Health and Fitness : Efforts Continue to Reduce Underage Drinking in Benton County

Over the past decade many important prevention steps have been taken to reduce alcohol use among Benton County youth and these steps have produced some impressive results. Comparing numbers from the 1999 and 2012 Iowa Youth Survey there has been a 26% decrease in youth who reported the use of alcohol within the past 30 days. Along with this there have also been decreases in the amount of tobacco, marijuana, and other substances being used by the youth in Benton County.

While the changes taking place should be celebrated, it is important to strive forward in the continual effort to implement effective strategies that reduce the number of our youth using alcohol and other damaging substances. In October 2012 an important step was taken in reducing underage drinking and drug use in Benton County by the passing of a Social Host Ordinance. This new ordinance holds adults responsible for knowingly providing a space for minors to drink or use drugs through the issuing of a citation and fine.

Efforts made through the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) by the Benton County Above The Influence Coalition (BCATI) in cooperation with ASAC helped to implement the Social Host Ordinance within the non-incorporated areas of the county. The SPF SIG project is funded by Iowa Department of Public Health, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The next step in this underage drinking prevention effort is for each town within Benton County to implement their own Social Host Ordinance so that our county as a whole is working together for the safety and health of our youth. In June 2013, Shellsburg led the way by being the first town in Benton County to put a Social Host Ordinance in place and in 2014 we hope to see other communities join in the effort of protecting our youth and communities. Working together we can ensure a stronger future for the next generations. If you would like more information about the Benton County Above The Influence Coalition and the SPF SIG project visit www.bcati.com or contact David Condry, SPF SIG Coordinator for Benton County at dcondry@asac.us or 319-472-2443.