April 2025 Newsletter

April 2025

Announcements

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Each April, communities across the country recognize Alcohol Awareness Month to share information about the facts and consequences of alcohol use and to raise awareness about the causes and effects of a substance use disorder. SAPCA invites youth, parents and caregivers, and all community members to join in the following prevention efforts and awareness activities:

Join SAPCA for a reception to celebrate this year’s Red Ribbon Week poster contest winners on April 22 from 6-7 p.m. at City Hall (301 King St.) Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here by April 18. Following this reception, join SAPCA for the presentation of a proclamation recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month at City Hall at 7 p.m.
Learn the risks associated with youth alcohol use.
Raise awareness about the legal consequences of providing alcohol to people under 21. In Virginia, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor to provide alcohol to a minor. It is also illegal for anyone to use a fake ID to purchase alcohol. Adults that provide alcohol to people under age 21 can face up to 12 months in jail, loss of the driver’s license for up to 12 months, and a fine of $2,500 per young person given alcohol.
Focus on safety at youth and adult gatherings.
Check out SAPCA's "I don't drink because..." campaign. Alexandria City High School students created videos to encourage youth to be alcohol free. The videos reinforce the social norm that most youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol, a trend to get behind.
Sign up for SAPCA’s e-newsletter, follow SAPCA on Facebook and X, and visit SAPCA’s website to stay informed about upcoming events and ways to get involved.
Follow Alexandria Teen Life on Instagram for inspiring messages and information on living a healthy life.

Together, we can ensure that youth in Alexandria have the information and tools to make informed choices about their health and future so they can thrive today, tomorrow and in the future.

To learn about other ways to support local efforts to prevent youth substance use and misuse, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov.

Recap: Take Down Tobacco Day in Alexandria

On April 1, teams of youth and adults came together to prevent youth access to tobacco. Alexandria City High School (ACHS) junior Khamille Muhammad and ACHS senior Lameis Abdelgawad, first lieutenant in the ACHS U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program, kicked-off this youth-led event with a press conference featuring guest speakers SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Sheriff Sean Casey, and Lieutenant Mike May.

Following this press conference, nearly 60 youth and adults visited Alexandria retailers to promote the COUNTER ACT campaign. This statewide campaign supports merchants to comply with laws pertaining to tobacco sales to minors. It is illegal to sell tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative products to persons under age 21.

Youth also completed retail store assessments to gain a better understanding of our community’s tobacco retail landscape and distributed information to retailers about strategies to prevent underage tobacco access. Retailers who participated in the campaign include Giant Food, Safeway, 7-Eleven, and a host of small grocery and convenience stores. All participating retail stores received a certificate in recognition of their partnership to prevent youth access to tobacco.

This event was hosted by SAPCA in collaboration with the Alexandria Police Department; the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office; the Department of Community and Human Services; the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities; and the ACHS U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. Youth involved in several City of Alexandria programs also participated in this event, including the Alexandria Youth Ambassadors, the Peer Advocates, the Peer Advisors, and Project Discovery club members. SAPCA is appreciative of our partners for their help kicking off this important campaign and speaking up about the importance of preventing access to tobacco by underage youth.

The JROTC program prepares high school students for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens.

The Alexandria Youth Ambassadors are a group of high school students who support community engagement efforts focused on anti-violence, trauma healing, and social emotional learning.

The Peer Advocates are a group of Alexandria youth who work closely with SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts.

The Peer Advisors are a group of high school students who mentor younger youth, give public presentations on prevention topics, and participate in community service projects.

Project Discovery prepares low income and first generation college-eligible students to access opportunities in higher education. Through workshops and trips to college campuses, Project Discovery provides vital information about how to set and achieve educational goals.al information about how to set and achieve educational goals

Save the Date for Alexandria Youth Speak Up on April 10

Mark your calendar for Alexandria Youth Speak Up on Thursday, April 10 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Ave.) This free event will bring together middle school youth, high school youth, and adults to hear directly from youth about the issues they are facing. After discussions about a range of topics that impact youth, including youth substance use prevention, participants will discuss solutions to address these issues. Dinner will be provided.

Learn more and register for this event by visiting alexandriava.gov/go/6782.

This event is hosted by the Children Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy, and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center.

To learn more, contact Leia Stuart at leia.stuart@alexandriava.gov.

Community Connections: Promoting Prevention Resources

This spring, SAPCA collaborated with our school and community partners by promoting prevention resources with youth and parents.

On March 11, ACHS junior Yasin Bhuiyan, a Peer Advocate, and ACHS junior Mohammad Elyas, an Alexandria Youth Ambassador, helped SAPCA distribute 150 free Parent Handbooks to families attending a presentation about safe teen driving at ACHS. Created by Operation Parent, these Parent Handbooks are a resource guide that raises awareness about the latest trends, warning signs, and tips for effective parent/child communication.

On March 28, SAPCA and ACAP partnered with four City recreation centers to celebrate Teen Appreciation Day. During this event, 60 middle and high school youth enjoyed a variety of fun and free activities. Youth also learned about the City of Alexandria's Teen Text Line. Through this free resource, teens can text TEEN, SEX, DRUGS, or GANGS to 571.640.2898 to get answers to questions on health, relationships, pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, violence, and gangs within 24 hours, Monday through Friday, from trained City staff. Learn more about youth resources.

