The Solano County Office of Education was awarded a grant through the California Highway Patrol's Cannabis Tax Grant Fund to launch a countywide initiative to prevent alcohol and drug-impaired driving among middle and high school students. This project empowers youth to take the lead in promoting safe choices through peer education, creative media campaigns, and community outreach. The program includes school-based lessons focused on the dangers of drug and alcohol use, student-led awareness activities, and the development of educational materials for use at community events. In addition, schools will offer targeted support and intervention services for students who may be using cannabis or alcohol. Together, these efforts aim to build safer schools and communities by educating and supporting young people in making healthy, informed decisions.

 

The Solano Youth Coalition (SYC) has taken a leading role in the project through the development of their Clearing the Smoke: Cannabis Risks, Realities, and What You Need to Know presentation. In this interactive workshop, attendees will explore the facts and myths surrounding cannabis, focusing on its health effects, risks, and prevention. Through engaging quizzes and group activities, you will learn about the differences between CBD and THC, medical v. recreational use, and the legal landscape in California. We will dive into the health risks of cannabis, including cannabis use disorder, the dangers of edibles, driving under the influence, and its impacts on mental health. We will also examine how cannabis is marketed and normalized in pop culture. By the end, students will have the knowledge to make informed decisions, advocate for prevention, and share their own call to action with decision-makers! 

 

The SYC has developed video public service announcements (PSA), social media posts and billboard graphics as part of the mass media campaign funded by the CHP Cannabis Tax Grant Fund. The billboards have been featured on I80 East and Westbound lanes in Dixon, throughout the year. The video PSAs have been shown at Brenden Theaters during the months of January - April and will continue to be shown in the months of May and June. The videos are shown for a month on all 16 screens before each movie.

 

Examples of all the work created by SYC and other high school and middle school clubs participating in the mass media campaign are featured below, titles with an * are works that were shown at Brenden Theaters, displayed on I80 or streamed through AudioGo platforms such as Pandora and iheartradio.