April 2023

Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month with SAPCA!

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 everyone in our community -- youth, parents, and caring adults -- to join in recognizing and participating in Alcohol Awareness Month by:

• Joining SAPCA for the presentation of an Alcohol Awareness proclamation, April 11, 7 p.m., City Hall.
• Checking out SAPCA's "I don't drink because..." campaign. Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students created videos to encourage youth to be alcohol free and reinforce the social norm that the majority of youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol-- a trend to get behind.
• Spreading the word about the Titan Takeover Teen Night on April 28 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at William Ramsay Recreation Center, a safe and free event for Alexandria youth featuring a DJ, photo booth, dinner, gift card raffles, games, DIY self-care kit stations, and a Denim Day activity.
• Learning the facts and consequences of youth alcohol use, including the legal consequences of providing alcohol to people under 21.
• Making your values clear: Talk with your children about your expectations for them to not drink alcohol.
• Focusing on safety at youth and adult gatherings.
• Knowing that anyone can develop a substance use disorder -- treatment is available and recovery is possible.

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 [email protected]

Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, SAPCA and the Sexual Assault Center (SAC) invite youth, parents and caregivers, and all community members to get involved with the following prevention efforts and awareness activities:

• Wear teal — the color of sexual violence prevention — on April 4. Chances are someone in your life is a survivor of sexual assault, even if they have never shared their story with you. Show your support by wearing teal.
• Attend the annual Sexual Assault Survivor’s Poetry Share on April 26.
• Wear jeans on Denim Day, April 26, to stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors.
• Participate in the annual virtual Sexual Assault Awareness 5K Run/Walk and tag photos with #TogetherWeCan #RespectProtectEmpower to share why you're running/walking.
• Contact SAC Volunteer Coordinator Grace Brown to learn about opportunities, including joining a committee on education to reduce drug and alcohol related sexual assault.
• Visit SAC’s website for resources for survivors of sexual assault and their families and friends.
• Follow Alexandria Teen Life on Instagram for inspiring messages and information on living a healthy life.

Sexual assault is a crime that occurs when a person is forced, threatened or coerced into sexual contact or attention. This includes when they are unable to consent due to age, illness, disability or the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Anyone can experience sexual violence – it is never the survivor’s fault. Survivors may experience a range of emotional, psychological and physical reactions. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals that identify as LGBTQ+ experience a higher rate of sexual violence. Whether it happened recently or years ago, it can impede daily functioning. 

Support is available. SAC offers a 24/7 hotline and a range of services for survivors and their supporters. In case of an emergency and for life-threatening situations, always call 911.  

Calling all Volunteers: Help Plan SAPCA's 15th Anniversary

This spring, SAPCA is excited to celebrate our 15th anniversary and we need your help to plan a fun, family-friendly event! SAPCA invites youth and adults of all ages to help plan this milestone event -- no previous experience is required.

Join us for the first planning committee meeting on Monday, April 24 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. via Zoom to brainstorm and plan for this exciting celebration. Click here to join the meeting and enter the passcode 440521. We hope to see you then!

Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria to Recognize SAPCA Board Member

On April 20, Volunteer Alexandria will recognize and honor the work of volunteers who give their time and expertise to make our City a better place for all at the Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria Celebration. We are excited to share that SAPCA Board Member Kate Harbour, an ACHS Senior will receive the Youth Service Volunteer Award at this event. Please join us in congratulating Kate for receiving this extraordinary honor and thanking her for the positive impact she has made for our community!

Through her time as a Board member, Kate has supported efforts to discourage youth alcohol use, provided numerous ideas about how to market vaping prevention messages to her peers, planned and implemented youth-focused events and initiatives and co-presented at meetings. Kate is also a member of the City of Alexandria's Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, founded the Women in Film Club, and manages the ACHS Junior Varsity Wrestling Team.

This year's event will take place on April 20, 2023 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. While this is a free event, all must register online to attend due to limited space. Click here to register online for this event.

View this flyer in English and Spanish and help spread the word about this important event!

Interested in volunteering for this April's drug take back day? Volunteers share information and distribute resources about the importance of safe medication disposal at one of the four drop-off locations. Contact Emma Beall at [email protected] to learn more or to sign up.

Fact of the Month: Emoji Drug Code Decoded

Each month, SAPCA will be highlighting a key fact to support our community to prevent youth substance use. This month, we will be spotlighting emojis youth are using to communicate about drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has released this guide featuring emojis commonly used to talk about and sell fake prescription drugs on social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

Knowing which emojis to look for is one piece of the puzzle -- check out these tips for starting the conversation with children and teens in your life:

• Even though it might not seem like it, children and teens really do hear you when you talk to them -- talk early and often about the dangers of drugs purchased through social media.
• Be prepared for questions, but do not assume youth are engaging in risky behaviors based on what they ask questions.
• Take time to try to find out what youth are really asking - do they want advice or a listening ear? One way to determine if you are on the same page is by checking for understanding and asking “What I heard you say was ___. Is this correct?”
• Talk with your teens about what they can do if they are offered alcohol or other drugs and help your teen practice resisting peer pressure.  

Explore more tips for communicating with teens at PreventItAlexandria.org.

March Recap: SAPCA Delivers Presentations to Students, Families and Community Partners

In March, SAPCA staff and volunteers delivered presentations about the facts and consequences of using alcohol and other drugs to youth-serving providers, families, and middle and high school students. These presentations provided information about the health, legal and social consequences of using alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis, and prescription and over-the-counter medication; ways to respond to peer pressure; and healthy ways to cope with stress. SAPCA staff and volunteers also supplemented this information based on partner requests:

• On March 9, SAPCA coordinator Emma Beall delivered a training to Communities in Schools (CIS) staff to share tips for communicating with teens about difficult topics. Opioid Work Group Coordinator Emily Bentley also provided CIS staff with information about how to use and access Narcan, a safe and effective antidote for opioids. Narcan is available for free at the Teen Wellness Center and the Alexandria Health Department. If given in time, Narcan can stop an opioid overdose and restore normal breathing until emergency response can arrive.
• On March 18, Emma attended an AVID Family Event held at ACHS to share information with parents about how to support youth to be drug-free. During this event, families also learned information and tools to prepare students for college eligibility and success.
• On March 27 and 29, Emma delivered presentations to over 150 cadets involved with the ACHS Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). Cadets also received information about Project Sticker Shock, a youth-led event taking place on April 22, designed to educate adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to youth. 
• Volunteers Cieara Clark-Walker and Brenda Sanya helped Emma deliver presentations to over 1,400 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at Francis C. Hammond Middle School. These presentations were tailored to align with the Virginia Department of Education's standards for health education and featured an interactive trivia activity.

SAPCA is appreciative of the opportunity to share important information with students in our community and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with our community in the future.

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 

4850 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22311