ADAPT’s newest members consist of approximately 45 youth leaders from all throughout Essex County. We were pleased to welcome these youth in March 2013 at our first Youth Induction Ceremony and again in November 2014. Along with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), ADAPT started this initiative to expand youth leadership opportunities on a county level. Opportunities for the youth include, trainings regarding media and public speaking, creating Public Service Announcements, advocating on behalf of the community through various media outlets, creating grassroots initiatives to mobilize the community to decrease alcohol and substance abuse, increasing their community service hours, etc. These youth leaders will help to make lasting change regarding substance abuse prevention throughout Essex County.

ADAPT created three teams and divided Essex County into three regions based on the geographic location of the teens. These regions include:

• South: Livingston, Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, Irvington, Orange;
• West: Fairfield, West Caldwell, Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland, Essex Fells, Verona, Cedar Grove; and,
• East: Montclair, Glen Ridge, East Orange, Bloomfield, Newark, Belleville, Nutley.

As stated above, different activities the teams might work on include, awareness campaigns, public service announcements, youth talent show/contest, community events, etc. We are excited for the great work that will result from the hard work of all three teams.

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Don’t Let Prom Be Your Last Dance Initiative

Our first collaborative initiative involved working together with ADAPT’s Youth Leadership Workgroup. As youth leaders we all submitted our suggestions for a slogan and “Don’t Let Prom Be Your Last Dance!” won the most votes. These were printed as postcards and distributed throughout some communities in Essex County (local foral shops, hair salons, nail salons, tuxedo shops etc). We were able to collaborate with some High Schools to distribute the postcards to students who purchased prom tickets.

Sticker Shock Campaign

ADAPT’s County Council planned a Sticker Shock campaign to bring awareness to underage drinking. We placed stickers on multi-packs of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine coolers etc.) and posters throughout stores to inform the community of the consequences related to purchasing alcohol for minors. During the campaign, we were accompanied ADAPT Staff, and a law enforcement representative.

County Council Florida Training

Six members of ADAPT’s Youth Leadership County Council attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 2014 Mid-Year Conference in Orlando in late July. CADCA is an organization with over 5,000 anti-drug coalitions, each working to make their communities safer, healthy, and drug free. The Mid-Year Conference brings members together to gain new insights as to how to prevent teen drug use in their local communities.

East Region

You Booze, You Cruise, You Lose. Poster: We wanted to inform community members and our peers about the dangers of impaired driving. Around the same time we launched this PSA, the New Jersey Division of High Traffic Safety were participating in the nationwide campaign “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

Red Ribbon Initiative in School: RED RIBBON WEEK is observed every year from October 23- 31. This Year our EAST Team came up with a slogan PUT A CAP ON IT (Designed by John Bermudez- ADAPT Temp Program Coordinator) and Students from Cicely Tyson High School “PUT A CAP ON” substance use in honor of RED RIBBON WEEK.

South Region

Beach Bummer Poster: The SOUTH Team kicked off their Summer Campaign at Family Connections’ Summer Picnic. These posters were put up in parks and other public places in ADAPT’s South Region. The poster was designed by our very own (Ian Jaffe, Millburn, South Team). We also distributed water bottles which included a message in the bottle: “ Did you know? During the Summer teens are most likely to engage in underage drinking. STAY HYDRATED? Water has no taste but alcohol makes your life a waste!”

LYCS Training: In collaboration with the Livingston Youth and Community Services program (LYCS) the SOUTH team played a role in bringing awareness to the grade school kids for the 2nd year in a row. This years campaign came in the form of an alcohol and drug awareness board game. The SOUTH leaders facilitated the game rooted in fact statements, multiple choice questions, and a myth/fact component.

Town Hall Meeting (May):

​​Town Hall Meeting (Stress Relief Concept):

West Region

The WEST Youth Leadership Team began brainstorming around the topic of binge drinking early in November. The collective identified a link between student stress and excessive drinking. Furthermore they identified points throughout the academic year where stress can be elevated (Holidays, Mid terms, Prom, Finals, etc). Taking into consideration the complete student, the teens also identified extracurricular stressors for those who are musicians, athletes, etc. In an effort to manage stress and bring attention to it, the West Team is planning on creating stress kits for distribution during high stress times. Distribution of stress kits will kick off at the upcoming Town Hall Meeting. Speaking to an audience of peers, parents, and school based staff the youth leaders will highlight their own issues, discuss stress management strategies, and distribute information linking stress to drugs and underage drinking.

Binge Drinking: WEST Team created a PowerPoint on Binge Drinking that is being displayed in James Caldwell High School on a recurring basis.

 

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