October 2022

Reminder: Attend SAPCA's Fall Community Meeting Tuesday, October 4

Join SAPCA this Tuesday, October 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center for a community meeting to learn about the latest youth substance use data trends. Attendees will review and discuss local data on youth attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol, marijuana, tobacco/vaping, and prescription drugs before discussing actions to address these trends. Dinner will be provided.

RSVP for this free event by contacting Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3670.

Celebrate Red Ribbon Week This October!

Each year, communities around the country celebrate Red Ribbon Week from October 23-31, an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention awareness campaign. Red Ribbon Week is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. This year's theme is: “Celebrate Life: Live Drug Free.” Explore these ideas to celebrate Red Ribbon Week this year:

• Enter the Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest by November 15, 2022. Three winners will receive a $100 gift card and have their poster featured in Red Ribbon Week 2023! 
• Take the Red Ribbon Week Pledge to stand up against substance use. Take the pledge today -- and encourage friends and family to do the same -- to continue to help make our community drug-free.
• Join us as the City Council recognizes Red Ribbon Week through a City proclamation on October 25 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
• Join SAPCA in celebrating and recognizing the winners of last year's poster contest: 
• Ashly Isabel Luna Jimenez, 1^st grade student at William Ramsey Elementary School
• Caitlin Feehely, 12^th grade student at Alexandria City High School
• Stay informed -- learn the latest facts about alcohol, marijuana, e-cigarettes, and prescription and over-the-counter medication.

Click here to explore more ways to celebrate Red Ribbon Week this month!

City of Alexandria Seeks Input to Inform Youth Safety and Resiliency Efforts

The City of Alexandria is advancing its vision of having children and youth fully thrive in the community through the recent update of its 2025 Children and Youth Community Plan (CYCP), and engaging outreach efforts this fall and beyond. As part of efforts to promote youth safety and resiliency, the City will hire Youth Ambassadors. 

Youth Ambassadors in grades 9-12 will engage in conversations with other youth and adults to create recommendations for new programs or actions that will reduce violence and promote positive youth mental health. To express interest in serving as a Youth Ambassador, please complete this survey by October 21.

Additionally, the City is working with youth-serving organizations to hold youth focus groups so youth can answer questions about their knowledge of current City youth programs, their sense of safety, and how best to engage them. Organizations interested in holding a focus group should complete this survey by October 21.

To learn about resources for Alexandria youth, visit Alexandria's Youth Services Resource page.

 For questions, contact, Noraine Buttar at noraine.buttar@alexandriava.gov.

Save the Date: October 29 is Drug Take Back Day

Safely dispose of unneeded prescription and over-the-counter medications, including those prescribed by veterinarians, during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29. This event is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unneeded prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pet prescriptions.

Medication can be dropped off from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the following sites:

• Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.)
• Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.)
• The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

Can't make it to Drug Take Back Day? Dispose of medication year-round at one of the City's permanent medication drop boxes. Needles are not accepted during the take back event or in the permanent medication drop boxes. Dispose of needles and syringes in a separate designated permanent drop box. 

Interested in volunteering for this month's drug take back day? Volunteers share information and distribute resources about the importance of safe medication disposal at one of the four drop-off locations. Contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov to learn more or to sign up.

Learn more about the importance of safe medication disposal here.

September Community Outreach Recap: Connecting With Youth and Young Adults 

On September 8, SAPCA and Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) team members attended the NOVA Day Festival at the Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus. During this annual event, student clubs and community partners engage with students and promote local resources. 

Following this event, on September 10 Keep It 360 Peer Advocates Amel Mohdali, Chloe Yokitis and Nathan Desta connected with youth at a Teen Block Party hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities. The Keep It 360 Peer Advocates are a group of Alexandria youth who work closely with SAPCA, ACAP, and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts.

SAPCA is appreciative of these opportunities to engage with youth and young adults in our community. We look forward to continuing to educate, inform, and empower Alexandria youth and young adults with the support of our partners.

SAPCA Collaborates with Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center to Deliver Presentations

On September 23, SAPCA delivered Facts and Consequences presentations to 19 youth served through the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC) and the Sheltercare program. During these presentations, youth learned about the health and legal consequences of using alcohol, marijuana, tobacco products, and prescription medications. Youth also discussed ways to respond to peer pressure and cope with stress in healthy ways. SAPCA thanks the NVJDC for inviting us to share this important information with youth served through these programs. 

Interested in supporting SAPCA to deliver Facts and Consequences Presentations? Contact April Pavis-Shroeder at april.pavisshroeder@alexandriava.gov. No previous experience is required and all volunteers receive training before presentations take place.

Resource Spotlight: Live Vape Free VA

Live Vape Free Virginia is a free resource that educates teens about the harms of vaping and empowers parents to have productive conversations with their children about the risks of vaping.

This resource also provides free support for teens that want to quit vaping -- teens can text VapeFreeVA to 873-373 or click here to get started.

To learn more facts and explore strategies to talk as a family about vaping, visit LiveVapeFreeVA.org.