As part of Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 21-27), Mothers Against Drunk Driving and State Farm are introducing the newest tool to prevent underage drinking, a booklet called The 411 on Teen Drinking.
This booklet is part of MADD's Power of You(th) program, which empowers teens to resist peer pressure and influence other teens to make smart decisions about alcohol.
MADD is partnering with schools around the country to distribute the booklet during Red Ribbon Week, but teens can also get the booklet at www.madd.org/youthbooklet.
"When it comes to underage drinking, teens may feel like 'everyone is doing it,' but the truth is that only one out of five teens binge drinks – which means four out of five don't," said MADD National President Jan Withers. "MADD and State Farm have teamed up to empower teens to avoid underage drinking during Red Ribbon Week and year-round with research-based tools like the Power of You(th) teen booklet."
The 411 on Teen Drinking booklet provides valuable information on a variety of underage drinking topics, including: the effect of alcohol on the still-developing teen brain; some of the negative results and consequences of underage drinking; the dangers of drunken driving; how to talk with parents about alcohol; how to make good choices; and ultimately, how to take a stand by influencing peers not to drink underage.
Additionally, MADD's second Power of You(th) National Teen Video Contest encourages teens to create a short video that illustrates the power that youth have to take a stand against underage drinking. The contest is open for entries now through Dec. 28, and the grand prize winner will receive the latest iPad. Teens can go to www.madd.org/youthvideo to enter.
"Both the teen booklet and the video contest were literally shaped by youth for youth," added Kellie Clapper, assistant vice president of public affairs for State Farm. "State Farm is thrilled to partner with MADD on the Power of You(th) program to help keep our teens safe from the dangers of underage drinking."
The 411 on Teen Drinking booklet is the result of input from both adults and teens. As part of the Power of You(th) program, MADD convened its first ever National Teen Influencer Summit this summer, bringing together a group of 10 remarkable teens from across the country to provide their perspectives on both the booklet and video contest.
In addition to the teen-focused resources, MADD also is providing parents with information for talking with their kids about alcohol during Red Ribbon Week. The Power of Parents@handbook, along with 30-minute parent workshops, equip parents with the tools to have frequent, positive, caring family conversations about the dangers of underage drinking.
Red Ribbon Week is a nationally-observed week during which schools and communities help raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol among youth.
For more information about Power of You(th), to download the teen booklet or to submit a video contest entry, visit www.madd.org/powerofyouth. To get the Power of Parents handbook, visit www.madd.org/powerofparents.
