Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force honors students for preventing youth alcohol and drug use

On June 11, the Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force honored high school students for their work this year in preventing underage drinking and other drug use.

Students pledge to be alcohol- and drug-free, contribute their time and talents to the group's efforts, participate in community events and model a healthy lifestyle to their peers. Community leaders awarded them for working to make Mundelein a healthy and safe place for teens. Additionally, Congressman Bob Dold sent students certificates from his office, along with a prerecorded video message, honoring them for their hard work and being a positive influence in their school and community.

The event was held at the Mundelein Police Department and was open to the public, from 8:30-10 a.m.

A major initiative students focused on this year was developing, implementing and evaluating a social marketing campaign called "Be the Majority." The campaign emphasizes one fact in particular from the 2014 Illinois Youth Survey, which is that "most teens in Mundelein choose to be alcohol and drug free." Specifically, 70 percent of high school teens don't drink alcohol, 87.5 percent don't use marijuana and 96 percent don't use prescription drugs to get high or smoke cigarettes. This data dispels the myth that "everyone's drinking/partying/using drugs all the time."

Students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades take the Illinois Youth Survey and since 2010 there has been a decrease in high school alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use. STAND-UP students implement this campaign because it emphasizes the fact that the majority of students make healthy choices, which encourages teens to follow the positive behavior in which most of their peers engage most of the time.

STAND-UP Student Committee Co-President Lyliana Chavez, a former Mundelein High School student who graduated in May 2015, said she joined STAND-UP because, "I've always felt strongly about preventing underage drinking and STAND-UP was a way I could communicate my concerns to my peers. The best part about being involved in STAND-UP was being creative when thinking of new campaign slogans to catch the attention of students during a particular time of year whether it was homecoming, Thanksgiving, or Valentine's Day."

Deputy Police Chief and Task Force Chairperson Don Hansen said he is most proud of students for "being a positive role model for their peers, demonstrating leadership, and accomplishing work outside of their school to help keep teens in the Mundelein community healthy and safe."

STAND-UP students were involved in a recent communitywide effort to spread the message of two important campaigns that target adults, "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" and "Your Actions Matter." The campaigns reminded parents and adults not to provide alcohol to minors or host underage drinking parties during prom and graduation celebrations, as well as over the summer.

Lyliana Chavez says to any student thinking about joining STAND-UP, "Do it and find your voice in the crowd. Sometimes it may feel like people around you are making poor decisions, but being a part of the STAND- UP community is reassurance that there are many students out there with the same mindset as you, and don't drink or use other drugs to have fun."

The Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force started in 2007 to prevent and reduce underage drinking and drug use among youth in Mundelein. The group is composed of community leaders, organizations, schools, police, churches, youth, parents, and neighbors who are concerned about the health, safety and well-being of Mundelein youth. The Task Force meets the second Thursday of every month at the Mundelein Police Department from 8:30-10 a.m. Meetings are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Task Force Chairman Deputy Chief Don Hansen at (847) 968-3779 or visit www.mundeleinstandup.org.