Northborough Youth Visit MA State House

Youth from Algonquin Regional High School joined nearly 100 young people from across the Commonwealth gathered at the Massachusetts State House for a SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)-sponsored training and statewide Town Hall Meeting Kick-off Event. Algonquin Regional High School was among the twenty-two participating SADD chapters and community coalitions, providing students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, and other destructive decisions.

"These students are gaining valuable life skills and are eager to share their passion and their perspectives on prevention education with their legislators," remarked Penny Wells, SADD president and CEO. “These emerging leaders will have a positive and lasting effect on public policy, demonstrating the power of youth to speak persuasively on an issue that is critically important to their generation.”

While at the State House, youth received training with a special address from State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, visited with lawmakers, and participated in a speaking program with State Senator John Keenan, State Senator Joan Lovely, State Representative Liz Malia, Fran Harding, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Hillary Jacobs, Director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS). 

The young people used their time with the lawmakers to discuss how parents and other caring adults can make a difference when it comes to youth alcohol and substance abuse prevention and how drinking alcohol or using other drugs before the age of 21 can permanently affect full brain development. Legislators were receptive and interested to hear Massachusetts-specific statistics such as  in 2011, 40% of high school students reported having one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days and 22% had five or more drinks of alcohol in the past 30 days (Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011).

“Students from across Massachusetts have come together to expand positive peer pressure and educate adults on the impact alcohol and other drugs can have on a still-developing brain,” said Emma Faddoul, Marlborough High School junior and chair of the Massachusetts SADD Student Advisory Board. “We were excited to discuss the research and the impact we have made locally, as well as encourage lawmakers to spread the word to parents about how they can help reduce alcohol and other drug use among youth.”