Central Nova News

The City of Alexandria is marking National Alcohol Awareness Month with a series of activities organized by the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA). These events are designed to engage youth, parents, caregivers, and community members in prevention efforts and awareness activities throughout April.

A key event is SAPCA's Spring Community Meeting scheduled for April 25 from 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in youth substance use data and discuss potential actions to address these issues. Registration is required to attend.

Additionally, displays of student artwork promoting a drug-free lifestyle will be available for viewing at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center starting April 16. The artwork includes winning designs from the fall 2023 Red Ribbon Week poster contest.

On April 24 at 7 p.m., a proclamation recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month will be presented at City Hall. During this event, winners of the Red Ribbon Week poster contest will also receive recognition.

Another initiative by SAPCA is the "I don't drink because..." campaign. This campaign features videos created by Alexandria City High School students aimed at encouraging their peers to abstain from alcohol consumption. The videos highlight that most youth in Alexandria do not consume alcohol.

SAPCA offers tools and resources for residents to engage with youth on topics such as the dangers of alcohol and other substances, healthy decision-making, avoiding risky behaviors, responding to peer pressure, and accessing treatment and recovery resources. The city also provides a Resource Directory for Alexandria’s Youth and Young Adults.

Community members can stay informed about upcoming events and ways to get involved in local prevention efforts by signing up for SAPCA’s e-newsletter or following them on Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found on their website alexandriava.gov/SAPCA.

For media inquiries, Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator, can be contacted at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3670.

For reasonable disability accommodation requests or language assistance services, contact Maurice Tomdio at maurice.tomdio@alexandriava.gov or call 571.384.5244; Virginia Relay users can dial 711.

In addition to these activities, residents are invited to celebrate Alexandria's 275th birthday from April through September by visiting alexandriava.gov/ALX275.