Washington State community seeks new ways to prevent underage drinking

Officials from the Vashon Healthy Community Network in Washington State, are launching efforts to prevent underage drinking throughout the area, reports the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter.

Officials from the network told the news source that they are installing more lighting and increasing police patrols in hot spots throughout the region in an effort to curb teen drinking. Furthermore, they added that they hope that recruiting more volunteers to observe these popular hangouts and record what they see can help law enforcement officers determine the next course of action to take in dealing with problem teens.

Furthermore, the coalition added that they hope to influence future policies against underage drinking in the region and to set up community watch programs. Officials are also employing a theory of crime prevention through environmental design. For instance, when more crime occurred at the area skate park, city officials trimmed the hedges that surrounded the location and saw a decrease in illegal activity.

Enrolling teens into boarding school can be helpful in preventing underage drinking by providing a suitable environment for achieving behavioral success.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is used more among U.S. children and teens than tobacco or illicit drugs.