EC Virginia News

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria Launches For Our Future / Por Nuestra Futuro Messaging Campaign

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) is launching For Our Future / Por Nuestra Futuro, a messaging campaign created through collaboration with Alexandria Latino youth and parents; Latino- and youth-serving organizations; and City and school partners to prevent alcohol use among Latino youth in Alexandria. This campaign promotes the health benefits of living alcohol-free, alternatives to alcohol use, facts and risks about underage drinking, and the importance of supportive role models.

Help raise awareness about this campaign and some of the reasons youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol. Please share these sample posts on social media in English in Spanish, or create your own, and tag three others to share them with their own networks. 

This campaign is funded through the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), awarded to SAPCA in March 2020. The grant supports SAPCA in expanding its efforts to reduce underage drinking among Latino youth ages 12-20, middle school students, and community college students ages 18-20. Learn more about the campaign, including ways to get involved, at alexandriava.gov/SAPCA.

SAPCA also provides tools and resources for residents to engage youth and initiate conversations regarding the dangers of alcohol and other substances, healthy decision making, avoiding risky behaviors, responding to peer pressure and more. According to results from the 2022 Developmental Assets Profile, 14% of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, a 22% decrease in youth alcohol use since 2016. To learn about other ways to support local efforts to prevent youth substance use and misuse, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov

To inform the creation of this messaging campaign, SAPCA and its partners:

• Conducted listening sessions and key informant interviews with Latino youth and adults to gather information about knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about youth substance use – with a particular focus on youth alcohol use.
• Worked with an outside evaluator to analyze and compile input shared by Latino youth and adults into a qualitative report.
• Collaborated with community partners to explain the campaign design process, discuss messaging ideas, and collect feedback to ensure campaign materials are relevant, relatable and culturally appropriate.

SAPCA appreciates the support provided by these partners to help develop this campaign:

• Alexandria City Public Schools
• Casa Chirilagua
• Community Lodgings
• Department of Community and Human Services
• Liberty’s Promise
• Tenants and Workers United

SAPCA is an alliance of parents, youth, schools, city health and recreation agencies, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers, and law enforcement. Our mission is to engage diverse sectors of the community in collaborative, cross-cultural, and comprehensive substance abuse prevention efforts that result in a reduction of underage substance use and abuse in the City of Alexandria.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3670.

Original source can be found here