Young people need to be responsible for their actions, but it's up to adults to make it easier for them to make the right decisions. Working Together to Change the Underage Drinking Environment RUDC, the only national project of its kind, brings together diverse constituencies at the state and local levels to reduce underage drinking by using a cutting-edge public health model. Youths, parents, teachers, clergy, physicians, business leaders and local and state officials work together to reduce underage drinking by changing the policies, practices and behaviors that create alcohol-related problems for everyone. But research shows that community coalitions are an effective tool for bringing about social change that will improve the health, safety and quality of life for young people and for all of us who are effected by alcohol abuse. RUDC directors have seen a strong correlation between alcohol and high-risk sexual behavior.
Many concerned parents say their children are experimenting with alcohol and sex.
What is more surprising is that these parents are referring to children still in middle school-sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Sharron Ayers, director of the Louisiana Alliance to Prevent Underage Drinking, also a RUDC coalition, recently attended a panel discussion of 141 high school students who spoke to school, police and state officials on what should be done about underage drinking, school violence and drug abuse. Alcohol is a contributor to many harmful decisions that teens make, including those involving sexual activity. RUDC coalitions encourage young people to get involved at all levels, especially in developing solutions to underage drinking. Youth often serve as co-chairs of the statewide coalitions and play key roles in developing policy goals, working with the media, creating leadership training for their peers and educating adults about what they can do to stop youth from drinking.