by Paul Rasso on 2014-03-05

The Colton Community Coalition for CHANGE recently held their monthly meeting. The organization's mission is to reduce underage drinking and other drug use through community actions, awareness, education and strategies that can change the conditions in the environment that make it easy for kids to have access to alcohol and other drugs. Based on data collected by the coalition through community surveys and nationwide data, alcohol continues to be the leading cause of death among teenagers. In 2012, the coalition worked with high schools students, local law enforcement and the Colton City Council to help pass a social host ordinance within the city. The social host ordinance, which holds adults accountable for providing a location where underage drinking occurs, can result in fines of up to $1,000. Coalition members indicated teenage drinking levels raise during high school prom and graduation season, and look forward to launching their campaign to help prevent underage drinking during the season: Under 21?,Think-O-No Drink-O. According to Mirza Andrade-Martinez, Prevention Specialist, another concern has come to light. prescription drugs. “We are finding more and more teens and young adults utilizing prescription drugs. Resources indicate that youth are taking prescription drugs from unlocked medicine cabinets and even from waste containers.” The coalition is collecting surveys to assess the problem and look at possible solutions. According to the coalition, possible solutions may include keeping the medication in locked cabinets, returning unused prescriptions to the doctor's office, or establishing a prescription disposal facility. The coalition also had a guest speaker Dr. Rita Ramirez, a candidate for County Superintendent of Schools who reminded the group that drugs and alcohol ruin lives, and no matter how old you are “you are never too old for school, indicating that she had a student who completed her Bachelor's degree at 85 years of age. Dr. Ramirez holds 6 credentials and has been teaching for 38 years. The next Colton Community Coalition for CHANGE meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the Hutton Community Center – Conference Room, 660 Colton Avenue. For more information please visit: www.mhsinc.org or contact Mirza Andrade-Martinez at 909-423-0231