Letter to the Editor - Manchester Journal 6/29/23
Let’s give a shout out to the young adults in Bennington County for making the healthy choice an easy choice. Overall, the data shines a positive light on young adults aged 18-25 in our region. Now more than ever, the community’s support of young persons is needed to build upon and keep the positive momentum going.

According to the Vermont Young Adult Survey 2020, young adults in our region are choosing to avoid prescription drug misuse and cannabis use altogether. This is encouraging news! However, alcohol use is still concerningly high, at 66 percent of local young adults, and vaping of cannabis among our state’s young adults has increased dramatically — up 150 percent since 2014.

The Collaborative is currently taking a two-prong approach with a pair of messaging campaigns: "Reach Your Potential" highlights ways in which young adults can thrive substance-free, from engaging with the outdoors to art and friends; "Listen. Talk. Connect." helps parents share experiences, ideas, and resources in order to have real, productive conversations with their kids about alcohol, vaping, and cannabis. The campaign website is: startconversation.us