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Action Plan

Underage drinking costs our entire community
  • Underage drinking alone costs the United States $24.3 billion a year
  • $3.8 billion in health care costs
  • $13.7 billon in lost labor or productivity
  • $6.8 billion in other costs such as crime, accidents, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Tobacco Use

  • Tobacco related illness costs the United States  $300 billion each year
  • Almost  $170 billion for direct medical care for adults
  • More than $156 billion in lost productivity, including $5.6 billion in lost productivity due to secondhand smoke exposure

7 Strategies for Community Change

Provide Information

Create educational opportunities for youth, parents, and community members to reduce use of alcohol and tobacco products among youth.
1

Enhance Skills

Facilitate community events for schools, parents, teachers, and retail establishments concerning prevention efforts.
2

Provide Support

Support youth-led programs to promote substance free alternative activities and events. Support county-wide youth council.
3

Enhance Access

Identify barriers to participation in healthy activities and create a community plan for overcoming barriers.
4

Change Consequences

Provide training for retail compliance and serving practices.
5

Change Physical Design

Conduct community scan to identify areas of easy access. Work with establishments to decrease signage around schools.
6

Modify Policy

Work with schools to provide evidence-based alternatives to suspension. Work with parks, festivals, and other community events to develop guidelines for serving policies.
7