our 11th graders are still driving drunk or riding with  drunk drivers.  Is it not worth every effort to keep our children safe from harm?  It really is rather simple.  If the alcohol is not available to them they will not be drinking it.

 I would like to thank the Deputy Sheriff that followed up on the traffic accident and went to the home where the party was taking place to assure that the other minors at the party were safe.  According to the “Journal” report, the party hosts claimed they were unaware that minors were drinking at their party.  Rightly so, the District Attorney has been asked to review this case to determine whether laws were violated.  At very least, as parents, we need to be more aware of what transpires under our roof with our teens.  We owe it to our children and those we are entrusted with!  

For  more information on the Social Host Ordinace and the liability you consequences of  minors  found drinking alcohol in your home visit  http://syvdrugfree.org/parents.html

Mary Conway

Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition Coordinator

December 12, 2011

December – Drug and Drunk Driving Awareness Month

Filed under: Alcohol Prevention, Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parenting, Parents and Teens, Teen Alcohol Abuse, Teen Drug Abuse — Tags: , , , , , , — syvphp @ 2:19 pm

As we enter the Holiday Season with celebrations and travel ahead of us, there’s no better time  to call attention to  Drug and Drunk driving awareness.

According to the  National Commission Against Drunk Driving:

  • 41 percent of all traffic crashes are alcohol-related.
  • Nearly 600,000 Americans are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes each year.
  • Someone dies in an alcohol-related traffic crash every 30 minutes. Every two minutes someone is hurt (nonfatally injured) in an alcohol-related accident.
  • Three out of every 10 Americans face the possibility of being directly involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash during their lifetime.

In an effort to increase community awareness, December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. First started in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, this national holiday has experienced increased community support and continues to promote safer streets on a daily basis.  President Obama has continued the tradition and on November 30th proclaimed December 2011 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. You can read his proclamation here.

As your community organization chartered to promote prevention and healthy youth lifestyles, we’d like to share some staggering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Most drinking and driving episodes go undetected. In 2001, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That’s slightly more than 1 percent of the 120 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.
  • Drugs other than alcohol (e.g., marijuana and cocaine) have been identified as factors in 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. Other drugs are generally used in combination with alcohol.
  • Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for 15 – 19 year olds in 2007
  • More than 6% of 16 or 17 year olds and nearly 17%  of 18-20 year olds reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year. 
  • The risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash is greater for young people than it is for older people. In 2002, 24% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol (NHTSA 2003b ).  
  • Young men ages 18 to 20 (too young to buy alcohol legally) report driving while impaired almost as frequently as men ages 21 to 34 . 

The statistics, though horrifying, help us to realize how imperative educating our community is. 

New and young drivers are the most at-risk for accidents on the road and are at risk for the most harmful effects of drug use. As your teen takes to the roads, parents can take action by  talking about the dangers of drunk, drugged and distracted driving.  

Remind them that it is illegal for teens to drink alcohol – and illegal for anyone to use illicit drugs. Discuss how drugs and alcohol can impair their senses,affect perception, and cause delayed reaction time.It’s important to note that even one drink or joint can impact the senses, as can prescription drugs taken with a physician’s order. Make it clear that alcohol, marijuana or other drug use when driving is completely unacceptable.

It is important that our youngest drivers learn how to drive safely and make healthy choices.

It could help save a life…

November 27, 2011

Childhood Sexual Abuse Can Lead To Drug/Alcohol Addiction

Filed under: Alcohol Prevention, Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parenting, Parents and Teens, child abuse — syvphp @ 5:52 pm

In light of the recent events occurring at Penn State with sexual abuse charges being brought against the football coach there, we felt compelled to discuss this topic and its relationship to drug and alcohol abuse.

There is evidence that people with a history of sexual abuse may have an increased risk of developing alcohol and drug problems. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supported research conducted at the Medical College of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, sexual abuse during childhood increases the risk for drug abuse as adults.

Dr. Kenneth Kendler and his colleagues assessed the association between childhood sex abuse and six adult disorders — major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, alcohol dependence, and drug dependence. Those who experienced any type of sexual abuse in childhood were roughly three times more likely to report drug dependence as adults.

“Overall, childhood sexual abuse was more strongly associated with drug or alcohol dependence than with any of the psychiatric disorders,” Dr. Kendler says. “Only drug and alcohol dependence were significantly associated with all levels of abuse.”

Reported long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulties with interpersonal relationships, substance abuse and other addictions. About half of all men and two-thirds of all women in drug treatment centers report past sexual or physical abuse.

As a parent there are a few actions you can take to help protect your child from becoming a victim.

Talk to Your Kids About Sexual Abuse*

The person most likely to sexually abuse your child is a person your child knows – and trusts. The sex offender looks for a child who trusts him and can be convinced to stay quiet about inappropriate physical contact. It could be a family member, close relative, neighbor, or trusted youth worker.

