Anti-Drug Coalition to Share Local Data

Aiming to end public drinking and sales of liquor and tobacco to minors, the Placentia Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Coalition will present its findings from a study at a community forum tonight.

The public is invited to attend the forum from 6 to 8 p.m. in the multipurpose room at Kraemer Junior High School, 645 N. Angelina Drive.

“The aim of the coalition is to reduce and prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems in the city of Placentia,” said Juan Valdivia, the project’s community organizer.

Last July and August, two city forums were hosted by the YMCA Communities in Prevention-North to build community consensus on how to deal with alcohol, tobacco and other concerns.

In September, the coalition, made up of city officials, religious groups, community groups, businesses, schools and residents, first met to decide on a plan to assess the problems.

Valdivia said the coalition examined the problems by interviewing community members, conducting surveys and using other tools to collect data.

The data, for example, revealed that more than half of Placentia residents surveyed identified public drinking as a major problem. A big concern is the sale of single cans of beer in local stores, Valdivia said.

Youth access to alcohol and tobacco also ranks as a major concern among community members. Valdivia said that 34% of Placentia’s students and 18% of residents surveyed reported that they knew of stores that sell alcohol or tobacco to minors.

He also said that, of the 21 liquor stores and markets surveyed, 33% said they do not keep cigarettes behind the counter.

Because some alcohol advertising targets young people, the coalition is recommending that the city tighten its codes to regulate the use of interior and exterior neon signs in liquor stores and markets.

The focus of tonight’s forum, Valdivia said, is to bring people up to date on the findings and build community support on policy recommendations that can be to the City Council.

The ultimate goal is for the council to adopt resolutions and ordinances to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems in the city.

Information: (714) 525-6033.