Issue Position: Youth Substance Abuse

Although the theory for this program was developed in the United States, Iceland adopted it with amazing results. Teens are offered natural-high alternatives to drugs. Examples of the alternatives include learning music, dance, martial arts, gymnastics or various other activities.

Twenty-three years ago, Iceland had the heaviest youth drinking statistics in Europe. By 2016, they topped Europe as the cleanest living teens.

Statistics from 1998 to 2016 show:

Drunkenness down 42% to 5%
Cannabis use down 17% to 7%
Cigarettes use down 29% to 3%
Besides the program activities, parental involvement was highly encouraged. Almost every child in Iceland completes at least one year of the program.

Rapid City might be able to enact a program similar through cooperation with Youth & Family Services, Young Life, Girls Inc. , the Boys and Girls Clubs or the local Girl and Boy Scouts.

Care is an absolute. Prevention is the ideal.

--Christopher Howson

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