SAMHSA and Ad Council Launch Underage Drinking Prevention Campaign

Newswise — Officials from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Ad Council will unveil a national public service campaign designed to urge parents to speak with their children about underage drinking in order to delay the onset of and ultimately reduce underage drinking. SAMHSA will also discuss findings of new report on underage alcohol use among youth. WHO: Frances Harding, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SAMHSA Rear Adm. Pete Delany, Director, Office of Applied Science, SAMHSAHeidi Arthur, Senior Vice President for Campaigns, Ad Council WHAT: Unveiling of new TV, radio, print and Web PSAs, and resources designed to overcome parent’s misconceptions about underage drinking and to encourage them to communicate with their children about alcohol at an early age. WHEN: Thursday, March 25, 3:00p.m. eastern time. WHERE: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 1 Choke Cherry Road,Rockville, MD 20857 Please bring a government-issued photo ID for entrance into the building. Camera Crews should call in advance so that easier access can be gained through building security. The briefing will be held in the Seneca Room. SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA can be reached at www.samhsa.gov. The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies. The Ad Council addresses issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families