SAPCA appreciates these opportunities to connect with our community and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners to promote prevention resources and ways to get involved in our community.

Reminder: Your Help is Needed to Help SAPCA Assess Its Effectiveness

Dear Fellow Alexandrians,

I am writing to ask a favor of you. The State has asked all Virginia substance use prevention coalitions to have their coalition members and other community members complete a survey on the coalition's effectiveness in addressing youth substance use prevention. This survey will take between 15-20 minutes to complete.

Believe me, I know this is a major investment of your valuable time. I promise that your investment will pay off for Alexandria's children and youth. The SAPCA Board will use the information you provide to continue the initiatives and work you think are effective and revise or eliminate any initiatives and work you indicate are not effective. They will also use your information to determine what new initiatives and work should start. The State will use the information to assess the overall effectiveness of coalitions across the state and make any changes needed as well as share trend information with coalition leaders.

Please complete this survey from start to finish in one sitting because you will not be able to return to finish a partially completed survey. Also, to provide the best information for us, please complete all questions. Please complete the survey no later than April 10, 2025.

The survey link is: https://omniinstitute.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6yDXLC3EYX3TJxH
Note: Please do not click on/launch the survey until you are ready to complete it in one sitting
The name of our CSB is: Alexandria CSB. Please select the correct name from the drop down list in the survey.
The name of the Coalition you are assessing is: Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria. You will need to enter this in the survey.
If you wish to preview the survey before you start, please click here to see the paper version of the tool.

Thank you very much for sharing your invaluable input and helping SAPCA.

Best Wishes,

Allen Lomax

Chair, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria

Five Things You Should Know: 2025 Spring Break Activities

As spring break approaches, SAPCA encourages youth and parents to explore some of the activities open to Alexandria youth:

Youth Engaged In Service (formerly Breaks with Impact), or YES, is returning this spring with opportunities for middle and high school students to serve the community. Check out the free program schedule below and visit VolunteerAlexandria.org/YES to learn more.

April 15 and April 22: Community & Human Services - Youth will explore local human services, healthy relationships, and current challenges for immigrant communities.
April 16: Mental Health & Well-being - Youth will explore mental health, healthy decision-making, and rehabilitation services.
April 17 and April 24: Community Needs & Food Insecurity - Youth will learn about local challenges, city responses, and food insecurity.
April 19: Environmental Sustainability - Youth will gain insight into climate change, local environmental issues, and ways to protect natural resources.

Enter the 2025 America's Field Trip Contest

America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest designed to engage elementary, middle, and high school students around America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. Students in grades 3-12 can earn a chance to go behind-the-scenes at some of America’s most well-known historical landmarks! Students are invited to submit an essay, artwork, or poem answering the question “What does America mean to you?” Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of America’s 250th anniversary! Click here to submit your entry by April 16. Learn more at america250.org/fieldtrip/rules/

Spring Break Camps | April 14-18

Get ready for endless fun! The City of Alexandria offers a wide variety of action-packed, exciting camp programs for youth of all ages. Learn more here.

Teen Crafternoon at Beatley Central Library

On April 19, join the Alexandria Library at 1 p.m.to celebrate All Alexandria Reads' theme of ADVENTURE during this month's Teen Crafternoon. Youth ages 12-18 are invited to discuss this year's young adult title (Frieren, Beyond Journey's End Volume 1) and create bracelets with metal and leather stamps. Register here.

Enter the 2025 VSBA Student Essay Contest

The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) is accepting submissions from Virginia public high school students in grades 9-12 for a personal essay/speaking contest. The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. This contest is a great opportunity for students to share their unique voices. Submissions are due May 5, 2025. Click here to view this year’s contest guide and application.

Youth of all ages can also explore opportunities to earn volunteer hours by signing up for Volunteer Alexandria's children and family newsletter or visiting VolunteerAlexandria.org.

Save the Date: April 26 is Drug Take Back Day

The City of Alexandria encourages residents to safely dispose of unneeded prescription drugs, including those prescribed by veterinarians, and over-the-counter medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

A collection will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the following drop-off sites staffed by the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office:

Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.)
Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.)
The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.)
Walgreens Pharmacy (3614 King St.)
Wegmans (150 Stovall St.)
Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (2729 King St.)

Volunteers at each site will share information about the importance of safe medication disposal and promote the City’s permanent medication drop boxes. Volunteers will also raise awareness about National Fentanyl Awareness Day on April 29 by sharing educational materials about the dangers of fentanyl and distributing free harm reduction bags containing Naloxone, a safe and easy-to-administer nasal spray that can save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose.

Interested in volunteering for this month's drug take back day?

Contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov to learn more or to sign up.

Can't make it to Drug Take Back Day? Dispose of medication year-round at one of the City's permanent medication drop boxes. Needles are not accepted during the take back event or in the permanent medication drop boxes. Dispose of needles and syringes in a separate designated drop box.

Learn more about the importance of safe medication disposal here.