Texans for Safe & Drug-Free Youth trained on how to talk to elected officials regarding these topics and helped the youth role-play different scenarios. In the afternoon, the students went to the Texas Capitol and met with Rep. Trent Ashby and the staff of Sen. Robert Nichols.

The students shared what they learned about the dangers of substance use by youth, prevention measures to implement to reduce access, and ways to prevent youth tobacco use, including additional funding for prevention. Thank you to Rep. Ashby and Sen. Nichols’ staff for meeting with the Youth Leadership Council members and listening to the issues that youth in our community face regarding tobacco and alcohol.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information on the dangers of youth substance use or the Youth Leadership Council program, contact Abby Baker at The Coalition at (936) 634-9308.