March 30, 2006

Seventeen Michigan communities are uniting in a nationwide initiative this week to address underage drinking, state officials said today.

The Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking is sponsoring Town Hall meetings, said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Town hall meetings will give local communities the opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of underage alcohol use, learn about the new research on the issue, provide opportunities for discussion on how their communities can best prevent underage alcohol use; and develop strategies for community-wide implementation.

Communities are most successful when parents, youth, education leaders, substance abuse coordinating agencies, local health agencies, justice/law enforcement agencies, highway safety representatives, alcohol control specialists, local government, and businesses join together in this effort, Olszewski said.

Date        City                Sponsoring Coalition Name

March 31  Detroit             Southwest Detroit Drug-Free Coalition

April 3      Flint                Connexion, Inc.

April 3      Menominee      Menominee County Prevention Coalition and Healthy Youth Coalition of Marquette and Menominee Counties

April 3      Negaunee         Marquette County Coalition for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention

April 4      Bay City           Bay County Prevention Network / Neighborhood Resource Center

April 4      Berkley             Tri-Community Coalition

April 4      Escanaba          Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties

April 4      Lake Orion         Rochester Auburn Hills Community Coalition

April 4      Midland              Circle of Health Partnership

April 18    Comstock Park   AOD Partnership for Health Communities

May 2      Comstock Park   AOD Partnership for Health Communities

Please visit MDCH website, www.michigan.gov/odcp or contact the Office of Drug Control Policy at 517-373-4700 for specific times and locations, as well as an updated list.

Several communities, including East Jordan, East Lansing, Newaygo, Battle Creek, Detroit, Clinton Township, Troy, and Saginaw have already met to discuss solutions for underage drinking. The Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Drug Control Policy, has made underage drinking a priority prevention initiative. To learn more about the national underage drinking initiative, visit the following website: www.StopAlcoholAbuse.gov.