“420 Remix” Attracts Over 1,000 Youth

North County youth will gather once again to celebrate the 9th Annual 420 Remix-A Celebration of Drug Free Life Choices on April 20, 2012 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. All 6th to 9th graders in the cities of Carlsbad, Vista and Oceanside are invited to attend. The event will take place for the fourth year at Boomers! Family Entertainment Center, located at 1525 W. Vista Way in Vista, CA.

Celebrated by marijuana smokers as a ‘time to get high,’ April 20th (420) is also considered by some to be a marijuana smoking holiday. Smoke shops, radio stations, and parades perpetuate this message, portraying marijuana use as a laughing matter. North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC) has partnered with Boomers! to counter this message and reclaim April 20 as a day to celebrate sober and drug free life choices. 

Nationally, marijuana use among teens rose in 2011 for the fourth straight year according to Monitoring the Future survey. In the Tri-City region, the 2011 California Healthy Kids Survey indicates that two out of ten (2 out of 10) 9th graders reported using marijuana in the last 30 days. Additionally, almost half of the 9th graders in the same area reported that marijuana was very easy to obtain.

Last year, a parent resource and educational area was implemented at 420 Remix. Parents will be able to attend a workshop, talk to experts and visit the resource booths while their teens enjoy Boomers! In addition, those parents who drop-off their kids will also receive a bag with useful drug and alcohol prevention resources.

Community Dinner to Help Prevent Alcohol and Drug Use

Cesar Chavez Middle School (CCMS) and the North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC) will host a community dinner to discuss alcohol and drug prevention on Thursday, March 15th from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room at CCMS located in Oceanside at 202 Oleander Drive.  Parents and their families are invited to enjoy dinner and learn strategies to help prevent alcohol and drug use from experts and school officials.  High school prevention advocates will lead a session with middle school students to inspire them to make healthy choices. Dinner, refreshments and dessert will be provided to the first 100 people, as well as childcare during the presentations. 

Stacy Brandt. (2012, March 17). Event urges families to urge into anti-drug message. North County Times, Page B1.

Workshop at CADCA was a Success!

The presentation at CADCA's 22nd National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. was a success, about 50 people very interested attended as they asked a lot of questions.

The workshop gave an overview of policies that have worked to reduce problems caused by alcohol sales, drug paraphernalia, and items being sold that promote drug use (t-shirts, jewelry, banners and flags) at community events. Attendees learned how to gather data on events, and how to approach their state alcohol board, and the event promoter. They also gained access to assessment tools, the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training curriculum, and examples of Special Event Policy language for use in their communities to address problems identified at community events.

The Special Event Policy and mandatory RBS training are strategies coalitions can use foster family friendly community events and reduce problems related to alcohol and other drugs. Below you'll find the all the resources provided and powerpoint presentation.

• Special Event Server Training
• Event/Venue Assessment 
• Special Event Assessment 
• NCPC Highlight  in CADCA Publication
• Special Events Guide
  

Coalition Presenting at CADCA

Community Collaboration Specialist,  John Byrom will be presenting a workshop at CADCA's 22nd National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C.  The workshop will give an overview of policies that have worked to reduce problems caused by alcohol sales, drug paraphernalia, and items being sold that promote drug use (t-shirts, jewelry, banners and flags) at community events.  It wil also cover how to gather data on events, and how to approach their state alcohol board, and the event promoter.  Byrom plans to share the assessment tools, Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training curriculum, and examples of Special Event Policy language for use in their communities to address problems identified at community events.

New Year’s Eve Bash @ Boomers! Vista

The North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC) is excited to partner with Boomers! in Vista to offer an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve Bash with a live DJ and unlimited access to Boomers! attractions on Saturday, December 31, 2011 from 6pm to midnight at the Boomers! located at 1525 W Vista Way in Vista. The entertainment center offers a variety of attractions and games for all ages. The cost of admission is $20 for ages 13 and up, and $15 for children ages 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free.

NCPC’s New Years Eve Bash will provide a family-friendly event for up to 1,000 people, and will also serve as a fundraising event for NCPC to continue programs to help prevent alcohol and drug use among youth. This alcohol and drug free family celebration will help fund prevention programs.

Guests will choose to ring in the New Year at either 9:00 PM (New York’s New Year) or midnight.  A sparkling cider toast and noisemakers will be included with the price of admission, in addition to riding bumper boats and go-karts, playing games, miniature golf, and laser tag.  Tickets are now available in person at Boomers or online at Vistix.The price of admission will increase $5 the day of the event. All children require adult supervision.