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Highlights & Annoucements
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SAPCA Hosts Annual "Sticker Shock" Event
On Saturday, October 20, teams of youth and adults from Alexandria "shocked" purchasers of alcohol by placing bright red warning stickers on multi-packs of beer and other alcohol products in Alexandria stores. The Sticker Shock campaign kicked off with a press conference at the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), 720 N. St. Asaph Street.
Speakers included
Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown and Alexandria Sheriff Deputy Chief Candra Callicott. They highlighted the importance of sending the message to both youth and adults that it is illegal to purchase alcohol for minors and thanked the youth and adult volunteers for their commitment to helping reduce youth access to alcohol in Alexandria.
Following the press conference, teams of youth and adults traveled throughout the City to visit more than 60 participating retailers and affix the warning stickers. Sticker Shock is a youth-led initiative designed to educate adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors.
T
he stickers contain warnings about the serious penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors. In Virginia, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a punishment of up to $2,500 and 12 months in jail. In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty will have his or her driver's license suspended.
Local retailers who participated in the campaign include Giant Food, Safeway, 7-11, CVS and a host of small grocery and convenience stores.
Research shows that it is easy for youth to obtain alcohol. National polls report that youth ages 13 and older say it is easy to get alcohol from adults - sometimes from their own parents who themselves may have drinking problems. In a recent survey, 30 percent of Alexandria high school seniors said they drank alcohol in the past 30 days.
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#FactOfTheMonth: Celebrate Red Ribbon Week!
Each month, SAPCA highlights one key fact about substance
use. This month we discuss the Red Ribbon Campaign.
Did you know the Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation? Each year during Red Ribbon Week, October 23 - 31, the campaign reaches millions of young people.
Red Ribbon Week is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. This year's theme is "Life is your journey. Travel Drug Free."
Here are some ways to celebrate Red Ribbon Week:
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Alexandria Celebrates National Bullying Prevention Month
Each October, Alexandria joins forces with over 200 cities in the United States Conference of Mayors through the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying, which creates ongoing city-wide bullying prevention initiatives to make schools a safe place for all children.
As a City, we continue to send the message that bullying of any form is unacceptable. The Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying kicked off this year's National Bullying Prevention Month with a proclamation at City Hall affirming the City's commitment and support for its "Bully Free Starts With Me" prevention initiatives. Then on October 18, the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying hosted "Together...We Build Relationships," the first event in a series of community conversations aimed at raising awareness about the impacts of bullying.
This Sunday, October 28, Stars Performing Arts will be hosting the first annual "Bully-Free Walk" to take a stand against bullying. Registration for this event will begin at 10:00 a.m. at 1108 Jefferson Street and participants will begin walking across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at 11:00 a.m.
Click here for more information about this event.
Since 2014, the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying has worked tirelessly to create programs to prevent and end bullying in our City. This committee includes City agencies, Alexandria City Public Schools, community organizations and coalitions, youth leaders and community residents.
While this month is National Bully Prevention Month, the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying works to prevent and end bullying throughout the year in Alexandria.
Interested in getting involved with the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying? Contact Mac Slover at mac.slover@outlook.com
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Save the Date: SAPCA Community Meeting and Celebration!
Mark your calendar for a community meeting and celebration on Thursday, November 15, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Join us to celebrate
the coalition's accomplishments over the past 10 years and discuss action items for the group's next steps.
Stay tuned for more information!
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Call for Nominations: SAPCA Officers and Board Members
The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) invites nominations identifying qualified and motivated individuals to serve as officers and members of the Board for SAPCA. Please feel free to nominate your friends, colleagues and yourself.
We need current and future community leaders to provide their ideas, thoughts and time to reducing and ending youth substance use in Alexandria.
Nominations are sought for the following positions:
- Four officer positions - Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (each with a two year term, January 2019-2021)
- Five Members of the Board of Directors (each with a two-year term, January 2019-2021)
SAPCA's Board of Directors, which includes its officers, meets monthly. The meetings are in the evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m
Nomination Guidelines
- Nominees must be members in good standing with SAPCA.
- Nominees may be adults or Alexandria middle and high school students (public or private grades 7-12).
- Nominations must state the reasons for the nomination and a biography, via a nomination form (see nomination procedures below).
- Individual members may nominate themselves.
Nomination Procedures
Nominations should be submitted using
this form. The deadline to submit nominations for yourself or others is
Monday, November 5, 2018 at 11:00 p.m.
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Across the country, reports show that teen marijuana use is down. Nationwide, less than 20 percent of high school students reported marijuana use, and in Alexandria that number is lower.
The 2016 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reports that teen marijuana use in Alexandria has gone down nearly 10%, a trend to get behind.
Marijuana use, especially among high school students, can be very dangerous as it impairs motivation and memory function. Additionally, many studies consistently find marijuana use to be associated with reductions in grades and graduation rates. Alexandrians can help keep teen marijuana use down by:
- Staying informed about the impacts of marijuana use and communicating this information with friends, family, community members and decision-makers.
- Supporting individuals using marijuana to seek help. Recovery is possible.
- Reporting drug use or selling to a trusted adult, such as a teacher, police officer or school administer.
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SAPCA and ACAP Host Alexandria Teen Night
On Friday, September 28th, at Leonard Armstrong Recreation Center, SAPCA and the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) held Titan Takeover, a substance-free teen night open to Alexandria high school students. During this event, teens enjoyed pizza, music from a live DJ, dancing, basketball, free ACAP and SACPA swag, a photo booth and several raffles throughout the evening. ACAP and SAPCA hold Titan Takeovers to provide teens with a safe place to hang out and to build community throughout Alex
andria. These events occur quarterly at recreation centers throughout the City.
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Upcoming Community Events
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Get Ready for our Fall Drug Take Back Day!
Our next Drug Take Back Day will happen on Saturday, October 27th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Individuals can drop off unused and expired medication at the following locations:
- Alexandria Police Department HQ (3600 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304)
- Alexandria Fire Department (Fire Station 210, 5255 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA, 22304)
- First Baptist Church of Alexandria (2923 King Street, Alexandria VA, 22302)
- The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301)
Can't make it to Drug Take Back Day? There is a permanent medication drop box located at the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray that is open during the following times:
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Halloween Dance this Friday
The Alexandria Health Department and Safe Space NOVA are hosting Alexandria's first ever LGBTQ-friendly Halloween Dance!
When: Saturday, October 27, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Charles Houston Rec Center (901 Wythe Street)
RSVP at Alexandriava.gov/health
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Interested in getting involved with SAPCA?
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Contact Us:
Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
www.PreventItAlexandria.org
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