In The News

Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force is Back In Action
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Thursday, September 18, 2008

As fall approaches you can feel the change in the air, kids are back in school, fall sports are underway, and families are back to business.

So is the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force, in particular, the youth wing of the task force that includes a large number of kids - from 6thgraders to seniors in high school. These great kids are committed to bringing this message to their peers: that you can have fun without using drugs and alcohol.

In the coming weeks and months, the Westerly Substance Abuse Youth Task Force will be bringing that message with a number of exciting programs that will be announced soon.

And just as the kids are gearing up, so is the task force.

We are embarking on a new campaign to get the message out to parents that they have an incredible opportunity to set the example for their children by preventing youth access to alcohol, in particular.

To that end, you will see in the coming weeks and months a parent forum at the Westerly Middle School and an exciting advertising campaign dubbed "Underage Drinking; Not A Minor Problem." Look for our ads in The Westerly Sun, on cable TV and on local billboards.

This year the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

As we have been over the past 20 years, we are committed to keeping our children - our future - healthy and strong and free from the dangers of substance use and abuse, especially alcohol.

The task force is open to new ideas and new members. We believe we're part of a community eager to do their part in keeping kids safe.

We're in. Are you?

Mary Lou Serra Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force Coordinator