The One Johns Creek coalition in Georgia, USA, has intensified its commitment to youth substance abuse prevention, focusing on reducing the accessibility of alcohol to underage individuals. The group, which works alongside local volunteers and its parent organisation, Pathways2Life, unveiled two innovative initiatives at a recent meeting on 26 February. These efforts aim to address pressing issues linked to alcohol sales and marketing practices at local businesses while working toward preventing underage drinking.

A key part of the coalition’s strategy has been conducting extensive surveys of North Metro Atlanta establishments that sell alcohol. These surveys focus on identifying products with high alcohol content, fruity flavours, and packaging that could appeal to teenagers. A key part of the coalition’s strategy has been conducting extensive surveys of North Metro Atlanta establishments that sell alcohol. These surveys focus on identifying products with high alcohol content, fruity flavours, and packaging that could appeal to teenagers. The group also plans to gather more data from at least 200 businesses to better understand how pricing and advertising may influence accessibility, prioritising youth substance abuse prevention.

The group also plans to gather more data from at least 200 businesses to better understand how pricing and advertising may influence accessibility, prioritising youth substance abuse prevention.

Addressing Root Causes to Strengthen Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

Additionally, One Johns Creek is collaborating with data scientists from the Technology Association of Georgia to tackle concerns over online food and drink delivery services. The project investigates how minors might misuse such platforms to obtain alcohol. By analysing the data, the coalition identifies gaps to address, ensuring stronger oversight and effectively preventing underage drinking.

For Program Director Alyse Hensel, a long-time Johns Creek resident, these initiatives represent significant steps in their mission. She explained that gathering more data not only paints a clearer picture of what exposes our youth but also reveals how to counteract it more effectively. Consequently, this data becomes crucial in developing impactful and targeted strategies for youth substance abuse prevention.

Through these measures, the coalition strives to highlight how easily alcohol may be accessible to young individuals—whether in shops or online. Furthermore, they push for stronger legal protections to safeguard underage individuals. Their efforts, therefore, align with the overarching goal of preventing underage drinking and fostering a safer environment for the community’s youth. By combining local research with advanced data analysis, the organisation underscores the importance of collective action to minimize youth exposure to alcohol and encourage systemic change.

Additionally, the coalition’s work reflects its unwavering dedication to addressing the root causes of substance abuse. This commitment consistently drives their mission to promote youth substance abuse prevention, thereby inspiring meaningful change across the region.

Source: Appen Media