Along with Earth Month/Day and Take Down Tobacco, this April we are happy to celebrate Friday Night Live (FNL) Month. As of January 2024, the Contra Costa County Office of Education is the new coordinator of the Contra Costa FNL Partnership!

We are joining FNL programs across California in celebrating the work of young people at the forefront of creating positive community changes and uplifting youth voices.

Keep reading to learn more about our April celebrations, including our student leaders' life-saving work.

April is Earth Month: Tobacco Hurts the Earth

The California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) has selected Keep the Planet in Mind, Leave Disposables Behind as their theme for this year's Earth Day. This theme focuses on the environmental impact of tobacco product waste, specifically highlighting hazards associated with vape waste.

Earth Day serves as a unique opportunity for all of us to inform our communities about denormalizing tobacco product use.

Learn more about e-cigarettes and the environment, a toxic, plastic problem.

April is Friday Night Live (FNL) Month!

FNL began in 1984 specifically dedicated to reducing underage impaired driving. Through the success and expansion of the program, implementation has evolved to also address broader youth-identified issues through evidence-based youth development principles and practices. The program is driven by positive youth-adult partnerships that build powerful community actions to create lasting impacts in the lives of young people.

In our county, our current FNL areas of focus include:

• Continuing to support our countywide TUPE/FNL chapter, CourAGE Youth Health Coalition. CourAGE members recently hosted a Fentanyl Awareness & Overdose Rescue Training Webinar (recording coming soon!), presented to 100+ students at the Bay Area Teens Tackle Tobacco Conferences, and presented to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors for Alcohol Awareness Month.

• Establishing school-based chapters at four high schools. This spring, chapter members will work together to identify substance use related issues within their school community and implement at least one student-facing activity and one adult-facing presentation.

Learn more about the California Friday Night Live Partnership.

FNL in Action! Alcohol Awareness Month Presentation & Proclamation at Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Meeting

Along with 300+ other Contra Costa County students, Contra Costa County Office of Education's Golden Gate Community School students and staff attended the 26th annual Teens Tackle Tobacco Conferences at UC Berkeley. 

The conferences are for students, run by students. This was Golden Gate students' first time attending and they participated in a morning keynote and workshops, many led by other young people, and were even interviewed by the conference media team!

Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action is April 1!

Each year, youth advocates and adult allies from across the country come together to expose Big Tobacco for who they are - jokers who gamble with people's lives.

Check out why Contra Costa young people, school staff, and parents want to #TakeDownTobacco on our #TakeDaownTobaccoPowerWall and share your reason why!

Learn more about the National Day of Action and access additional resources.

Professional Development Opportunities

Cannabis Awareness & Prevention Curriculum Training - Smart Talk

Learn about the new 5-lesson Smart Talk curriculum from Stanford University's REACH Lab.

The curriculum is meant to reach all youth, including those at high risk of cannabis use, racial/ethnic minorities, students in continuation and alternative schools, and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Thursday, April 11; 3:30 PM-5:00 PM

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

More Information/Registration

One-on-One Intervention Program - Brief Intervention Training

Brief Intervention (BI) is a short-term intervention that consists of 2-4 sessions aimed at adolescents who use tobacco, cannabis/marijuana, alcohol, and/or other drugs. 

Participants must attend both sessions of the series.

Session 1: Thursday, April 11; 8:30 AM-12:00 PM

Session 2: Tuesday, April 16; 8:30 AM-12:00 PM

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

More Information/Registration

Parent & Family Corner

Substance Use, Mental Health, & Teens: A Guide for Parents & Other Caring Adults

This guide includes local data on substance use among adolescents. The guide spotlights alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and prescription drugs. It also provides information about adolescent brain development, mental health, and tips for supporting young people.

The guide is available to view and download in an English and Spanish format on our parent guide webpage and our team is developing additional resources.

"Let's Talk Tobacco" Conversation Cards

This is a resource for parents and other adults to assist in initiating and inspiring discussions about tobacco with young people. The deck contains 35 open-ended questions, resources, and tips for productive conversations. To View the full deck (PDF) or click the image to play for the interactive video.

To receive a free "Let's Talk Tobacco" conversation starter card deck by mail, complete the request form.

E-Newsletter Submission Form

Do you have an article, resource, training, or upcoming event you want to share? Or a shout-out to an individual or group that you want to celebrate?

Complete our e-newsletter submission form so we can boost the signal!

What We Are Reading...

"I #TakeDownTobacco because addiction is no joke. Tobacco is a harmful substance that many people get addicted to.”

-12th Grade Student, Contra Costa County

Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) | 925.942.5328 | E-Mail | Website