For Immediate Release, January 5, 2023

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) launched a prevention campaign featuring a series of short videos created by Alexandria City High School students that encourage youth to be marijuana free.

The videos, which show Alexandria youth sharing why they do not use marijuana, reinforce and raise awareness that most Alexandria youth do not use marijuana.

Teen marijuana use in the city decreased 33% between 2016 and 2022. According to the 2022 Developmental Assets Profile, only 3% of 8th graders, 7% of 10th graders and 17% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. Additionally, only 7% of 8th graders, 12% of 10th graders and 19% of 12th graders reported vaping tobacco, nicotine or marijuana in the past 30 days.

SAPCA’s prevention campaign invites social media users of all ages to share the videos, along with the reasons they themselves do not use marijuana. The videos will also be shared on SAPCA’s Facebook and Twitter platforms.  

The campaign, created through marijuana education and prevention funding from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, is the third video series launched by SAPCA. Previous youth-created series feature reasons they do not use alcohol and reasons they do not vape.

On July 1, 2021, non-medical marijuana use, with certain conditions, was legalized in Virginia for adults 21 years or older. In response to this legislation, SAPCA created a list of the Top 10 Things youth and adults should know about this law.

The coalition also reminds residents that adult marijuana use influences youth behaviors and encourages residents to model healthy coping to prevent youth substance use.  Healthy coping can be as simple as exercising, video chatting with friends and family, or spending a few minutes using a meditation app. Access a wide range of resources for coping with stress, including easy-to-share handouts with tips for coping with fear and stress.

SAPCA also provides tools and resources to engage youth around the consequences of substance use, encourage healthy decision making, avoid risky behaviors, respond to peer pressure and more. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn about the coalition, access resources and explore volunteer opportunities to promote positive youth development.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3670.

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4209

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