Breaking the Chain of Underage Drinking

Town Hall Meeting Hosted by the Dover Coalition for Youth

Alcohol use among our nation’s youth is a significant public health and economic problem. In New Hampshire, underage alcohol use is the number one youth drug problem and is six times more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined.

In an effort to curb underage alcohol problems, communities across the country are organizing a nationwide series of town hall-style meetings. Fifteen of these sessions will be held in New Hampshire. Locally, the Dover Coalition for Youth is holding one in Dover.

The meeting is intended to increase understanding of the prevalence and risks associated with underage drinking. Participants will hear from two speakers.

Christopher Sullivan was a defensive lineman with the New England Patriots for 5 years. Chris shares his story of how alcohol and drug use affected his career in the NFL.

Kathi Meyer will also share her story of how her 17-year-old daughter, Taylor, died after a night of drinking. Kathi shares details of that night and how elements of the community could have intervened and broken the chain of events.

The presentation will spark conversations about the role that each member of the Dover community has in addressing the problem of underage drinking.

• WHO: Dover Community Members
  
  
• WHAT: A Town Hall Meeting to Address Underage Drinking
  
  
• WHERE: McConnell Center Café, Dover, NH
  
  
• WHEN: Thursday April 19th from 6:00 - 7:30pm

The Dover Coalition for Youth is a part of the Dover Police Department’s Community Outreach Bureau. The Coalition is tasked with improving the quality of life in Dover for youth and families by preventing the harm caused by substance abuse. The Coalition is the means by which we hope to bring all of the elements of the community together to take on underage drinking, marijuana and prescription drug abuse.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is sponsoring this national initiative, with the goal that these meetings will generate energy and leverage action leading into the month of April, which is National Alcohol Awareness Month.