Discussing sexuality and/or sexual abuse with your child can be uncomfortable, but in today’s world responsible parents cannot afford to skirt the issue. Here are some practical suggestions to incorporate in your home:

  • Plan a specific time to sit down with your child to discuss sexual abuse.
  • Explain to your child that some parts of their body are private.
  • Clearly identify for your child which parts of their anatomy are private. If your child is young, consider sharing the above information during their bath time.
  • Let your child know they must tell you if anyone touches them in the private areas – no matter who the person is, or what the person says to them. Assure your child they will not be in trouble if they tell you they’ve been touched inappropriately – rather, you will be proud of them, and help them through the situation.

For Teenagers

Adolescence is a scary time for children, and one in which they are most at risk for sexual assault. Prepare for the possibility that as adolescents, they may engage in some risk-taking behavior and try to minimize that risk by educating them about the danger of sexual assault by friends, acquaintances, or others. This danger is enhanced when teenagers are abusing drugs or alcohol.

  • Encourage your teenager to trust her or his instincts and if a situation makes him or her uneasy, to get out of it.
  • Stress to them that they can always talk to you if they have been hurt or scared (regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident).

We will never completely eliminate the possibility that a child will be sexually abused – there are simply too many factors outside of our control. Nonetheless, we can empower our children through conversation and education.

For more information, here are some recommended sites.

www.focusonthefamily.com

www.pandys.org

www.meganslaw.ca.gov

www.aacap.org

* Excerpt from Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Abuse,  Jon Holsten, Focus on the Family www.focusonthefamily.com

November 14, 2011

The Santa Ynez Valley Celebrates Red Ribbon Week

Filed under: Drug Facts, Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, National Red Ribbon Week, Uncategorized, Youth Activities — Tags: , , , , , , , — syvphp @ 4:13 pm

The Valley Youth Coalition Red Ribbon Week ActivitiesLast month we shared information on National Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, which took place during the week of October 23-31. Millions of young people across the nation were involved in media and school programs promoting a drug free lifestyle. Over 2,500 Valley  students participated this year!!

Some of the activities conducted this year included:

  • An All-Valley Junior teen Drug-Free tance
  • Special school assemblies and tabling events
  • A Drugs Facts scavenger hunt
  • Poster Contests
  • A  Jog-a-thon
  • Dress-up theme days
  • …..and more

Mary Conway, Coalition Coordinator, and Cindi Stevens, Valley Youth Coalition member enjoyed an exciting “Fly-Over” of  local schools where students organized formations spelling out their Drug Free Message and team loyalties.  Jerry Long, a Pilot and aerial photographer, captured these moments:

Thanks to all who participated and helped to make our Red Ribbon Week a success!

Take a look at our Facebook Page Photo Gallery for more photos of Red Ribbon Week activities.

November 2, 2011

What Began as a Fun-Filled Turns into a Nightmare

Filed under: Drug Facts, Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parents and Teens — Tags: , , , , , , , — syvphp @ 2:26 pm

After a night at a party, Erin and her boyfriend headed to bed around 2:00 a.m. blissfully unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead. What began as a fun-filled night would quickly become a nightmare.

When Erin’s boyfriend awoke at 6:30 a.m. he could tell something was terribly wrong. Erin’s body was cold and stiff. She wasn’t breathing. Her heart had stopped. All of his first-aid training could not rouse a pulse or heartbeat. Panic ensued. A call to 911 was made. Help was needed – quickly.

First responders and ambulance attendants worked furiously to re-start Erin’s heart, but to no avail. At approximately 7:30 a.m. on May 28th, 2008 (just one month after her 21st birthday), Erin Jean Maria Spanevello was pronounced dead at the scene from cardiac and respiratory failure.

Waiting at home for Erin’s usual “good morning” phone call, her parents received the tragic news of her sudden death. What had happened? What went wrong?

As days of deep despair and grieving passed, details began to emerge. On her last night alive, Erin and her boyfriend took a combination of Ecstasy and GHB that caused an irreversible coma and ultimately her death. It was a lethal combination of illicit drugs that was circulating in the party crowd. There was no guarantee of what was in the drug, no dosage control, NO amount was safe. Without thinking about the risks or their safety one night of altered consciousness, purchased for less than price of a movie ticket, was Erin’s last.

Erin’s family and friends will forever mourn the loss of a girl who had a bright and promising future. Erin was an aspiring model and worked part-time at a trendy downtown restaurant. She was set to start college in the Fall and was looking forward to studying graphic design.

Why am I sharing this story? I’m sharing my daughter’s story (and my own personal nightmare) in the hope that even one young life will be saved from learning about Erin’s avoidable and unnecessary death. Illicit drugs kill. Protect yourself and your friends from this potential fate. Educate yourself and understand the risks. Don’t let The Agony of Ecstasy take your life or the life of someone you love. Please, don’t let Erin’s story become your own.

