| Courage To Live
The goal is to create cohesive teams who in turn will develop viable action plans to implement Courage to Live programs in their represented districts. The intent is to supplement and enhance current prevention efforts, and participants were provided with strategies and resources they can utilize. The focus is on middle schools El Paso County has put together a team of individuals (including but not limited to: DRIVE SMART Colorado Springs director, Colorado Springs Police Officer, Chief Juvenile Prosecutor with District Attorney's Office and Injury Prevention Specialist with Memorial Health System and three high school students) who will be putting on the presentations at various middle schools in El Paso County. During the spring of 2006, the El Paso County Courage to Live team gave presentations to 600 8th graders in two area middle schools with the hope of being invited into many more in the fall of 2007. What sets this program apart from other middle school age substance abuse prevention programs is that it involves the teen mentors. These mentors are the leaders and the 8th graders listen very carefully to what they have to say. An optimal Courage to Live presentation would take place in a small classroom setting (30 or less students). An adult team member would frame the program, show a short video of a Colorado teen who made a bad decision after drinking alcohol and killed a man on a state highway. The adult would introduce the teen presenters. The teens give their own short verbal prevention and then lead the group through a series of hands on activities. These activities will focus on the effects of being impaired, as well as building self esteem with positive peer pressure exercises. Social norming behavior is emphasized (based upon real numbers, not “everyone is doing it” numbers) showing that MORE kids are doing the right thing. Contact DRIVE SMART at (719) 444-7534 for more information or to schedule a presentation. View the Courage to Live Recap for 2006
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A benchmark for many teens is the day they get their driver's license. Many have not considered the fact that alcohol use can lead to immediate loss of that new privilege. In 2003, more than 11,000 teens were deprived of their driving privileges because of the use and/or abuse of alcohol. 
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