Healthy East Valley hosts drug free coalition meeting with Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Redlands, Calif. - The Healthy East Valley (HEV) non-profit is teaming up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to bring to light the local issue of underage alcohol use ahead of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Why it matters: Alcohol remains the most widely used substance among youth under the age of 18, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2022 highlights that 19.7% of youth reported having at least one drink of alcohol within their lifetime, while 3.2 million youth aged 12 to 20 reported binge drinking in the past month. 

Details: Healthy East Valley will host Cheryl McMahen, Program Manager from MADD California-Inland Empire as the guest speaker during this month’s coalition meeting to discuss MADD’s prevention efforts in our community.

MADD states that 57% of fatally injured drivers had alcohol and/or other drugs in their system. In San Bernardino County, 16,123 individuals were injured or killed in vehicle collisions in 2019, a 6% increase from the previous year. 

Comprehensive prevention efforts are essential, including education, enforcement, and community engagement tailored to the unique needs of each community. Hosting community events, distributing informational materials, enforcing social host liability laws, and restricting alcohol sales to minors can play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of underage drinking and drugged driving.

What they're saying: Healthy East Valley encourages the community to celebrate safely this holiday. “This is an opportune time to talk to your teens about alcohol use, and model positive behaviors by opting to not drink and drive,” says HEV executive director, Jessica Ducsay.

Moving Forward: The drug free coalition meeting will take place on Friday, March 15 from 10 am to 11:30 am at The Hall located behind Theron’s Marketplace at 122 Cajon Street, Redlands, CA 92373. All are welcome to attend. 

About Health East Valley: Healthy East Valley (HEV) is a nonprofit organization serving the east valley cities of San Bernardino County with expertise in health education, prevention implementation, and research evaluation. By establishing a drug free coalition, HEV aims to increase the community’s capacity to prevent and reduce underage substance use.