“With your input and your voice, we can make a change.”
Youth leadership is the key when it comes to addressing underage drinking, which is the focus of the “2 Much 2 Lose” (2M2L) program, said Dr. Ernest Tye, an area coordinator for 2M2L, during a presentation to the freshman class at Woodward High School Wednesday morning.
“We want to empower young people like yourselves to change their environment,” Tye said.
That is why the program encourages the establishment of 2M2L clubs, which are led by students who are motivated to reach out to their fellow students and encourage abstinence from alcohol, he said.
The clubs plan and host alcohol-free events, which can be any type of activity that the students want such as dances or tail gate parties, to demonstrate how alcohol is not necessary to have a fun time, Tye said.
The clubs also help distribute information about underage drinking, such as what the current laws are as well as statistics about the effect of alcohol and underage drinking on youth.
For example, Tye noted that “in the new law, they can take your driver’s license just for being in possession of a can of beer, you don’t have to be anywhere near a car.”
As far as the statistics go, the biggest effect alcohol has on youth is the number of lives it claims.
According to 2M2L pamphlets distributed to the Woodward freshmen, “alcohol kills more young people than all other illegal drugs combined.”
By getting involved now, Tye said the students have the opportunity to change those statistics.
“The nice thing about it is that you leave a legacy behind you,” he said. “When you leave high school, you know you may have saved a life or maybe even more than one.”
However, it takes the whole community to effect real change with such a widespread problem, Tye said, noting that is why the 2M2L program strives to get everyone in the community involved and reaches out to community coalitions and other community groups.
The program is also reaching out to local governments and encouraging the adoption of social host ordinances, he said. Currently there are more than 40 communities throughout Oklahoma who have some type of social host ordinance, he said.
These include a number of communities in Northwest Oklahoma such as Laverne, Alva, Arnett and Buffalo.
Soon the list might include Woodward as well, according to Mayor Bill Fanning, who attended the presentation and was inspired to pursue an ordinance for the city.
“It may be a while before the state passes one,” Fanning said, noting that he believes the time for action is now.
“We need to get them on the right track when they’re young,” he said.
After a 2M2L club is established at Woodward High School, Fanning said he plans to “have a town hall meeting and see where we go from there.”
To learn more about the “2 Much 2 Lose” program, visit www.2much2lose.com or contact Tye at (405) 612-0692.
You can also contact Amber Ham with the Area Prevention Resource Center at (580) 571-3240. Ham will be helping to establish a 2M2L club at the high school.
