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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2 <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> "PowerTalk 21 Day" in Orange County <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County values the health and safety of all its residents; and <br /> WHEREAS, substance abuse is particularly damaging to one of our most valuable resources, <br /> our children; and <br /> WHEREAS, youth who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol <br /> dependency later in life; and <br /> WHEREAS, teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year, more than all other illegal drugs <br /> combined; and <br /> WHEREAS, high school students who use alcohol or other substances are five times more likely <br /> to drop out of school; and <br /> WHEREAS, the majority of youth say their parents are their primary influence when it comes to <br /> decisions about drinking alcohol; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County recognizes the role of parents, and the importance of talking with <br /> their teens about alcohol; and <br /> WHEREAS, PowerTalk 21® day is established on April 21, 2014 to encourage parents and <br /> caregivers to embrace their important role in influencing America's youth and their decisions <br /> about drinking alcohol; and <br /> WHEREAS, in 2014 Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) kicked off "21 Days in Support of <br /> 21," beginning on April 1St and culminating in PowerTalk 21 on April 21St, in order to create a <br /> sustained and prolonged national conversation about underage drinking; and <br /> WHEREAS, to equip parents to talk with their teens about alcohol, the Orange Partnership for <br /> Alcohol and Drug Free Youth, in collaboration with MADD of North Carolina, will host a free <br /> community town hall event to give parents, caregivers and community members the opportunity <br /> to explore the issue of underage drinking and how to effectively talk with teens about alcohol; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, local town halls and parent workshops, replicated across the country, will offer <br /> parents research-based tools to help them talk with their teens about alcohol and encourage <br /> adults to consider creating a safer community by becoming involved in reducing underage <br /> drinking; and <br /> WHEREAS, all people are urged to join in the local and national efforts to raise awareness of the <br /> importance of parents and teens talking together about alcohol in order to reduce the risks and <br /> dangers posed to teens and communities; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim <br /> Monday, April 21, 2014 to be: <br /> PowerTalk 21® Day <br /> in Orange County, North Carolina. <br /> This the 15th day of April, 2014. <br /> Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />