Six members of the Talbot County Youth Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention recently attended a Youth-to-Youth conference at BryantUniversity in Springfield Rhode Island. The students, including Sawyer Spurry, graduate of St Michael’s High School; Kataya Murray of St Michael’s High School, Heena Paracha of Easton High School, Jazmine Gibson of Easton High School, Rachael Whiting of Easton High School and Morgan Whiting of Easton High School, were accompanied by Talbot County Youth Coalition leaders Liz Cowee of Easton and Gary Pearce, director of Talbot Partnership for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention.

The conference was one of three national conferences held around the country this summer and was attended by nearly 350 attendees from the United States and overseas. Youth-to-Youth conferences are designed to provide training, information and skills on making good choices, living an alcohol and substance free youth, as well as ways for youth to strengthen their communities through action planning sessions. The conference went beyond merely presenting information on the dangers of alcohol and other drug use – it capitalized on the emotional involvement that comes from working in small groups, encouraged personal growth, presented techniques that teens use to change their own environments, and provided alternatives to drug use.

According to Gary Pearce, director of Talbot Partnership for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention, “We were thrilled to have doubled our participation in this year’s conference.  He adds, “The conference really helps youth gain confidence when they are dealing with the peers on drug and alcohol issues.  They also get new ideas to bring back to implement in our Youth Coalition activities.  Many of the ideas the Youth Coalition implemented this past year came from attending last year’s conference.”

The Youth Coalition for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention is sponsored by Talbot Partnership. Youth interested in participating in the Youth Coalition, should contact Gary Pearce at 410-819-8067 or visit www.talbotpartnership.org.    An “Open Frisbee” game, sponsored by the Youth Coalition, will also be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on the grounds of the Elks Lodge on Dutchman’s Lane in Easton prior to the September 12 Youth Recruitment night.