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Lights on For Life
Hosted by:
Montgomery County Cares Coalition
Please briefly describe your Communities Talk activity.
During the holiday season, members of the Montgomery County Cares Coalition visited local businesses that sell alcohol. We hung flyers in the windows with QR codes that patrons could sign to pledge they will not drink and drive. Each business received a tea light candle to leave on at night to show their solidarity for those who lost their lives in alcohol-/vehicle-related crashes. Members also visited local middle and high schools for tabling events during the season and spoke with students about the dangers of driving while intoxicated and/or being the in the car with someone who is driving while intoxicated. Students signed the pledge stating they are aware of the dangers and will not get into a vehicle with a driver who is impaired. They cut out paper candles and wrote words of encouragement and holiday happiness. They gave messages of staying alcohol free, and the candles lined the windows of the school for the season. Students received bracelets to wear, and all of the students in Montgomery County high schools participated in designing a billboard in their art classes. The winner was voted on by the coalition, and an article in their school newspaper discussed Lights on For Life and also showed a picture of the billboard. The student who won received a mini billboard to display.
How does alcohol and other drug misuse affect your community?
Although alcohol rates among youth are down in our community, alcohol still poses a problem. The Montgomery County Cares Coalition recognizes that our county does in fact have a social host law, but it is difficult to enforce. The continued need for prevention is obvious in the 2023 Clyde Survey that was administered to students in grades 7–12. Responses to the question of where they get their alcohol revealed that many get it from home, with and also without their parents’ permission.
Which prevention strategy(ies), as defined by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, best fit your Communities Talk activity?
- Information Dissemination Strategy - focuses on improving awareness and knowledge of the effects of AOD issues on communities and families through “one-way” communication with the audience such as speaking engagements, health fairs, and distribution of print materials.
What goal(s) did you hope to accomplish with your Communities Talk activity?
- Hold meetings or discussion groups on alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention.
- Create alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention action groups (e.g., committees, task forces, and advisory boards).
- Develop strategic plans to reduce and prevent alcohol and/or other drug misuse.
Did you accomplish your goal(s)?
Yes
What challenge(s) did you face in planning your activity this year?
- Some of the businesses were not open to the discussion until they learned that we were not there to stop them from selling, but that we were there to encourage those who are buying to please be safe and responsible.
How did you overcome these challenges?
What are your next steps?
- Conduct research efforts to learn more about issues in our community
- Create a public education campaign to raise awareness and/or change behaviors around underage drinking (i.e., create PSAs and other promotional materials)
If you’ve conducted Communities Talk activities in prior years, how has your repeated participation contributed to progress in achieving your prevention goals?
Montgomery County Cares has participated in the Lights on For Life for three years. We have grown to include other local Drug-Free Communities coalitions in our neighboring communities and have strengthened partnerships among coalitions. Businesses are open and ready for our campaign and know to expect us. They welcome our visit and are happy to display our information.
Organizations that conduct Communities Talk activities often involve other organizations in the planning and execution of events. Please indicate which type(s) of organizations you involved in your activity planning.
- Law enforcement
- Youth-led organizations
- Local businesses
Which of the following best describes the primary audience(s) for your Communities Talk activity?
How did you reach and engage your primary audience(s) to encourage them to participate in your activity?
Tabling events in schools, along with hands-on activities and education.
Which Communities Talk resources (or other SAMHSA resources) were most helpful for your activity?
- Communities Talk toolkits
During the holiday season, the Montgomery County Cares Coalition engaged local businesses and schools in activities to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. The coalition hung flyers with QR code pledges, distributed tea light candles, and organized educational events for students.
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