Preventing underage drinking in long beach, NY - the long beach coalition to prevent underage drinking, INC. (coalition) is a former drug free communities (DFC) and strategic prevention…

Preventing underage drinking in long beach, NY - the long beach coalition to prevent underage drinking, INC. (coalition) is a former drug free communities (DFC) and strategic prevention framework-state incentive grant (SPF-SIG) recipient and the fiscal agent for the oceanside safe coalition (safe). The coalition serves five communities on the south shore of long island, new york, that are served by the long beach school district. The communities include: city of long beach, village of island park and hamlets of east atlantic beach, lido beach and point lookout. The communities had a total population of approximately 44,250 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. These communities, which comprise the catchment area for this S.T.O.P. Act grant request, were devastated by superstorm sandy's landing on october 29, 2012 and further traumatized by community-wide closures due to the covid-19 pandemic. The coalition, which had been making significant strides in reducing underage drinking, saw past 30-day alcohol use and binge drinking rates rise dramatically on the 2014-15 survey. Our most recent (2018-19) data reveals alcohol past 30-day usage at 20% for 9TH graders and 40.4% for 11TH graders. Binge drinking rates were 11% for 9TH graders and 25.4% for 11TH graders with binge drinking rates for girls increasing by approximately 15%. The coalition is proposing to use S.T.O.P. Act grant funds to implement environmental prevention strategies to reduce youth alcohol use. Specifically, the funds will be used to increase the number of law enforcement foot and party patrols and compliance checks during times of known youth usage (e.g. holidays, summer). Funds will be used to provide targeted prevention messages and programs to underserved populations of low-income african-american and hispanic youth, especially in the north park neighborhood, that are vulnerable to health disparities. The coalition will used trauma informed strategies, especially necessary in the post-pandemic ERA, in its prevention efforts and will invite members of the recovery community to participate in prevention activities.