WV Youth Create Underage Drinking Prevention PSAs

More than two dozen West Virginia youth from Cabell, Greenbrier and Kanawha counties will star in new public service announcements (PSAs) designed to raise awareness of and prevent underage drinking. Earlier this year, the teams of youth from Cabell County’s Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, the Marshall University Ad Club, Greenbrier East High School and the South Charleston Housing Authority submitted draft scripts for this year’s 2011 PSA Challenge. This summer, the youth will fine-tune their scripts and work with the Tri-State CW to produce the television spots. The WV Radio Corporation will use audio clips from the video shoots to produce the radio spots.

“Consumption of alcohol when you are under 21 is illegal; and underage drinking costs WV millions every year in medical care, work loss and other problems resulting from the use of alcohol by youth,” said Stephanie Southall, WV’s Underage Drinking Prevention Specialist. “Research shows peer influence is the most effective strategy for creating a culture where underage drinking is NOT the norm. That’s why the RU21 PSAs are created and produced by West Virginia youth.”

The underage drinking PSAs will be distributed statewide this fall to the media and county coalition contacts across WV. They will also be available via You Tube.

The PSAs are coordinated by the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center’s (WVPRC) Underage Drinking Prevention & Social Marketing Project, which is funded by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Grant Program administered by the WV Division of Justice & Community Services. Additional information about the WVPRC’s Underage Drinking Prevention & Social Marketing Project, including other messages created by West Virginia youth, is available at www.prevnet.org/ru21 and http://21means21.blogspot.com/.

Journalists are welcome to stop by the video shoots to interview students participating in the project.

• TUESDAY, JUNE 14 @ 3 pm - Video Shoot @ Little Creek Park COMPLETED
• FRIDAY, JUNE 17 @ 1:30 pm – Video Shoot @ Marshall University COMPLETED
• TUESDAY JUNE 28 @ 10 am – Video Shoot @ Huntington Middle School
• AUGUST Date to Be Announced – Video Shoot in Greenbrier County

Currently on Prevention WV: RiffRaff Arts Collective in Mercer County

An infusion of arts and culture is bringing about change in Princeton, West Virginia. Lori McKinney-Blankenship highlights the Riff Raffs Arts Collective in Mercer County on the current edition of Prevention WV.

The Riff Raff Arts Collective is also featured on the Our Mountain State community development website.

Prevention WV is a monthly, television news and interview program that highlights prevention, wellness and community development initiatives across WV. Learn more about the show (including air times and channels) at www.prevnet.org/preventionwvtv.

June Health Observances & Resources

Fireworks Safety Month (June – July 4th)
National Council on Fireworks Safety
WV Fire Commission

Cataract Awareness Month
Prevent Blindness America

Home Safety Month
Home Safety Council Toolkit

Men's Health Month & Week (June 9-13)

National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Aphasia Association

National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
The CMV Action Network

National Scleroderma Awareness Month
Scleroderma Foundation

National Rip Current Awareness Week (June 5-11)
National Weather Service Rip Current Safety