Catherine Spanevello – Erin’s mom

Originally published on nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca

November 1, 2011

Final Week to Help Us Get Drug Prevention on the White House’s Radar

Filed under: Alcohol Prevention, Drug Prevention, Healthy Teens, Parenting, Youth and Tobacco — Tags: , , , , , , , — syvphp @ 11:52 am

There is only one week remaining to get 25,000 signatures on Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)’s petition to raise the profile of effective drug prevention on the White House’s “We the People” website. We need your help now more than ever! If we can get 25,000 people to sign on to the petition by Nov. 4, then the Administration will discuss the issue with his cabinet members.

Today, CADCA is the nation’s leading drug abuse prevention organization, representing the interests of more than 5,000 community anti-drug  coalitions across the country such as The Valley Youth Coalition here in the Santa Ynez Valley. As of this week, there are  than 2,000 signatures on the petition!

CADCA’s petition is the only petition on the website focused on drug prevention. There are at least 12 petitions pushing for the legalization of drugs with thousands of signatures. We know that drug prevention matters to you so please sign the CADCA  petition and forward on to your friends, family and colleagues. Anyone older than 13 can sign. Help us send a message to the president! We have to prove that our issue matters to the American public!

Signing the petition is easy , just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to: http://wh.gov/2Yh

2. Create a username and password, if you don’t have one already.

3. After you have created an account, return to the petition link and hit refresh.

4. Click “Sign Petition” button.

View a message from CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant Sue Thau about the importance of signing the petition.

We appreciate your help in getting this very important community matter the visibility it needs.

The Valley Youth Coalition Members

October 23, 2011

Red Ribbon Week Celebrates a Drug-Free Lifestyle

Filed under: Drug Prevention, National Red Ribbon Week, Parenting, Teen Drug Abuse — Tags: , , , , , , , — syvphp @ 3:08 pm

Today kicks-off  National Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation. During National Red Ribbon week, October 23-31, millions of young people are involved in media and school programs promoting a drug free lifestyle. This year’s theme, “It’s Up to Me to Be Drug-Free”, was determined by a contest in which over 300 participants shared their reason for remaining Drug-Free.

DEA Agent Kiki Camarena

The origin of the campaign was unfortunately the result of the death of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent, Kiki Camarena, who was murdered by a Mexican Drug Cartel in 1985. In his memory, the campaign was begun and a red ribbon was chosen to symbolize the intolerance of the use of drugs and when displayed, demonstrates commitment to the cause. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign, according to its founding organization, The National Family Partnership, is to “present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a Drug-Free America”.

Throughout the country, schools and other community organizations promote Red Ribbon week through networking events, parental training, and other promotional activities. Here in the Valley, our local schools have numerous activities planned:

The “Fly Over,” involving 10 Valley Schools, Special Assemblies, H.S. Tabling Events, Drug Facts Scavenger Hunt, Poster Contests, Jog-a-thon, Door Decorating, Dress Up Theme Days, Jonata Jr. High Dance, Character Counts Celebrations, Parent Pledges, Youth Drug Free Pledges, Daily School Drug Free P.A. Announcements, and much more.

Look for photos and news of the week’s activities on our Facebook Fan Page later in the week.

Join others across the Nation with the and take the Red Ribbon Pledge:

1. As parents, we will talk to our children about the dangers of drug abuse.

2. We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.

3. We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.

4. We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.

5. We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.

Talk to your kids today and pin on a red ribbon to show your support for building a drug-free community.

Sign the Red Ribbon Pledge and spread the word to friends and family by forwarding this link.  Our children have the right to grow up drug free – and we have the responsibility to make that happen!

Find more helpful resources at http://www.syvdrugfree,org/

October 19, 2011

Teen Driver Awareness Week

Filed under: Healthy Teens, Parenting, Parents and Teens, Youth Activities — Tags: , — syvphp @ 10:12 am

National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) – October 16-22, 2011 is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to unnecessary teen deaths on the road. Established by Congress in 2007 and held annually on the third week of each October, its goal is to focus the country’s attention on this serious issue. This year’s theme is supporting parents in teaching their teens to drive. This includes helping you navigate the practice driving phase, as well as driving on your own. Our research shows that teens who say their parents set rules and monitor their driving in a helpful, supportive way are half as likely to crash and twice as likely to buckle up as teens with less involved parents. The evidence also reveals that the majority of teens (87 percent) have a parent involved in the learning-to-drive process.

We all want parents to be as prepared as possible to take on the important task of teaching you, your friends, and classmates to safely navigate the first years of driving. Talk to your parents about logging at least 50 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice to develop  skills in a variety of situations. Know the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws for your state, and work with your parents to understand and follow them.

NTDSW is a great time to help parents become more effective driving teachers and coaches.  Consider using the free resources available at www.teendriversource.org

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