East Valley
Youth Coalition
Our Mission:
The East Valley Youth Coalition empowers our community through education and substance abuse prevention to promote safe and healthy individuals in our community.
We Are a Community
EVYC is not a school based program, but a community one that allows not only high school but graduated students.
EVYC will be doing community projects, volunteering at events, participating in workshops, trainings, and much more. The EV Youth Coalition is a safe group that accepts all people, even those who are not drug free to join. We promote a friendly, loving space where everyone is welcome.
This group brings awareness to substance abuse/misuse and helps the people of the EV community become drug free!
EVYC members represent the youth sector in the larger East Valley Community Coalition, which includes adults and youth who work in various East Valley businesses and agencies and/or live in the East Valley community who are interested in promoting health and wellness locally.
This groups’ goal is to make the EV community a healthier and drug free zone with a multitude of activities in the near future. The youth coalition is the part of a large group but meets separately before EVCC meetings. We gather ideas, plans, and information to bring to meetings which our chairmen attend.
Get Involved
There are many ways you can get involved in supporting the goals of the EVYC.
Join the Community
Become a member of EVYC!
Community Events
Participate in community events and activities that encourage youth to abstain from drugs and alcohol
Red Ribbon Week
Participate in Red Ribbon week held annually in October
Safeguard
Take steps to safeguard prescription drugs (painkillers, sedatives, and stimulants) in your home: monitor their use, keep them in a lock box, and properly dispose of unused or expired medications and participate in a Drug Take Back Event
Did You Know?
The Majority of East Valley Youth Don’t Use Drugs, Alcohol, or Other Substances.
In the recent Healthy Youth Survey, middle and high school students were asked to report their use of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol in the last 30 days. These were the results among 10th grade students:
%
94% have not smoked cigarettes
%
79% have not consumed alcohol
%
81% have not used marijuana
%
93% have not abused prescription drugs
Taking Preventative Steps
Help lower their risk of substance use disorders
These rates translate into tens of thousands of teens using addictive substances at a time when their brains are being wired with behaviors that can last a lifetime. This helps explain why people who start using substances early in life are more likely to have higher levels of substance use and abuse later in life. Taking steps to prevent or delay substance use among young people is a way to lower their risk of substance use disorders, and to improve the social, civic, and economic wellbeing of our communities.
In East Valley (Spokane), fewer students are using substances since the implementation of CPWI.
- 26% decrease in any alcohol use in past 30 days. 26%
- 44% decrease in any cigarette smoking ever. 44%
- 46% decrease in any binge drinking in past 2 weeks. 46%
- 42% decrease in early initiation of substance use 42%
Let’s Talk About It
From drugs and alcohol to mental health awareness, we’re here to talk about the tough subjects.
Alcohol
Tobacco
Marijuana
Vaping
Prescription Drugs
Mental Health
Make Every Conversation Count
Connection is the best prevention there is. Having conversations about drugs, alcohol, and suicide can be hard, but EVYC is here to help! If we want to tackle and solve the issues our generation is facing, we need to open to conversation. Click on the links below for more resources or send us a message for more information.
Marijuana
Marijuana use can be dependence-inducing and people who begin using before age 18 are more likely to develop marijuana use disorder.
Tobacco and Vaping
Know the risks- there’s no such thing as a “safe” tobacco or nicotine product.
Alcohol
Underage drinking does impact your brain.
Prescription Drugs
Know the facts!
Mental Health
Mental health matters.