Community Action for Substance Free Youth (CASFY), the local prevention coalition for Lyme and Old Lyme, has launched a new media campaign aimed at teens, parents and all adults in the communities of Lyme and Old Lyme. Community members can already see Shoreline Sanitation trucks with the image of hands holding red cups and the message, “Don’t be a party to underage drinking. It’s against the law.”
Residents will see this message on posters in the community, on social media, at community events and on a Hall’s Road banner before Thanksgiving, a time when underage drinking tends to increase.
“While underage drinking has decreased nationally and in Lyme-Old Lyme among our school age youth according national and local data, it is still our Number One youth drug problem,” reports Karen Fischer, CASFY’s Prevention Coordinator. “CASFY members chose our new campaign with the objective of informing underage drinkers and their families about the legal and other risks they take by breaking alcohol-related laws.”
Mary Seidner, Director of Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB), notes that residents can take a quiz on alcohol laws on www.lysb.org. “Select the link to Alcohol Law Quiz. You will read about the laws and seven scenarios where underage drinking or related violations occur. You determine what charges may apply in each scenario and then can check your answers.”
Rebecca Griffin was one of the CASFY members who took the quiz at a recent meeting. She comments, “Believe me, the answers are eye-opening and in some cases jaw-dropping.”
CASFY’s campaign is a reminder to parents to discuss alcohol laws and the possible consequences of breaking them, as well as their own family rules. Resident Trooper Gary Inglis emphasizes, “Few teens and underage young adults realize that breaking underage drinking laws can place their families and themselves in legal and financial jeopardy.”
He adds, “Even an infraction for underage possession of alcohol is not just a ticket. The underage youth who received the ticket is subject to suspension of a driver’s license for 30-60 days, depending on where the infraction occurred, in addition to a fine. Plus the family’s car insurance will likely significantly increase or could even be cancelled.”
Ellen Maus, the school nurse at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, reminds adults to secure any alcohol and prescription medications to reduce access and prevent any legal or health problems that could occur in their own homes. “I’m especially thinking about sleepovers or parties where parents might not be aware that teens in their home are taking alcohol or pills from their liquor or medicine cabinets.”
“This campaign is one example of how the whole community has pulled together to work on keeping our youth safe,” stresses Fischer. “School personnel, police officers, members of the business community, parents, youth—the cooperation and collaboration is outstanding.”
CASFY would especially like to thank Gary Yuknat of Shoreline Sanitation for donating the use of his trucks for displaying CASFY’s campaign graphics.
Local businesses and others wishing to participate in the campaign by displaying campaign images on posters, flyers, websites and Facebook pages or other social media should contact Karen Fischer, 860-434-7208 or email fischerk@childandfamilyagency.
Funding for the media campaign is from a federal grant through the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut.
The mission of CASFY is to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug use among youth by collaborating with the community to raise awareness, modify social norms, educate youth and adults, initiate policy change and promote healthy activities. All youth and adults who live or work in Lyme or Old Lyme are invited to join in their efforts, or their next meeting on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at LYSB.
For more information or to contact CASFY, visit lysb.org or call 860-434-7208.