Above the Influence (ATI) is an empowering national campaign inspired by what teens say about what it means to live a substance free lifestyle, and how they deal with the influences that shape their decisions.

Winooski Partnership for Prevention promotes this campaign through their middle and high school after school program Above the Influence. We’re here to support teens and help them make healthy decisions. Our goal is to help teens stand up to negative pressures or influences. The more aware you are of the influences around you, the better prepared you will be to face them, including the pressure to use substances.

Winooski ATI members gain the knowledge and develop the skills to participate in a wide range of activities including:

• community education and outreach,

• public speaking,

• data analysis, and

• media advocacy.

If you are a Winooski middle or high school student and you want to get involved, contact Kate at 802-655-4565, email katenugent@winooskiprevention.org, or connect with Winooski Partnership for Prevention on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok. What will ATI look like in the 2020-21 school year? 

Winooski Middle School ATI Meetings: Typically once a week, Wednesdays after school

Winooski High School ATI Meetings: Typically meet after school on Winooski half-days

This year, we will be developing projects that can be done following CDC recommendations for staying safe regarding preventing the spread of Covid-19. We may carry out projects in the community where we can be physically distant and wearing masks, making our voices heard to support a healthy life for all youth in Winooski. We will provide opportunities to meet virtually or in-person, when it is safe. We may share our positive messages on social media platforms to help us remember each other and to stay as healthy as possible while we continue learning and living during the current pandemic.  

Youth to Youth’s mission is to engage young people through meaningful discussions, activities, and experiences to develop and implement their own ideas to create positive change. For over 33 years, Youth to Youth has led the way in effective prevention programming with youth in the forefront. Bringing youth together with a common bond of living free of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, allows them to serve as role models to their peers and younger students.

Winooski Partnership for Prevention sponsors Winooski middle and high school students to attend Youth to Youth Eastern States Conference in Rhode Island in July. Students meet and befriend drug-free teens from all over the country, develop skills to make positive choices, attend interactive and informative workshops, hear nationally known speakers, develop action plans to create change back home in their schools and communities, learn vital leadership qualities and skills they can use for a lifetime, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!

To learn more, visit Youth to Youth

CounterBalance launched in 2014 with one overarching goal: to counter the tobacco industry’s influence in the retail environment and its impact on Vermont’s youth. Retail stores are the primary place where tobacco companies recruit new users. Nearly 90% of new users are underage youth. In fact, according to their own internal documents, tobacco companies try to attract new, young smokers by targeting stores near schools and playgrounds.

Currently CounterBalance is working to raise awareness about the dangers of flavored tobacco products. The tobacco industry uses candy flavors and colorful packaging to make e-cigarettes, little cigars, and chew seem more appealing. In fact, two-thirds of tobacco-using youth said they use these products because they come in flavors they like. Find out what you can do to take a stand against flavored tobacco.

To learn more, visit CounterBalanceVT

Youth and young adults have the power to reject tobacco. truth® is a national tobacco prevention counter-marketing campaign that speaks to youth and young adults on their terms, through the channels they understand and trust. truth delivers the facts about the health effects and social consequences of tobacco and the marketing tactics of the tobacco industry so that youth and young adults can make informed decisions and influence others to do the same.

truth launched This is Quitting - the first ever text-to-quit-vaping service for youth and young people. All you have to do to get started is text DITCHJUUL to 88709 or sign up at thetruth.com

To learn more, visit truth