Thursday, September 25, 1997
Project hopes to SAVE teens from alcohol abuse
By JONATHAN KRYDER / Abilene Reporter-News
A new curriculum to stop alcohol use among youth is hitting
local classrooms this year.
Called Project SAVE -- Stop Alcohol Violations Early -- and
developed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the program
is designed to enhance student participation and depth of alcohol
awareness.
The difference in the new program, said TABC agent Kim Williamson,
is the addition of visual aids, videos, role playing, creative
writing and the teaching of resistance skills to the usual lectures.
The project is funded by TABC and is free to participating
schools. Introduced in El Paso last summer, it went statewide
Sept. 1 and is now used locally by Merkel and Jim Ned schools.
Williamson said he is passing the word about the project to
other area schools.
"So far, it's been fine," he said of the project.
"I've spoken to schools off and on over the years, but this
is the first time (TABC agents) have had a lesson plan to deal
with (alcohol prevention)."
Project SAVE works in two stages. First, TABC agents teach
and interact with students. Second, teachers follow up with classroom
work. Then, the agents return to the school for a second session.
The project includes a separate program for fourth- through
ninth-grades, a change from the agency's old lectures designed
for middle-school students only.
Williamson said 200 Texans under 20 years old died last year
from alcohol-related accidents.
"Many times kids don't get a second chance when they consume
alcohol," he said.
In the wake of a new "zero tolerance" law directed
toward youth, the agent said Project SAVE is hitting the classrooms
at the right time.
The project is also available to civic groups, churches and
businesses. For more information, contact TABC at 695-2841.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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