DFC coalition stop project - LOS angeles centers for alcohol and drug abuse (L.A. Cada) established our care coalition DFC project in 2013 to prevent and reduce substance use among youth ages 18 and…

DFC coalition stop project - LOS angeles centers for alcohol and drug abuse (L.A. Cada) established our care coalition DFC project in 2013 to prevent and reduce substance use among youth ages 18 and younger in the greater whittier community of southern california (whittier and neighboring cities of downey, norwalk, montebello, pico rivera, and santa FE springs). Our stop project will focus solely on prevention/reduction of underage drinking among youth ages 12-20. Greater whittier is a young community - 23% of residents are 18 or younger, and 10% live in poverty. From 75% - 81% of youth here are latino (our participants' preferred term), and they are exposed to high cultural tolerance of binge or "fiesta" drinking. Research shows that 33% of latinos who become alcohol dependent have recurrent or persistent problems compared with 22.8% of non-hispanic whites. Studies also suggest that alcohol use behaviors of family members increase the likelihood of youth drinking. Thus, L.A. Cada's stop project will address family and cultural norms for drinking among local latino youth. IT is expected that 100 unduplicated youth 12-20 and 100 unduplicated family members will be served annually via: 1) a stop sub-committee to engage diverse stakeholders; 2) annual town hall meetings and small focus groups; 3) community underage drinking awareness presentations; and 4) a social media campaign focused on prevention and reduction of underage drinking for youth 12-20 in the greater whittier community.