Shasta FNL in action is a youth-led coalition with a mission to reduce underage alcohol and other drug use and abuse among youth 12-21 years of age through education, support, and action

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to Shasta County Chemical People, Incorporated on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to support a youth-led substance misuse prevention coalition in Shasta County, California.

Shasta Friday Night Live (FNL) in Action is a countywide network of youth-led prevention advocates ages 12–21 addressing underage alcohol and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use through peer-to-peer education and community strategies. The coalition targets community risk factors including lack of informational and educational opportunities about alcohol and ENDS effects on young people, and builds resiliency and protective factors to mitigate risk and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. The program addresses public health outcomes associated with substance abuse including mental health and substance abuse comorbidities, cardiovascular conditions, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, STIs, domestic violence, child abuse, DUIs, motor vehicle crashes, homicide, and suicides.

The cooperative agreement period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program funds community coalitions to establish and strengthen collaboration among public and private nonprofit agencies and federal, state, local, and tribal governments to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth 18 years and younger, while addressing community risk factors and promoting protective factors that minimize risk.

Abstract

Summary shasta friday night live (FNL) in action is a youth-led coalition with a mission to reduce underage alcohol and other drug use and abuse among youth of shasta county, through education, support, and action. Shasta FNL in action is a countywide network of youth-led substance misuse prevention advocates who are committed to the cornerstones of youth-led initiatives, positive youth development, youth empowerment, and peer-to-peer youth messaging. Because substance contributes to a number of negative health outcomes and public health problems IT is not only a national public health goal, but IT is also a goal in the shasta county alcohol and other drug abuse strategic plan. Shasta FNL in action will address use and abuse of alcohol and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) through comprehensive strategies that are developed by youth for youth. The coalition strategies will address community risk indicators that historically support and promote unhealthy alcohol and nicotine use; and target risk factors due to a lack of informational and educational opportunities about the myths, facts and the impact of alcohol and ENDS on young people. The public health outcomes from substance abuse include dual diagnosis mental health and substance abuse issues, cardiovascular conditions, teenage pregnancy, HIV/aids, stis, domestic violence, child abuse, duis and motor vehicle crashes, homicide, and suicides. These negative and harmful outcomes make substance abuse one of the most complex public health issues faced today. Shasta FNL in action focuses on building resiliency and protective factors among youth to help mitigate risk factors and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Substance abuse prevention is more promising when delivered by youth to youth. As a youth-led coalition, shasta FNL in action strategies and activities empower youth with the tools and skills necessary to help reduce and/or prevent the onset of substance use and focuses on increasing healthy choices by building and encouraging school and community connections. Shasta FNL in action's DFC strategies include: ◉ strengthening the youth-led coalition by recruiting and training adult advocates from youth serving populations and increasing county agency representation ◉ facilitating coalition training and skill building to develop a comprehensive strategic plan ◉ altering community norms and reducing youth access to alcohol through policy change by addressing alcohol sales at community events ◉ reducing youth access to alcohol through an alcohol merchant awareness and positive recognition campaign ◉ working with school administrators to change consequences of nicotine use on school campuses and provide support services for students who use nicotine (ENDS) ◉ facilitating focus groups, classroom, and assembly presentations, back to school nights, parent nights, etc. Providing resources and gathering community input on problems and solutions ◉ implement a comprehensive social media campaign focusing on the impact of alcohol and nicotine on their peers and evidence-based strategies a community can implement to reduce risky behaviors and increase youth support and protective factors.