April 2026 Newsletter

April 2026

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 28 from 6-7 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by April 23. Following this reception, join SAPCA for a proclamation recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month 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..." prevention campaign. Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students created these short videos to encourage youth to be alcohol free. The videos also reinforce and raise awareness of the social norm that the majority of youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol, a trend to get behind.
Visit the Del Pepper Community Resource Center lobby and fifth floor to view displays of student artwork promoting the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle. Displays feature the winning designs for the Red Ribbon Week poster contest.
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.

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 18 and 19, SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall, SAPCA Intern Aliyah Thaxton, and Opioid Response Coordinator Hope Sievers delivered presentations to 239 middle school students at Patrick Henry K-8 School.

During these presentations, students learned important facts about alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and medication misuse. They also discussed the risks of fentanyl, the dangers of counterfeit (fake) pills, and the signs of an opioid overdose.

Students also explored ways to resist peer pressure, learned about the Teen Wellness Center -- a clinic which provides health services to anyone between the ages of 12-19 living in the City of Alexandria -- and received information about youth resources

On March 26, Aliyah attended a Summer Resource Fair at ACHS to connect students and families with prevention resources. Aliyah helped distribute a variety of prevention resources, including:

Parent Handbooks, a resource guide created by Operation Parent that raises awareness about the latest trends, warning signs, and tips for effective parent/child communication;
Brochures highlighting the Developmental Assets -- the building blocks for healthy development; and
Information 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.

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.

Five Things You Should Know: Helping Young People Thrive

Returning from spring break can be a busy time for students and families as they prepare for prom, graduation, summer plans, and the return of outdoor activities. April also brings several important awareness campaigns that highlight ways we can help young people grow up safe, healthy, and substance-free.

In addition to Alcohol Awareness Month, here are five other April observances and initiatives to know about:

Take Down Tobacco Day

On April 18, our community will come together to help prevent youth access to tobacco through Take Down Tobacco Day. During this annual event, teams of youth and adults visit 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. Contact Dr. Temi Aregbesola at temi.aregbesola@alexandriava.gov to learn more.

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, support survivors, and promote prevention. The Alexandria Sexual Assault Center invites youth, parents and caregivers, and all community members to get involved with prevention efforts and awareness activities, including:

Attending Jeans for Justice, an event hosted by the Peer Advocate program. Community members of all ages are invited to make a free denim bookmark and learn about resources on April 19 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Friends to Lovers Bookstore (301 Cameron St.)
Attending the annual Sexual Assault Survivor’s Poetry Share on April 29 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.)

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. Contact Leia Stuart to learn more.

For more information about events and activities, visit alexandriava.gov/SexualViolence or call the Alexandria Sexual Assault Hotline anytime at 703.683.7273.

National Youth Violence Prevention Week

National Youth Violence Prevention Week runs from April 20–25. Founded in 2001, this weeklong initiative highlights the positive role young people play in making their schools and communities safer.

Join the Youth Ambassadors (YAs), a group of high school students who prioritize violence prevention and conflict resolution among Alexandria youth, as they host a variety of events at ACHS and in the community

April 20: Teach It

Join the YAs at lunch for resources and information about events happening throughout the week.

April 21: Model It

Join the YAs at lunch to engage with “What would you do?” scenarios and an acts of kindness challenge.

April 22, Connect It
The YAs will give ACHS teachers and staff “I strive to be a trusted adult” posters to hang in their classrooms or offices.

April 23, Act on It

Nominate a youth creating positive change in Alexandria! The winner will be announced on Instagram @alexandriateenlife.

April 24, Unite for It

Come together and participate in a Paint Peace Party at the Chinquapin Athletic Fields from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt!

April 25, Be a Part of It

Join the YAs from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. to clean up trash in local parks to help keep our community spaces beautiful and accessible for everyone.

Contact Jasmine Coombs to learn more.

National Fentanyl Awareness Day

National Fentanyl Awareness Day, observed on April 29, is an opportunity to come together to prevent overdoses and save lives. In Alexandria, community partners are expanding access to overdose prevention resources, including free naloxone available at all City library branches. Carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it can save a life.

National Fentanyl Awareness Day also highlights the importance of prevention by equipping youth and families with accurate information and encouraging open, informed conversations. Together, we can build a safer, more informed Alexandria.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month also takes place in April. This year’s theme, “Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention,” reminds us that when families have the support they need, children can thrive. Prevention starts with strong families, supportive communities, and everyday actions that help keep children and teens safe.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity to take practical steps at home that reduce risk and promote safety, including:

Talking with children about medication safety and the dangers of misusing prescription or over-the-counter medications;
Safely storing medications and firearms out of children’s reach; and
Disposing of unused or expired medications safely.

It takes a community to support young people and strengthen families. Together, we can help children grow up safe, healthy, and substance-free.

Explore more resources to help youth in your life make healthy choices at alexandriava.gov/SAPCA.

Save the Date: April 25 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 25 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.)

Volunteers at each site will share information about the importance of safe medication disposal and promote the City’s permanent medication drop boxes.

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.

Help Spread the Word: Virginia's Young Adult Survey

Virginia young adults ages 18-25 are invited to take the Virginia Young Adult Survey (YAS), a short, anonymous survey designed to better understand young adults’ needs and priorities. Input shared through the survey will help improve health and wellness programming for young adults across Virginia.

The survey takes only 10–15 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous
Some participants may be eligible to receive a small incentive, depending on availability. Participation is voluntary regardless of incentive availability.
Text VIRGINIA to 844-484-7601 to get the survey link!

Your phone number is used only to send the link, is not connected to your responses, will not be used for marketing or any other purpose, and will be deleted from the system after the survey closes. If you don’t have access to a phone or prefer not to text, email YAS@omni.org to receive the survey link another way.

This statewide survey was developed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and Omni Institute, a nonprofit organization working with coalitions across Virginia.

If you have any questions, please contact noraine.buttar@alexandriava.gov.