Reduce Access to Substances

Project Name:
Creating a Healthier Community Through Prevention

Team Leaders, Members and their Organizational Affiliations:
LEADERS

  • Nichole Flickema, Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Community Health Coordinator and SAFE in Northern Michigan, Project Coordinator.
  • Audrey Sharp, The Center and Leelanau Investing For Teens (LIFT), Associate Director

MEMBERS

  • Susan Pulaski, Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Community Health Supervisor and SAFE in Northern Michigan, Project Director

September 2022 Behavioral Health Summit Materials

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

April 2022 Behavioral Health Summit Materials

Community spaces in the region are often oriented around drinking alcohol. This contributes to the unhealthy drinking culture in the region and, inadvertently, impacts youth. Furthermore, advertisements for alcohol are prevalent and positively coded.

Assembled and distributed a toolkit for local policymakers on how to promote a healthy community relationship with alcohol consumption. Highlighted five key policies for consideration: list policies here.

Distributed the toolkit to local policymakers. Found that the most effective and achievable solutions to promote a healthy community relationship with alcohol center around community events and local business practices. If there are no events or businesses that offer non-alcoholic beverages in a community, it is easy for social gatherings to focus on drinking.

  • Encourage your local policy-makers to read our toolkit!
  • If you own a business, consider offering an array of mocktails or partnering with a local soda/juice company to provide non-alcoholic drinks
  • Plan and promote events in your community that do not center around or serve alcohol
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS