The San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition (SRADC) begins Year 8 of its work with youth leadership calling for San Rafael to eliminate youth-oriented alcopop (FMB) sales and youth led opioid prevention outreach in schools. A project of Alcohol Justice, the alcohol industry watchdog, this Latino youth-led project is now expanding from the Canal District to the entire 89,000 population undergoing a crisis of underage drinking and opioids and prescription drug abuse.
Latino youth from the Canal District have been leading the charge for seven years in creating an Alcopop-Free Zone where retail outlets are asked to stop selling flavored alcopops. Alcopops (flavored malt beverages) are sweet, bubbly, high alcohol products marketed to youth–often the first drink for kids, easily leading to binge drinking. SRADC will target 62 retail alcohol outlets citywide, and youth will negotiate with merchants to eliminate alcopop sales.
Additionally, SRADC will train youth and work through the San Rafael City Schools in prevention outreach to students in two high schools and one middle school. In the next few years, a program of youth-led trainings will be developed to reach all 8th and 10th graders to make them aware of misuse of prescription drugs and change attitudes towards opioid use in general. Youth will also advocate directly with pharmacies, like Walgreens and Kaiser HMO pharmacies, to take back pills, street drugs and sharps to keep them away from other youth.
The SRADC consists of a coalition of community leaders representing 12 sectors: ranging from the award-winning RxSafe Marin alliance to concerned parents in the Restorative Justice Council (Consejo Restaurativo de Marin). The program director of SRADC is Jorge Castillo, and the project coordinator is Maite Durán. Both are experienced, bilingual, immigrant organizers and trainers. More than 35 youth and dozens of community leaders will participate each year. The youth group, Youth for Justice, will lead the way.