Utilize health care's existing public relations departments for media advocacy and marketing. Tap into their data sources. In many states, hospitals are mandated or voluntarily attach an E-code to UB92 forms when the patient was intentionally or unintentionally injured. This provides a wonderful community baseline assessment. Work with health care to move up stream.
Health care can do more than suture the wound and set the broken jaw.
There is a role for health care providers in home visiting services, prenatal education, and anticipatory guidance. MJT is a coalition made up of individuals and organizations from across Minnesota and is reaching out to the Council for Preventive Medicine for a few interested volunteers to collaborate on public policy efforts to reduce underage drinking. Strengthening public policies to reduce both illegal commercial sales and adult provision of alcohol to underage youth will reduce the ease with which they gain access to alcohol. These two primary sources of alcohol for youth lead not only to tragic consequences, but also to countless more subtle ill effects facing youth and communities. Restricting youth access to alcohol will reduce underage drinking and ultimately the number of these tragedies and consequences.