Frequently Asked Questions
Preventing Underage Alcohol Use
Overview
Planning
Generating Interest
Preventing Underage Alcohol Use
How many young people are underage drinkers?
About 10.8 million youth ages 12–20 (nearly 30 percent) reported using alcohol at least once in the month prior to participating in SAMHSA’s 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Why is underage drinking prevention so important for fifth and sixth graders?
While most young people don't use alcohol, a recent national survey revealed that about one-third of fifth and sixth graders said that alcohol was easy to get. So, for many fifth and sixth graders, the opportunity is available for them to drink alcohol.
In fact, 9.6 percent of 12-year-olds reported using alcohol at least once in their lifetimes. By age 13, that percentage doubles, and by age 15 it is over 50 percent. Age of first use is important because those who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life than those who begin drinking at age 21 or older.
How can parents and teachers help prevent underage alcohol use?
Parents, teachers, and caregivers play a vital role in influencing children’s attitudes and behaviors. They can:
- Provide the knowledge children need to recognize why they should not be drinking.
- Help children build the practical skills to reject alcohol.
- Convey clear and consistent messages that alcohol use is unacceptable.
- Support and reinforce the child’s ability to make healthy decisions.
- Plan a Reach Out Now Teach-In for fifth and/or sixth graders in their community.
Overview
What is Reach Out Now?
The Reach Out Now initiative produces school- and family-based underage alcohol use prevention materials to teach fifth and sixth graders, their families, teachers, and other adults about the dangers associated with underage alcohol use. These materials include in-class activities and lessons and a take-home section with ideas to help parents reach out now, or discuss underage alcohol use with their children. The materials are revised annually and distributed to fifth- and sixth-grade teachers in the United States.
What is a Reach Out Now Teach-In?
Teach-Ins are an opportunity for prominent national, youth, State, and local leaders—using the provided RON curriculum—to teach children, parents, teachers, and the community about the dangers of underage alcohol use and to reinforce the messages in the Reach Out Now materials.
Teach-Ins can occur any time during the year, but we encourage you to conduct it during Alcohol Awareness Month.
What will students learn from a Reach Out Now Teach-In?
At the end of the Reach Out Now lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe some of the effects of alcohol on the brain and body
- Identify effective alternatives to using alcohol
- Work in groups to develop an effective alcohol prevention message.
Why do the Teach-Ins always occur in April?
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. SAMHSA holds Teach-Ins to reinforce to parents and other adults the message of the dangers and risks associated with underage alcohol use.
Why are Teach-Ins so important?
Reach Out Now Teach-Ins encourage communities to teach young people that underage drinking is unhealthy, dangerous, and illegal. Reach Out Now also encourages families to open discussions with their children about underage drinking.
Who Can Participate?
SAMHSA encourages all communities and organizations across the country, particularly those from diverse populations, to participate in the National Teach-In by holding a local event.
All materials for use in planning a Teach-In can be downloaded from www.teachin.samhsa.gov or ordered at no charge by e-mailing reachoutnow@shs.net or calling 240-747-4980.
Planning
How do I get started?
Work together with local school principals, counselors, or nurses to determine a location, date, and time to hold a Teach-In.
How can I get schools interested in holding a Teach-In?
Try speaking with a school counselor, school nurse, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) coordinator, or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) about teaming up for a Teach-In.
You also can invite local after-school programs such as Boys & Girls Clubs or 4-H, or local faith-based organizations to team with you.
Who can conduct a Teach-In?
Anybody who is a positive influence on young people can serve as a presenter at your Teach-In. Some examples of presenters at previous Teach-In events include:
- Governors and Lt. Governors
- Mayors
- Congresspersons and Senators
- State First Ladies
- Police Officers and Firefighters
- Sports Figures
- School Personnel (teachers, principals, counselors, college/university presidents)
- Faith Leaders
- Healthcare Professionals
- Media Representatives.
What if we can’t do the event during the specified Teach-In week?
While it is encouraged that the Teach-Ins occur during Alcohol Awareness Month, SAMHSA understands that spring vacations and school testing sometimes means Teach-Ins need to be held at other times. Teach-Ins may occur at the participant’s earliest convenience. However, April and early May are preferable so that all Teach-In sites may be included in the SAMHSA evaluation process.
Generating Interest
How can I get media coverage for my Teach-In?
Use the media kit provided in the Technical Assistance package as a guide for developing press releases, pitch articles, media advisories, op-ed articles, interview talking points, and proclamations.
How can I get parents interested?
Try sending home to parents a flyer announcing the Teach-In and highlighting reasons why the lesson is relevant to them and their child. Sample flyers, which can be altered to fit your local event, are available in your Technical Assistance package and also can be downloaded at www.teachin.samhsa.gov.
How can I generate community interest?
Consider placing an ad in a local newspaper or on local radio stations. Be sure to explain the importance of educating fifth and sixth graders about the risks of underage alcohol use.
See the media kit in your Technical Assistance package and at www.teachin.samhsa.gov for other promotional tools.
How do I make the Teach-In engaging enough to keep students interested?
The Teach-In lesson plan has been developed to be interactive and engaging, so that students will be interested in what the presenter has to say.
In addition, the Reach Out Now supplements contain activities that can be done as part of the Teach-In or in separate lessons. Some of these activities include lab experiments in which students can learn hands-on.
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