All Pawtucket All The Time

As part of the RI Substance Abuse Prevention Act, the East Providence Prevention Coalition is hitting the streets in an effort to keep underage youth safe from tobacco, by conducting a study of randomly-selected retail outlets to determine where tobacco products are sold and whether underage youth have access to these outlets.  Volunteers include members of the EPPC Board of Directors as well as adult leaders in the Coalition’s Youth Group, D.I.C.E. 

The study was kicked off on July 23^rd and is part of the Federal Synar Regulation, which requires states to enact and enforce laws prohibiting any manufacturer, retailer, or distributor from selling or distributing tobacco products to individuals under 18. The first stage of canvassing outlets will be completed by the end of July.  After the information is forwarded to the State, East Providence police will be conducting random compliance checks to determine if State Tobacco Laws are being followed appropriately.  It is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the study can contact Jennifer Wall, Executive Director of the EPPC at 401-435-1923 or jwall@cityofeastprov.com.  More information about Synar is available at www.prevnet.org/synar/synar.asp.

The East Providence Prevention Coalition acts as a catalyst and enabling system, pulling together a variety of public and private sectors voluntarily, to assist in the development of proactive substance abuse and violence prevention efforts and strategies such as educational programs, alternative youth programs, legislative and environmental change.